THE MacKENZIE CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1925, Page 1

THE MacKENZIE CASE

DEFENDANT’S EVIDENCE. [BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, March 12. The Dundas AlacKenzie case was continued today. In opening for the defence Mr Myers said that during a period of four years or more in which Dr. McKenzie had adopted the Abrams method, although not to the exclusion of others, lie had diagnosed and treated over 30CO patients. From the evidence, it was quite plain that the B.M.A. had gone over the list with a fine tooth comb to get eases in which it could charge AlacKenzie with a- wrong diagnosis, and the result was that there were only thirteen eases in which lie was so charged. That was less than one half of one per cent ol the cases treated. The defendant, in evidence, said lie was not prepared to agree to the tests proposed by the Medical Board. 51 r Dickson asked wny. MacKenzie: I have no guarantee that the members of the B.M.A. will he honest. I have reasons to suppose that, even if they did happen to he honest-, the tests would fail, for want of knowledge on their part. Mr Meredith said he had made a challenge asking MacKenzie- to make tests of blood samples, taken from people known to he suffering if rom certain diseases, and to give a diagnosis under such conditions as could lie agreed upon by the parties and -approved by the Court. Mr Alyers: Would lie he allowed to take his own blood samples? Air Meredith: He must iiot see the patients. There are honest men in Auckland besides AlacKenzie. AH' Alyers: In ordinary practice, a doctor sees his patient, and gets the history. His Honour: The machine i.s supposed to do the test. It might be possible, he added to have some type of test- after a patient had, been seen. The ease was adjourned till to-mor-row. AUCKLAND, March 12. Dr, Dundas McKenzie, in his evidence said he was an AI.D. of the Homeopathic College of Missouri U.S.A. He was educated in New Zealand, and lie studied at the Otago University for four years. He studied for thee years at the Missouri Homeopathic College. Ho was admitted to the Register in 189(5. His Honour : You took no course in anatomy or surgery at Otago? Witness: Not in human anatomy. “Nor at Missouri?” “Oh, yes!” Continuing, AlcKenzie said he had been through a course of surgery, and ho gave the names of various hospitals in St. Louis and Chicago. He had been practicing in New Zealand for about 30 years and had been in Auckland since 1912. Until lie went to America in 1920, lie had practised as a homeopathic practitioner. “Mr Dickson: “You are nob a believer in surgery?”

WjitinctVs: Surgeßy in ef:s®utial jin: many instances, hut I would say it is always a recognition of defeat in this, that you have to remove wliat you cannot cure.”

In December, 1920, continued AleKenzie, lie went to America with his wife, who was said to be suffering from cancer. He was in America for three months, during which lie studied at tho Abrams Clinic. IBs wife wax examined hy eleven doctors in San Francisco, and their diagnosis was carcinoma. Dr Abrams himself etxamined her at witness’s request, and lie said she had caner. Airs AlacKenzie had six weeks’ treatment hy the Abrams method, and ■she was apparently cured. She had had one recurrence since, hut it had yielded to treatment. Witness returned to New Zealand in April, 1923, bringing hack his Abrams diagnostic outfit and an oscilloclnst, or treatment machine, and lie used it in liis work. While in America lie studied the machine closely, and saw some marvellous cures. Since his return lie had used it in conjunction with general methods. and lie had had some remarkable cures. In four yonr.s he had between 2509 and 309!) cases. His practice continued to be good until an attack was made by the British Medical Association.

Afr Dickson : With regard to the suggestion hy the Afcdioal Board, were you prepared to agree to the tests proposed? Witness: No. Are you now? No! If not, why?