The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-05-31
PASTOR AND PHYSICIAN.
The Dangers of tuberculosis Dis
cussed by a Physician.

The question of guarding against
Tuberculosis has lately absorbed much
attention, and practical suggestions
are always welcome. The subject has
been more or less discussed by our
local physicians.
"The pastor and physician occupy
corelative positions in the perfor-
nance of their respective official du-
ties," said prominent physician to-
day. "The pastor as guardian of
the spiritual and moral affairs of life
directly aids in the fulfillment of the
desired trophy laXis which tends to
elevate the standard of public health.
The physician, in restoring again the
disordered body to it's normal status,
in alleViating pain, in tireless devo-
tion to save life, directly exemplifies
the divine teaching of our Lord and
Savior. AS servants of the public
they stand prepared to do all in their
power for the spiritual and physical
well being of their people. Recent
scientific explorations in Palestine
have thrown new light upon doubt
full passages in scripture, adding new
lustre to he already brilliant record
by the clergy.
''Recent scientific Investigations in
medicine have during the past ten
years revolutionized commonly &C
copied theories and today we stand
upon higher ground and commune
more closely with nature itself as
manifested in it's various phases in
health and disease. The one profess
sion should be reciprocal to the other.
The physician Of today, with the re-
suits attained by archaeological re-
search, performs surgical feats
which only few years ago would
have been impossibilities. The trans.
mission of various diseases, once a
matter of uncertainty, is now a
thing of absolute certainty. Among
these none is more common or fatal
than tuberculosis and to the careful
evidence of the transmission OF this
terrible disease, too much considera-
tion cannot be given. The physician
of today in his practice fulfills what
science has taught; but the pastor in
his sphere still disregards scientific
teaching on this subject and although
volumes have been written on the
subject, today we witness the same
careless disregard of the transmission
of tuberculosis as in bygone years when
nothing definite was known on the
subject | refer more especially to
the communion feast or the sacrament
of the Lords supper. In our churches
from one to four cups are used in this
service from which all sip. Alas, who
can estimate the myriads OF various
bacterian contained in that cup as it
passes from lip to lip and how many
healthful lives can be infected, to
waste away on beds of sickness and at
last by the 'dispensation of provi-
dence' be taken away from loving re-
Iatives and friends. The practice is
unscientific and wrong. 1t might dc
for the middle ages, but not for the
nineteenth century. tuberculosis
and kindred infectious diseases are
very common, be it in city or hamlet,
varying only according to the density
of population and the popularity OF
climatic conditions. Participation
| in the Lords supper is a tribute al
should pay to their Savior, be they
sick or well, and especially so the
sick, for who can tell how soon they
will be called to meet their Creator
but let us employ safeguards SO that a
phthisical patient unwillingly may
not infect whole congregation, as II
possible under present regulations. Ii
the performance of this solemn ser
vice, religion and science should q
hand in hand, small glasses on clrcu
| lar trays can be employed, each tray