The herald., 1895-03-22
PRAYER IS THE MEDICINE
Sad Death of q Young
Mother at Whittier
HER HUSBAND 4 CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
He Refuses to Summon Regular
Physicians to Help Her
SHE DIED A RAVING MANIAC
The Quack Who Attended Her Refused
Medicine
DR.. Campbell Will Make a Thorough
Investigation
Rev. Mr.. Wright Of the Humane Society
He Refuses to Summon Regular
Physicians to Help Her
SHE DIED A RAVING MANIAC
The Quack Who Attended Her Refused
Medicine
Dr.. Campbell Will Make a Thorough
Investigation
Rev. Mr.. Wright Of the Humane Society
Urged the Husband to Secure
Doctor, In Vain

Last evening there died at Whittier a
young woman under circum stances that
Coroner Campbell will very thoroughly in
vestigate today.
Mrs. Ella Sams, the young wife of a
blacksmith, a fortnight ago gave birth to
child. During all the agony of mater
nifty she had not the benefit of skilled
medical attendance, nor even of careful
nursing. In fact, she was surrounded by
throng of quacks. and it was their Grim
inal ignorance that caused her death last
night.
The husband of Mrs. Samis, young
man OF meagre education, and, from all
appearances, of not very great intelli-
gence, is what is called Christian Scien-
tist and when his wife was confined he
called in practitioner of that peculiar
schism, "Dr." Cook, of Los Angeles.
The poor woman was not given any
sary in such cases. "Dr." Cook did not
believe in anything of that sort. He just
prayed that she might get well. Forum
ately for awhile there were no complica-
tions, and at the end of three days Cook
thought his patient was sufficiently strong
to leave her bed and go about her usual
duties. So he ordered her to get up, which
she did.
But not being of very vigorous consti-
tuition she was soon obliged to return to
bed. In short time puerperl fever set
in. DR." Cook was again called ln and
as before he applied no remedies OF any
sort, even at this dangerous stage of her
illness.
The fever unchecked soon made the
woman mad. She groaned and laughed
screamed with the pain, and all the while
"Dr. Cook prayed that she might get
wen, and urged the. demented woman to
have faith in her recovery.
The neighbors heard of the state of
affairs and urged the husband To call in a
The mother OF the young wife watched at
the bedside of her daughter but was not
permitted to use even the homely REM
edies that she might have applied. She,
too. asked Samis to send for doctor. but
to her, he replied mo-
Several days after, Mr.. Wright. the agent
of the Los Angeles Humane Society was
at Whittier and his attention was called
to the case by the constable of the town.
With that officer he went over to the
house where. the woman was lying ill.
Samis himself came to the door. After
few preliminary questions Mr.. Wright
asked Samis how his wife was
She has been very ill, but is getting
better now,' was the reply.
Who is attending her?"
DR.. Cook of Los Angeles
is he regular physician?"
He is Christian Scientist
''Will you allow myself and the con-
stable to 60 in and see her?'
''No, sir, 1 will not"
''But do you know that you are taking
a risk upon yourself by refusing to allow
your wife to have regular medical attend
ance?'
well, will take the chances
There was good deal more said about
the matter but Mr.. Wright could not per-
suade the blacksmith to employ a COM
petent physician.
During his entire conversation he was
standing not over four feet from the room
in which the sick woman lay. He could
hear her shrieking and screaming in her
and laugh. All this time the faith doctor
was in the house praying for her and
with her, but his prayers did not ease her
pain nor stop her delrious screams.
Samnis persisted in the determination
he had expressed to Mr.. Wright, and last
have to explain to Coroner Campbell and
jury why he kept aid from the sick
woman.
Mr.. Wright has taken great interest in
the case, and declares that If possible he
will punish Samns through the law.
II am told" he said last night. that
there are a great many of these Christian
Scientists, so-called. at Whittier. l know
they are very numerous in this part of
the state. | have prosecuted several OF
them before, and over in Pasadena I
obtained conviction once. The little
son of man there broke his arm. The
father for week refused to allow it to be
attended to. Finally had him arrested,
and the doctors said that in another day
or two the boys arm would have to have
been cut off. don't know that there is
any law to reach Samis, but if there is |
am going to find it,"
Coroner Campbell says he will make a
very thorough investigation of the case.