ABRAMS TREATMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1925, Page 4

ABRAMS TREATMENT

DR .MACKENZIK’S APPEAL. ItV TKI.EOJIAI’H —Pit ESS ASSN., COrVJUCHT. WFLLIXGTOX. .July V. Till' Appeal Court is hearing the appeal of l)r Henry Dundas MaeKcnzie (represented by Mr Myers, ami Mr McLiver) against the decision of Mr .lustice llerdman. in favour of.the Medical Board of New Zealand, ordering appellant's name to lie removed from tile medical registrar. Mr Pair. K.C.. anil .Mr V. K. Meredith appeared for the Board.

The facts of the case were fully reported til the time of the hearing in Auekland.

The grounds for the appeal tiro that the reasons lor the order are erroneous in law. and fact, and the Board’s contentions were not proved ; also that the judge rejected the evidence which ought to liave been admitted by limiting the number of witnesses who gave evidence as to the Treatment received from the appellant. Mr Myers, for the appellant, submitted the charge, against Ids client was purely and simply one of fraud. Due of ibe leading men in England. Sir Barr, used the Abrams treatment. Mr Pair said the Board’s contention was that McKenzie's manner of practising the system was a fraud. Mr Myers said Mackenzie had a whole-hearted belief in the system. The only expert medical evidence

called was' that of Dr Bruce Mackenzie a voting man ol 23. who considered ihai such men as Blair and Doctor llislop. were tpiaeks or looks lor using Abram' treatment. •

In the MaeKcnzie case. Mr Myers said it was the lirst application in Mew Zealand for the removal <d the practitioner from the Register lor using the Abrams Method.

Mr Justice Alpers remarked that the ground for removal Mas net lor the use, hut the misuse of the method. Mr Myers pointed out that there were many cases of patients regarded by other doctors as incurable being cured by Dr. MaeKcnzie. Many doctors who did not use the Abrams System made mistakes.

Justice Sim: Even lawyers make mistakes at tiin.es. Ibe trouble is that be whs exploiting unfortunate people with u diagnosis of cancer, when, in inn'll, they never had u. Mr Myers said that doctors’ oj inions were sought by McNeill on MacKenzic’s diagnosis, and only In out of 25P0 case- were iiui-ideied incorrect.

ABRAMS AXI> IDS -MAGIC BOX.” STORY OP “‘ELECTRONIC REACH'D XS.” “Something does happen” was the verdict: of a committee of doctors and scientists who tested some ol the ‘'electronic” reactions based on the discoveries of the late Dr Albert Abrams (writes a special correspondent of the London “Morning Post"). I had the opportunity of seeing something ol the work, not in a journalistic. Imt in an iinlconflciil .scientific rapacity, ami "ttli a perfectly open mind. I will explain simply and Inielly some ol the methods employed, and the theories that are hefd without advancing opinions as to !heir nnttire or prospects. The work ol l)r Boyd, on which the report referred of the work based, was a coni imm t ion of the work ol A brains using slightly diHerein. and possibly more scientific methods, but the reactions on which this work was based, as first discovered by A brains, are investigated and used by most workers anil practitioners with apparatus devised by Abrams and Ids associates. 1 understand that Ibe revenue derived from its sale is devoted to a hospital.

Abrams’ work was divided into two distinct sections, diagnostic and combative. It uas to t lie apparatus employed in the second, called by Abrams “Oscillcclast." that the name “Magic Bum” was given by his i ritir~. The diagnostic apparatus is essentially simple in itself, though no attempts have ever been made to explain Ihe principles on which it operates. Just as electricians employ elect rici tv in simple apparatus, without any positive knowledge of its nature', so I lie disciples of Abrams harness phenomena which they cannot explain. Roughly, the underlying theory is Dial the blood or perspiration or sputum of a person, or in a less degree anything which-lie lias “contaminated by touch, acipiires certain nroperties, or “rates of vibration.” which accurately rolled bis or her condition of health. These “vibrations" (for want of another name) are, imlolcetnble by even the most delicate electrical measuring instruments, though they can he transmitted along a wire. It was discovered by accident that, it this wire at one end of which is a plate in contact with or proximity to the specimen of blood or .sputum —is connected to a. headband worn by any living persons (the “subject”), standing on two eartlioru plates, then certain skin real lions occur on tho siirlaec ot the abdomen of the “subject,” which are detectable by- a different note when the skin is “percussed” with the lingers, or hv lbo alteration of adhesion ol the skin to a glass rod. This test serves to indicate the presence or absence of a reaction, but gives no indication as to its strength or nature. It was then found that by the insertion in Die circuit of ordinary rheostats the reactions could he eliminated. anil according to the amount ol resistance (or it may perhaps be inductance) arbitrary measurements could ho arrived at. It was then found that di(ferenl, coloured lights served to dissipate the reactions of specimens ol blood.from people suffering from different diseases, and this method is occasionally employed further to classily the ‘ ‘ vibra times.”

TV Hoyil, J believe. dispenses with rheostats, ami uses what may bo roughly described as an “air-nap.” The method of ojioralion is as follows:—V drop of blood from the patient, on blotting paper, is placed near the plate, the wire connected to a ‘‘subject,’’ and percussion tests made until the regulation of the rheostats just eliminates the reaction. Different diseases have been found to give reactions within well defined limits on the scale, and this, together with the fact that different groups of diseases give reactions in different areas on the surface of the abdomen serves to classify the disease. Lo- < ali.m is effected hy a complicated system. based on extensive experiments, and the use of movable electrodes, either on the subject or the patient.

Having assigned a “rate” to the disease the “oseilloelast” is used to try and dissipate it. This appartus is stated to produce some form of electrical wave energy which can bo regulated. The energy is applied to the patient by eletrodes. Nothing is felt or seen or beard, but the theory is that waves of energy of the correct “vibration” ran be made to upset lhe corresponding “vibrations” which ha'"' been assigned to the disease, and so dissipate it. It has been found that drugs and other substances when placed in the diagnostic apparatus also give reactions to which definite numbers can be assigned. and ii is suggested that they euro disease in the same manner as the oseilloelast. Tho committee referred to above achieved “impressive” results by these reactions in the identification tests between substances which could and could not produce the Abrams reactions. So far their investigations have not been extended to people or diseases. Tho oseilloelast looks rather like a wireless set. It was devised, not by Abrams, who was no electrician, hut by j radio experts at his request. Many false and needless circuits were deliberately introduced with the object, it is said of preventing its exploitation and misuse. This lias evoked much angry criticism from electricians who have examined it.

Tint controversy rages over the practical results achieved. An eminent public man. of unimpeachable veracity, who bad admittedly been given three mouths to live by several eminent specialists, lias signed a declaration that after a year’s treatment hy the Abrams method (as a last hope) the same specialists declared him tree of the disease. He has now returned to take up his work again. I have personally tested tho re-

actions with my own hands, and found that “something does happen.” Things ocurred which coni be explained by any known laws either ol science or magic. The operator could not explain them, and did not attempt to. No good purpose would have been served by deceiving me. This article was not contemplated at the time, and the reason for my presence was tho hope that certain electrical investigations of my own might coincide. They did not. I have given merely the barest sketch of the theories and ti‘chnii|Uo. ’ibe committee have found that the phenomena arc elusive. From their nature this is not surprising. Abrams’ lollilivers even have to work in subdued light for fear of upsetting the reactions. Dr Boyd uses copper-gauze screens. The reactions, therefore, do not lend themselves readily to demonstration or test, as would a new type of wireless set. Jn conclusion, “.something lines bailpen." It cannot he explained by known laws. But have we advanced sufficiently far in knowledge to be able to boast that there are no laws still bevond our ken 2