H. A. Morton Whitby
H. A. Morton Whitby | |
---|---|
Born | 24 September 1898 |
Died | 1969 |
Occupation | Urologist |
Henry Augustus Morton Whitby (24 September 1898 – 1969) was a British cancer researcher, surgeon and urologist who was best known for inventing an electrical machine that he argued could detect cancer. His machine based on Francis Cutler Ellis's Micro-Dynameter was dismissed by medical experts as quackery.
Biography
Whitby was born in
During
In 1949, Whitby was charged with improper conduct with excessive fees to four of his patients in Durban, South Africa.[2] Whitby had also worked with his wife Marie who was giving treatment but was not a registered medical practitioner. Whitby was found guilty on several counts of attempting to recover excessive fees from his patients. The other counts were discharged but he was cautioned and reprimanded.[2]
He married Marie Augusta Krauss on July 19, 1954.[1] Krauss was known for smuggling allied airman out of German-occupied Europe during World War II. She died in 1993.[3]
Cancer research
Whitby was an alternative cancer treatment advocate. In 1959, he founded the Cancer Prevention Detection Centre in London and was its director (1959–1969).[1]
Whitby invented an electrical machine that he argued could detect cancer.[2] His device was inspired by the Ellis Micro-Dynameter of Francis Cutler Ellis (1890–1957), an engineer from Chicago. The device worked by attaching electrodes on the skin with the galvanometer measuring the "dynamic current", "potential energy", "acid/alkaline balance" and "skin current" of the human body.[4] Whitby argued the machine could detect many other diseases. Caroline Bedell Thomas criticized Whitby "for offering hardly a vestige of experimental proof".[4]
In 1961, Whitby sent out newspaper advertisements for his Centre and had collected donations from the general public to fund research for the centre. His Centre was alleged to have had 650 volunteers for biochemical and electronic investigations.
Whitby's claims about his electrical machine detecting cancer were rejected by the medical community due to lack of evidence.
In the United States, Whitby's books were advertised and sold with the Ellis Micro-Dynameter with false health claims of the machine detecting 55 diseases.
Selected publications
- Theory of Life, Disease and Death (1945)
- Investigations of Disease (1951)
- When Body Controls Mind (1952)
- A Surgeon's Adventures (1959)
- Courage Her Passport (1963)
- Cancer: Its Prevention and Early Detection (1964)
- Preservation Of Health (1967)
- Bio-electronic Detection of Cancer and Other Diseases (1967)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Contemporary Authors, Volume 1. Gale Research Company, 1975. p. 668
- ^ JSTOR 20381168.
- ^ "Lt D.W. Gay's War Effort - death of Marie Augusta Krauss". historyofwar.org. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
- ^ JSTOR 2810583.
- ^ Surgeon ordered to be struck off register. The Straits Times (May 30, 1963). p. 3
- JSTOR 25399727.
- JSTOR 25410301.
- ^ a b "Notices of judgment under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. no.7121-8140,8081-8240,8281-8680 1963-1966". hathitrust.org. Retrieved 29 November 2023.