THE ABRAMS’ BOX.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1925, Page 4

THE ABRAMS’ BOX.

SIR JA.UKS BAKU DECLARES ITS \ Acl'E. LONDON. July Abrahams’ Akntioits ol Diagunsis Treatment, by T. -Mather Thomson, is a book that is certain to be the cause ol controversy, because it deals witli the electrical treatment deviseil by the American, Dr. Abrahams, which last February was me subject ol a report. by a committee with Sir Thoma* tlorder as chairman. The Holder Committee reported that there was truth in the claim that disease produced (Allan electrical reactions in the Abrams' box, but was generally unfavourable to the box and to Abrams' claims. lo the present volume Sir James Harr contributes a, “ Foreword,’’ in which he lakes up the cudgels for Dr Ahrams whole-heartedly. Sir James is a former president of the ISritish -Medical Association. an enthusiastic eugenist. one of the host-known Liverpool physicians, and author of numerous wellknown medical works, lie says: “ In my oomion during the last ob years medicine has only produced two geniuses—Albert Abrams facile princeps, and Almorth Wright. These two men by their work have saved and will continue to save thousand, nay tens of thousands ol lives; yet the lormei was hounded to death by his proles--it,mil brethren, and the latter has never received" the recognition to which his monumental work entitled him. Sir James Harr scofls at current clinical methods, and says: “Ahrams was ever on the out look to improve his methods ol diagnosis >•' as to detect disease in its very incipience when it could be arrested. I have often said that Abrams’ methods demand an acute touch ; hut he recognised that every medical man was not thus endowed, and for those who were not adepts at percussion he invented various instruments.” As for his results. Sir James states: “ I had no means ol checking his (.Milams’) work exuept by repeating it myself. I never tailed lo duplicate anv of his experiments on ihe first l rial.” KKI’I.Y TO lIORDEIt REPORT. lie indignantly protests against •The reflection cast upon the honour of A brains’ pract il loners by lhe authors of the Holder report . . .in a statement, in support el which no evidence could he brought, 1 that they were 'ethically unjustified ’ in helping the sick liv the use of Ahrams’ methods.’ The book contains an appreciation oi Abrams (who was the son ol very Healthy parents, and wa- lor many years a professor in the l.elaml Stanford Cnivi'i-sity ol California), a reply In unfavourable critii isnis. and a number of case reports, concluding villi an ai-ccimi oi the electrical a pp.i I'si I lls. contributed !»v Ur I'., lafor Jones, of (’’Diversity College, Ranger. I In- is illustrated with a diagram. Dr Jones is well known as a physicist, and his authority stands high.