The San Francisco call., 1896-08-11
Prominent Doctors and Clergy
men Discuss the
Subject.
SOME STARTLING STATEMENTS.
When Mans Sufferings Are Hopeless
He Should Be Quietly Put
to Sleep.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, |

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN RANCISC0 GALL
90S Broadway, Aug. 10.
The sensational and unusual remarks of
Rev. DR.. Wendte regarding suicide and
the disposal by humane death of lepers
and all who may be afflicted with incur
able diseases, has raised turmoil of dis
cussion among ministers, doctors and
humanItarians. Throughout to-day it has
been a more prominent subject before the
public than local politics.
The remarks which caused such great
interest were made by Rev. DR.. Wendte in
his pulpit at the First Unitarian Church
last night. His subject was "The HUI
manitarian Spirit, and it at once gave
rise TO wide divergence of opinion among
the congregation. This was manifested
by the animated discussion which took
place on the subject in the pastors Bible
class after morning service.
DR.. Burchard, DR.. Won Adelung, Rev.
G. w. Allen, B. C. Cavellia, Rev. Joseph
Adams, Miss Elsie Sinclair and J. w.
Stetson took part in the discussion, and
the general verdict was that DR.. Wendte's
views needed much thought and delibera-
ton before a positive opinion regarding
them could be pronounced.
at the request of The CALL DR.. Wendte
has written out his remarks on the sub
ject, as his address was delivered from the
most meager of notes.
After a review of the moral ascent of
mankind from primitive and brutal
savagery to its present social refinement,
sympathy and tenderness toward all
forms of suffering, Mr.. Wendte spoke of
ho 10 0s - h. - II l.,
diseased, especially If also impoverished.
He urged the establishment of wards for
incurables in connection with all public
hospitals.
But" he continued, "a step beyond
this is needed, and it is one which civil
lied society is about ready to take. re-
fer to the humane disposal of those who
are suffering needless and cruel tortures
and whose death is inevitable. Why seek
as now. 10 prolong their agonies? Why
exhaust the resources of medical science
to keep them in misery? Would it not be
a more Christian act to put them gently
out of pain? We mercifully end the life
OF a suffering horse or dog whose restora-
ton is impossible. Shall we be less merci-
full to our human kind than to the brute
creation?
"But who is to take the responsibility
in such case? Certainly not the medical
man. On the battlefield some latitude
may be allowable to him, and doubtless
many poor shattered victim of sword
and bullet whose recovery was impossible,
and whose further exposure to the pitiless
elements or the rude appliances of the
field hospital would have been needless
cruelty, was humanely put to death by
the administration of sleeping potion at
the hands of the wise and tender surgeon.
But in the ordinary course of life no single
individua! is to be entrusted with so grave
responsibility.
'Shall we the continue as now, power
less to relieve the fearful suffering of SO
many unfortunates, turning deaf ear to
their entreaties and leaving them one re-
source-sulcide ?"
Some time since an engineer was
hurled over a trestle and pinned under his
engine in the bed of creek. He implored
the bystanders to shoot him and put an
end to his agony. In vain. At length the
rising tide, mole merciful than man,
pressed to his lips the blissful portion OF
death. Was this refusal to relieve the
sufferer rightP Was it not cruel and un-
Christian?
''Under similar circumstances the vic
Tins have been known to commit suicide.
1t is equally so where wasting disease,
for which no earthly alienation exists,
tortures our brothers. frame and dooms
him to hideous death. Surely in such
case help and relief should be brought
= if ha asks II al Ol1r hands
"Twenty-five years or more ago an engi-
neer of eminence in France, afflicted with
terrible inherited disease, of which he
had seen his own father perish under
aggravated tortures, took his own life. In
his will he explained the motive of his
deed and left to the French Government
large bequest for the establishment
OF commission OH euthanasia. 1t
was 10 consist of number of
medical men and representatives. of
the Government. To this tribunal was TO
be submitted any petition for examina-
ton and release which might be sub
mitted by the incurably diseased and in
dorsed by their families. If they were
found incapable OF recovery and sure to
endure great and needless agony, the COM
mission was TO be empowered to gently
and humanely put them out OF suffering
and give them a release into a better
world. The French Government, largely
influenced, it was claimed, by clerical
counsels declined to accept the trust.
"sIn this, believe, it did wrong. Though
appreciate the difficulties attending the
matter, and what special danger to society
it may seem to carry with it, yet believe
that the time is rapidly approaching when
under proper safeguards euthanasia will
be considered eminently wise, humane
and Christian.
"God speed the day when men shall rid
themselves of theological and personal
prejudlces and act as justice dictates and
mercy requires"
Mr.. Wendte is the president of the
Alameda County Society for the Proven
tion OF Cruelty, which may in part account
for his interest in this matter.
The estimate OF the yield of the potato
crop in Great Britain shows that on 535, 900
acres a crop of 3,o5S 0O5 tons was secured,
against an alTnost exactly similar Quantlty