The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-09-08
portionate. Of course Mr.. and Mrs. Will
cox firmly believe it is a

&c
cox firmly believe it isa
DISTINCT CASE OF FAITH CURE.
but they are very reluctant to have any
parade made over an event which seems TO
them and their friends peculiarly sacred.
A praise meeting will be held at the Will
cox residence tomorrow. There is moth
ing in the bearing or speech of either Mr..
or Mrs. Wilcox to suggest fanaticism or in
sincerity. AS they have small but suf-
ficient income from Kansas farm thew
are not candidates for charity, and hence
no improper motive can be suggested in
TINS direction. AS seen this afternoon by
the Tribune correspondent, his vigor and
energy are simply amazing.
This unyarnished statement of facts il
given without an attempt to account for
them. The ease is evidently one which
from scientific point of view, if no other,
merits attention and investigation r,
With the view of securing competent
medical opinion of the case, representa-
tive OF the Tribune sought an an interview
with physician of Minneapolis and brief
ly stated the reported facts. To the reo,est
Tor professional estimate of the case the
doctor replled substantially as follows:
Nothing short Of a full investigation of
the particulars, embracing not alone the
testimony of the patient and his immedi-
ate family, but also of other relatives and
unbiased observers familiar with the facts
OF his illness, and extending itself also to
the written report of its details by present
and past medical attendants, could war
rant the expression ofan ultimate opinion.
The theory of ia prayer cure may be
briefly disposed of from scientific stand
point by saying that certain abnormal
physical conditions, often OF great dura-
ton, have been and still may be, in iso-
lated cases, influenced in the direction of
recovery by that mental condition, how
ever excited, which we are accustomed to
call faith. Beyond this, the theory can
only be regarded scientifically AS without
foundation
Medically, the event, or rather the series
OF events, leading up to this curious reeoy-
cry may be susceptible of one or two ex-
plantations. A number of instances SINH
lar IN history, and eliminating in like
peculiar manner, have proved upon care
full inquiry to be cases of closely simulated
disease. Arguing upon this suggestion,
it need not necessarily be assumed that
the malady had no primary origin in fact,
but rather that some existing complaint
had begotten in the sufferer that peculiar
morbid and frequently observed tendency
toeourt Interrogation of suffering for the
sake OF sympathy. The seemingly long
of disease noted in this instance
has many parallels in detected cases of
felgned malady, and the long-continned
and complete deception of physicians, and
possibly OF personal attendants which this
supposition would involve. has more than
once been successfully accomplished. A
notable illustration is that of a man who
Tor years feigned himself an epileptic of
the gravest type, and sustained the decep-
ton, for the purpose of illicit gain, at the
cost of severe physical injury to himself.
ma before the eyes of a score Of exper-
enced medical observers. 1t is not init
mated that the Wilcox case is such a one.
The fact is stated as bearing on this gener-
Il class Of phenomena. possible explain
atlon which the report suggests is that the
patient is one Of a few rare male sufferers
rom complaint which is almost exclu-
'iyely confined 10 women. viz, hysteria.
It is well known that nervous symptoms
IT strongly imaginative order with a re-
note causal origin and extended duration.
md an abrupt-almost inexplicable cure
ire frequent attendants upon this condi-
ION. An Inability to speak, or to eat or to
lse the voluntary muscles is often of sud-
len appearance and as sudden removal.
Another possibility is that there has been
sudden change in the location of the dis,
'ase, causing present relief.
The element of Imagination, so strongly
of these phenomena may be, when
'xcitcd in another direction, as strongly
operative for their dissipation.
Medical science can probably afford no
'ther explanation of the case in this point,
,ut 1t has, as yet been unable to take
my cOgniZance CT the curative of the pray
II.