The Worthington advance., 1878-12-26
MEDICAL EGOT7sM ~. FACT;

III hetp1u8 lilo ANCl0 III tAo C%soo "a
Moll,e Fancher, the Brooklyn clairvoy-
ant, before the public. Doctors, cler-
gyman, and, all others having any
knowledge Of the facts, and doctors
without knowledge Of the facts, are ill
terviewed end their statements and
opinions published.
There are two classes giving their !
views: ~ those acquainted with the !
facts, who are positive rs to her powers;
(2) the egotistical and dogmatic doc
tors, who put Oh u great show Of SCI
entifc knowledge and try to ''pooh"
down the whole matter.
First among the medical egotists
and dogmatists is DR.. Geo. NJ. Beard.
lie disposes Of the whole question by
saying:
"Now, as to the claim of clairvoy-
ance, mind-reading and prophetic pow
er. 1t is an old claim, brought to our
attention continually. know that
she doesn't have it. don't have to
investigate. It is not scientific to i'll
ScSlIbhlc SuCIi pAcIcNo'hS. AAtIy Fnyo-
iologist of involuntary life who has
studied this side of physiology, trance
and the like, knows that these three
things are not possible, for it is Il
formulated law of physiology that no
human being has or can have any
quality different in kind from those
that belong to the race"
Next to Beard, comes DR.. Hammond,
the caslliered. Surgeon General of the
army. In an interview with the Sun
reporter, he disposed of the case as fol-
lows:
IL have read the article on Miss Fam
cher published in to-days Sum-" said
DR.. William a. Hammond; ''read it all
through carefully"
"Well, what do you think of it, Doc
| tor?''
What do I think of it? Why. that it is
a perfect humbug-: clear case of de-
ception, sir"
But, Doctor, there is the testimony
of such men as the Rev. DR.. Duryea,
the Rev. DR.. Van Dyck, Prof. West,
| Henry Parkhurst, the astronomer, and
such physicians as Drs. Speir, Ormis-
ton, Kissam and Mitchell?"
II don't mean to say that the writer
of that article has not been told all that
he has written. or that the gentlemen
named are not honest III their opinions.
But know that they are all deceived
lied to by that hysterical girl
''But just see what tests she was
subjected to. How can there be any
deception?"
"Well, there is deception in it ALL
said the Doctor, vigorously: Its all
humbug. Why. my dear fell low, she
isn't the first girl that has deceived
learned and good. men. There are
plenty of cases of similar hysteria, and
Miss Fancher's case is one. l havn't
seen her, never heard of her before
but l have heard of SO m any other sim
liar cases that I do not hesitate tC
speak strongly about it,"
On the other hand, We have the .tes
timony of doctors, clergymen and 9th
ers who know the facts.
Professor Charles f. West, Of the
Brooklyn Heights Seminary, said to thu
same reporter:
"And 50 the medical men Of New
York city don't believe we know what
we are talking about over here; that
our testimony is of 40 value in thi!
case because we are non-experts ant
that we are all wrong when we say w
have seen these things. Well, what O
it? What difference does it MAKE
whether they believe it or not? 1t dom
alter the facts in the case. If yo&
have seen thing over and over again
and know that you have seen it, ant
somebody who has never seen it say
, that you havn't seen it, what difference
=. does 1t make TO you, us far as you
8 knowledge Of the case is concerned
Do you Immediately conclude that 20,
are wrong. and that this man is right
don't. Now, it doesn't make a par
tlcle Of difference to me whether the,
believe me or not. don't blame then
for not believing me. knew that TIN
publication of the case would bring on
= Just such criticism rs this, but it dom
alter the facts. am not trying to lie
ceive any one. am, believe, 4 com
mon -spnse man. have. us Il pl,ysicis
and Il chemist, been dealing with fact
E all my life. But when I see this gir
, do these wonderful things over am
over again, know that I am no
wrong III my conclusions; that is, Ill
l. less there is something radically wron
9 with my eyesig It, and l don't believ
I there is.
t Dr.. Spier, one Of the girls physicians
S says she tells him when he starts fo
1 her house, sees him when standing q
u the door, though there are walls an
9 closed doors between, and once 81!
y told him that parties were about to 70
Y him and next day lie was robbed of
6 case of surgical instruments.
Dr.. Ormiston, another of the attent
4 ing physicians, testifies that he h:
l. made tests which convince him thu
: she eats no more than she pretends t
= and has not. in all this II to 1t year.
d eaten more than q healthy man woul
r eat at 4 meal.
. DR.. Mitchell testifes substantially
- the same facts. He says:
y ''Dr. Speir knows all about the ca.
o more than any man living. l wou
l. take his testimony without reserve.
ls lie says she has the power of secol
sight. then believe she has, thong
Dr. Beard would call that human te
timony, and therefore valueless.'
r. Rev. DR.. Duryea, the leading clerg
70 man of the Dutch Reformed Church
- New York, unhesitatingly says it
# not a case Of deception. He says:
r. l know what say when say it
" not hysteria. These men have no b,,
y iness to argue up to \ snpposititio,
s. case. Let them first make their cas-
and argue from it. Then their view
r. may be Of more weight. I have SCI
70 too much in asylums and III fever cas-
~ of such manifestations as those we Il
~ talking Of to be startled ut what Il
I'd human mind can do outside of Il
rs body. am glad this case has be.
!, made public and that it is attractil
" 49, so much attention. The scientific m,
!" haye been having their say. Now let
3. see what there is to he said in behalf
he the spirit. l like to see such mantle