The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-12

sis? have known seemingly incurable
cases which one physician pronounced
hopeless, when taken in hand by
another physician became cured COM
pletely. What would of become of
David Harum,' one of the best speci-
mems of American literature, had
Judge Baldwins ideas been operated
against Edward Noyes Westcott, the
consumptive author who did not live
to see his work published but produced
it while in the clutch of the grim reaper?
No, there can pc but one general stan
dard, and that is to combat death to
the last"
Dr. e. o. Morrow: "One of the most
unreasonable propositions 1 ever heard
of. Why, am satisfied that no physi-
clan in Canton or any other place ever
gave opiates to shorten life and am
sure they never will do so. 1 have
known the most afflicted people appar-
emily incurable, to recover become good
citizens and live for years. BY what
right have we to pronounce sentence
and kill human being? The idea is
ridiculous and entirely unsupported by
reason. The absurdity of a physician
or any other person killing a patient
simply because that physician, or a
half dozen physicians, say he will never
get WELL is too apparent to be further
discussed. Man wants to live and he
should be given every chance until the
last summons comes"
DR.. e. j. March: "It would be pretty
hard to draw the line. 1t would be cruel
in the extreme and inhuman. 1t would
be revolving to all persons who have a
feeling for their unfortunate friends.
And furthermore, the individual has q
right to live as long as nature permits
that being to survive. 1t would be
just as revolving where man who is
growing old, that his life should be
taken or destroyed. 1t is impossible,
inhuman and terribly cruel"
DR.. S. A. Conklin: circumstances
have great deal to do with this matter.
1t is my opinion that in certain cases
where a patient is suffering from some
fatal disease, which must soon bring
him to a painful death, attended with
great agony, it would perfectly proper
and justifiable, from a scientific stand
point to aid him to die an easy death,
| providing the patient expressed that as
| his wish. On the other hand, under
different circumstances, it would be
proper to prolong life in as comfortable
manner as possible"
Dr. E. G.. Myers: II am not in favor
of the doctrine Physicians have two
missions, one to cure, and where cure
is impossible, to prolong life with as
little pain as possible. This can usually
be accomplished and drugs may be ad-
ministered which will produce comfort
and deaden pain without shortening
| life"
Dr. James Fraunfelter: "In the first
place this idea Is against the law. 1t
is a crime to shorten life or to intention
ally kill patient, no matter how severe
his sufferings. Were it provided for in
the statutes, in some incurable diseases
attended with great pain and death in
the near future, with the patients wish,
1 believe it would be a good thing. But
board should be provided for that pur-
pose, for 1 know 1 should never do 1t
no matter how beneficial or desirable it
might be-"
DR.. II. II. Chamberlain: II am in fav-
or of that doctrine, taken conserva-
lively; that is, 1 would not want to take
it in it's most liberal application. But
there are cases, I believe, where death
with the wish of the patient, would be
blessing for all concerned. That has
been an idea Of mine for several years,
and has been suggested to me time and
again by cases of the kind mentioned.
or course, where life can be prolonged
for some tins without so much pain
and inconvenience, our duty Is plainly
to prolong life as long as possible