DR DUNN AND PROF. MACGREGOR

Evening Star, Issue 3128, 27 February 1873, Page 2

DR DUNN AND PROF. MACGREGOR

To the Editor. Sir,—l am very glad that the professions of Dr Dunn have now been called in (pies* tion by a man who should be fully qualified to test them thoroughly, and that, to judge from Dr Dunn’s letter m the Tinm of yesterday, that gentleman is very willing that his power as a clairvoyant should be put to searching proof. 1 have made some enquiry into the case in dispute between Dr Dunn and Prof. Macgregor, and believe its history to be something like this : —The party concerned was ill, and consulted two medical men in town, who diagnosed his case with pretty much the same result. Subsequently Prof. Mncgregor nuide a diagnosis, the result of which differed from that of the previous ex (.miners. When the statement of Prof. Vlaegregor was common catrd to the first two, they add they believed they had been mistaken, and that the Professor was right then the case was submitted to Dr, Dunn, who differed from both. To an, outsider, it becomes au interesting question, as involving the reliability pf outward roodical wp

animation to determine the condition of the internal organs, which of the three statements is the correct one —that made by the first examiners, that by Professor Macgregor, or that by Dr. Dunn. I am not aware that there is any method by which this question can be set at rest, unless it ho that of tiie dissecting room, and that is one to which I fear the subject would have some rather serious objections. At the same time it is of interest to science and to humanity, that the powers of the clairvoyant, whatever they are, should be known, fairly recognised, and put in their proper place. T, Sir, should, like to know if Dr. Dunn can diagnose a dead body ; if he can, then I should think his powers can be easily put to the proof. IVo doubt, opportunity may present itself almost any day to some one or other of the faculty in Dunedin. Let Dr. Dunn be presented with a dead body, the particulars of the death of which he is unacquainted with. Let him diagnose that body, and then prove the correctness of the diagnosis hy a pout mortem examination. Unwound be, I should think, a crucial test, the successful result of which should satisfy everyone. It i* not a bit of good for Prof. Macgregor or any other man to tell us that Dr Dunn is an impostor; that clairvoyance is humbug. Hard names or big words will not settle the question. We are told that hundri-ds of eases were examined in Melbourne, and a considerable number have been examined here, and iu none of these has Dr Dunn been proved to be seriously, if at all, at fault. Nor is Dr Dunn the only clairvoyant ever heard of. I have been told there is a young man in Christchurch who has powers very similar to those of Dr Dunn, and although not known to many, it is yet a fact that one or more medical men, when d'ssatislied with their diagnosis of any particular case, a ■‘•■ail themselves of the clairvoyant’s powers to settle their doubts. Let us then have some crucial test such as I have indicated, which will be worthy of the occa-ion, and 1 e sufficient to satisfy all reasonable minds.—l am, &c., Fair Play. Dunedin, Feb. 27, 1873.