The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-13

There is little paper out in Kansas
called the Atchson Globe, and it has
achieved national fame through the med
ium OF brief and pointed paragraphs called
Globe Sights" 1t has recently taken 10
printing one of these paragraphs straight
across the top of the first page of each is
sue. presumably selecting the most pointed
and timely of each days output for that
position. In this typographical pulpit re-
Gently appeared the query:
What Would Christian Science Healer Do
With Case OF smallpox: Think About Ii.
Rum
This paragraph is fitted for the text of
an instructive and up-to-date sermon. In
fact it is a sermon in itself A newspaper
paragraph should be, as Eugene Field said,
'as pointed as tack II should have a
timely subieGt-that is the head-and
brief and well expressed comment-that is
the point-and the public will do the ham
mering.
Smallpox is one of the diseases which
have not been successfully treated by
Christian Science. and if all that the heal
ers claim were true. there is no earthly
reason why they should dodge this disease
and continue to treat diphtheria, typhoid
fever, burns and scalds and consumption.
AS a rule, there are but few people anx-
ious to nurse case Of smallpox, even if
they have had ii themselves. There is a
wide field for usefulness in that direction.
and as the old preacher said, all they have
to do is TO pray 10 de Lord to let down
cure, faith cure laying on of hands by
| royalty. the influence of excitement, and
| all other forms of mental healing have
failed in the case OF a smallpox epidemic.
| Something of the kind seems TO have been
! tried in South Carolina not long ago when
| a mob came to the house where Il smallpox
| patient had been isolated, broke open the
! door and burned the house leaving the pa
| tient to crawl OFF in the fields and die by
/ himself. But so far from checking the
| spread of the disease. ii seems if this
| way OF informing people that smallpox is
| a crime would be likely TO result in de-
cided increase in the number of cases.
| ManifestIy, if smallpox is made punishable
by death. the ignorant will conceal their
friends and relatives who happen TO have
| it and take the chances of infection for
themselves. That form of Christian Science
can hardly be effective.
There have been cases in which doctors
| and nurses have gone through an epidemic
of this plague seemingly without harm.
They have spent their entire time in the
closest contact with the sick and have APP
parently been under some special protec-
ton which kept them alive, while Others
we're dying around them. But in most
cases they have sooner or later succumbed
to the malady. though often recovering
Moreover, the doctor and the nurse under
stand taking care of themselves, and ar,
usually fortified against the assaults of con
tagous disease by good habits. regular lives
and freedom from fear. AS everyone knows
the abject fright which seizes com
munity at the appearance of an epidemic
weakens and unnerves the whole system
and causes people TO lose their presence o
mind and neglect precautions which the!
would otherwise take. The physicians ant
nurses know that they must not yield L
r fear, and they also know exactly how the
2 would feel If they were to be seized wit