Letters

- 1 May 1990

Dear Sir,

David Shanks’ report on Mr Beta and Filippino psychic surgery reminded me of Brian Edwards’ investigations of this on his Saturday night TV show many years ago. He used a Filippino magician to present a very convincing demonstration of the bloodless removal of offending growths from a sufferer. He then revealed the true identity of the “surgeon” and they gave a detailed demonstration of the trickery used in the operation. It was a very powerful presentation and must have been seen by thousands of viewers.

If support for the Filippino psychic surgeons is again developing in New Zealand a reminder of the Edwards demonstration—perhaps a repeat showing—would be timely.

Denis Hogan

Dear Sir,

In view of our activities at the recent Conference, I suggest the following quotation from the Roman poet Horace as a motto for NZCSICOP:

Incedis per ignis

suppositos cineri doloso.

[You tread over fires hidden under a treacherous crust of ashes.]

G. A. Vignaux