AMAZING ALLEGATIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19128, 2 October 1924, Page 5

AMAZING ALLEGATIONS

THE DUNDAS MACKENZIE CASE

APPLICATION FOR EVIDENCE ABROAD THE ABRAMS TREATMENT. “AN ASS WITH A PAST.” (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. Some amazing allegations were made by the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, in the Supreme Court, when application was made by Dr. Henry Dundas MacKenzie, of Auckland, for evidence to be taken on affidavit in England and America in connection with the proceedings brought against him by the Medical Board to have him struck off the register of medical practitioners.

Mr. Dickson appeared on behalf of the motion, which was opposed by Mr. Meredith, with him Mr S. L. Paterson. Mr. Dickson said that the British Medical Association had instituted proceedings to have the name of MacKenzic removed from the register on the ground that he had been guilty of infamous conduct “inasmuch as for the past three or four years or thereabouts he had practised an allegedly scientific method of diagnosis and treatment known as ‘the electronic reaction of Abrams’ in such manner as to show that he could not honestly have believed it was reliable or useful in the cases for which he employed it.” First the Court would have to decide whether the Abrams treatment was fraudulent or not. The prosecution apparently was going to show it was fraud, but the defence would call evidence that it was being used by some of the most eminent men in medicine in England and America. It was now sought for a commission to take evidence ir England and America to prove the bona tides of the treatment ant? ti go into the possibilities of mistakes in diagnosis and exploration thereon, and as to how mistakes could creep in or occur in the Abrams treatment. It was impossible for MacKenzic to get any assistance from medical men in New Zealand, as practically everyone was a member of the B M.A., which was hostile to the Abrams treatment. The B.M.A. had passed a resolution that no man could practise the Abrams treatment and belong to the B.M.A. No one in this countrv was really in a position to give evidence as to the method except Dr. Dundas MacKenzie and one other physician who practised it. His Honour—l thought Dundas MacKenzie was a member of the 8.M.A.? Mr. Dickson —I understand he was, but he resigned some years ago Mr. Meredith said the other doctor referred to was a member of the B.M.A. Mr. Dickson said if the prosecution succeeded many eminent men in England could also be struck off the rolls. Thousands had benefited . it, and there was already a society ir Auckland the members of which pail their fees and could testify to the treatment. His Honour—Are those people forming a company? Mr. Dichson—Yes, they are forming a society. His Honour—What is the idea? Mr Dickson—To prove thev are satisfied with the Abrams treatment. Mr. Meredith, in opposing the application. said he desired to make it Ar Pa s tlla . t the actlon to deregister MacKenzic was being taken not m v th ? B - MA - But by the Medical Board. The board consisted of seven register d medical practioners appointed by the Government and presided over by the Direc-tor-General of Medical Services, and no proceedings cou'd he taken by it without the approval of the AttorneyGeneral. His Honour asked what would be the position If MacKenzie brought evidence to show that tbe Abrams treatment was sound. Would it not be strong evidence for the defence? . Mr. Meredith said it would be quite immaterial. MacKenzie had to meet specific charges. His method of practising the treatment went to show he had no knowledge of whether it was good, bad or indifferent. His Honour—Supposing he used antitoxin for diphtheria, could he be •charged with using it in such a way as not to have belief in its effiicaev? Mr. Meredith—lf there was a medical man who enjoyed the confidence of the public, and a boy came to him with toothache anl he gave the bov antitoxin and charged him an excessive fee, that would be a case similar Io this. Ridiculous as it may appear, he cases would be on all fours. So as to be absolutely fair to MacKenzie I will qnote some specific cases. Mr. Dickson— That will not be fair, to quote specific cases which cannot be answered here at this time Mr. Meredith said MacKenzie had on one occasion examined a certain woman who did not have cancer, and said I would not like to have what, you have (he had taken a drop of blood from her and put it on his machine). You have cancer in the throat.” He treated her with the machine. She did not have cancer, and that should have been perfectly obvious to any ordinary practioner. His Honour asked whether, if counsel charged a man with being a quack, the man did not have the right to call evidence to show, he was not a quack? Otherwise it would not be a fair trial. | Mr. Meredith said the charge was | that MacKenzic was defrauding j people in the guise of using the treatment. He was, the prosecution alleged, dishonest in his use of the j machine using it in such a manner as jto show he had no faith in it. | His Honour—Supposing it were a : fact that he could diagnose and cure | cancer by this special method. If he iCan prove that, how can you charge Shim with a thing like that? • Mr. Meredith—The charge is not a I specific allegation that the treatment ■is wrong, alhough we believe it is. ! His Honour—Your charge is dishonesty? Mr. Meredith—Yes. He added that

the prosecution was not bound to bring the Abrams treatment on trial to the court. The court would not be in a position to decide. The matter under review was Dr. MacKcnzie’s method of hadling his patients in connection with the Abrams treatment. The case of No f was similar to that of No. 1. He took a drop of blood from this lady too, and told her she had cancer and he could treat and cure her. She was, in fact, suffering from boils in the ear. Mr. Dickson—Wrong diagnosis—that is what you charge us with. His Honour —This man might say he used the machine for diagnosis and the result he got was cancer. Mr. Dickson—Cancer reaction. Mr. Meredith —If a medical man secs boils and pretends it is cancer he knows that the machine is cither hopelessly wrong and gives a hope lessly wrong diagnosis or It has no virtue whatever. Another woman with cancer went to the doctor, said counsel, and was told she was absolutely free from cancer, and he ridiculed other doctors, saying they were butchers and should not be allowed to practise. He gave her thirty treatments at a guinea a time and then pronounced her free from germs. In the meantime she had become inoperable and she later died. There was another case of a man with a pain in his throat, said Mr. Meredith. There was also the case of a man who, MacKenzie said, had cancer of the jaw when he only had an abscess. The man went away and got it lanced. The doctor told him he would die of he did not stay and have his treatment. There were thirteen or fourteen of these typical cases. “I must point this out; blood was taken from the ear of a donkey and from the ear of a lamb. Samples were sent to MacKenzic. ” Mr. Dickson again protested, but His Honour allowed the recital to continue. Mr. Meredith said the blood was taken from an ass at St. Hcliers, and the doctor was seen by a gentJeman who was told after the blood tost that he was in perfect health. Then a specimen of blood taken from a lamb was sent to MacKenzie as the blood of an unnamed patient. The report was that there was no reaction—no disease. A second specimen i of blood from the lamb was sent, then it was found that the lamb had suddenly developed cancer of the intestines and congenital trouble of the circulatory system and spine. His Honour—You could expect congenital trouble in an ass. (Laughter).

Mr. Meredith—Oh, the poor ass got that later. (Renewed laughter) Counsel said the specimen of blood was sent to MacKenzie. He reported the test to show tubercular trouble. A second speciment, supposed to be that of a patient, was sent to the doctor, who reported having found syphillis both congenital and acquired and indigestion. This poor old donkey, always hitherto considered respectable, was made to have a past which was not altogether respectable. (Laugher). Mr. Meredith said if the doctor could disprove these allegations the charges would fall to the ground and he could be given credit for believing in the Abrams system, but if it was proved that his handling of patients was for the purpose of obtaining money he could have no belief in its value. The only people who could speak as to that were people who obtained the blood of the lamb and the ass and the people ho treated. His Honour asked if evidence that the treatment could cure cancer would not be a point in the defence, to which counsel replied that it need not be an issue. “If he wants evidence on the ethics of the treatment,” said Mr. Meredith, “He can give a demonstration in this court. He can have in this court an opportunity to select twenty or thirty patients suffering from various diseases in the Auckland hospital.” Mr. Justice Herdman reserved his decision.