The evening times., 1899-02-10
Children and Christian Science.

Children and Christian Science.
continue to ignore the death of children at
the hands of class of mercenary persons
calling themselves Christian Scientists.
We believe there has never been a sue
cessful prosecution of anybody either pa
rents or "healers,' where the neglect of
medical treatment has resulted in death.
Their exemption from punishment has en-
boldened the Christian Science mercenaries
10 extend their field of operations so that
their record of deaths is becoming larger
every year. At first they were satisfied
10 prey on chronic inyalids, on the vic
Tins of nervous disorders, and on those who
suffer slight ailments Now some of them
undertake the treatment of anything which
is not known to be contagious; even surgi-
cal cases.
In a few years, it is safe 10 say, the
deaths at their hands will be so numerous
that society will demand their suppression
Already the children who have been sacri-
feed TO their ignorance daring. and cupidi-
ty have reached a number where the natu-
raj guardians of the lives of children, the
educated, authorized medical practitioners,
are beginning to move for more specific
legislation on the subject. Doubtless there
are laws enough everywhere touching the
failure to call in medical or surgical aid
in case of sickness or injury that threatens
the life of a child; but where the omission
is not due to rank carelessness or indiffer-
ence or malice, but only to ignorance, it
has been the rule to take no legal steps
against those who are at fault. Where
such persons are under the Christian Sci
ence delusion, the absence of malice has
exempted them from prosecution.
Why the mercenary .healers" should be
| allowed TO bring death TO children, espe-
! cially, by crowding out qualified practi-
| tioners; why they should be allowed to
usurp the functions of the latter under the
plea that their rites are religious, we are
unable to see. An investigation would
probably show that many of the parents Of
children who have died under these rites
| have understood that Christian Science is
! merely new form of ''doctoring" and
| have submitted because of the promises of
| the glib-tongued mercenaries; that they
| have never thought Of ii as religion. But
| apart from that, society is under no bonds
to tolerate a religion that endangers the
| lives of children. good many religions
have been prohibited on moral grounds.
| There is just now a great outcry because
| a Utah man recently elected to Congress
continues to recognize and support three
wives which his religion authorized him to
seal unto himself.
The utter absurdity rank folly and stu
penduous nonsense involved in the Chris
| tian Science treatment of a baby should
be obvious to the most timid of prosecut
ing officers. The death of a single infant
under the care of healer is enough to
| condemn the whole business as far as the
| treatment of children goes. 1t is mani
| festly impossible for the baby to achieve
! the delusion that it has got diphtheria or
scarlatina from another child in the fami-
| ly. That IT does get il and sometimes dies
| from it, is beyond all question. The Chris
tian Science person is bound to maintain
| that it has developed an amazing intellect
TO be able to present all the symptoms of
| specific disease as the result of perverted
| thought or else he must deny that the
false membrane is present, in case of diph-
| liberia, and deny that the baby is dead
| Anyhow. he takes his fee and is exempt
from punishment, although the life of the
little one might have been saved by the
timely attention of a qualified physician.
Whether the Christian Science person is
himself deluded or merely makes dupes of
Others it is certain that he looks on the
business as an occupation and a means of
| a livelihood. Whether he deserves pun
ishment for reckless disregard of human
life, or should merely be repressed as a
dangerously credulous person, is to be de-
! termined in each case according to the
! evidence. But that the whole brood should
| be prevented from inflicting death on chill
dren and helpless sick adults by depriving
| them of all medical care, is a reasonable
/ proposition.