The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-16

tian science end allied methods is not
practicing medicine would be special
act by the next Legislature forbidding un-
der heavy penalties attempts to cure
disease for fee or reward by any method
whatever without first having obtained a
license from the Board of Medical Exam
iners. If these methods be good and eff
fective let them be employed, but insist
upon it that the practitioner who assumes
such terrible responsibility knows what
he IS about.
It is sincerely to be houed that this
tragic object lesson will bear fruit in saw
ing our people from the fads and vagaries
of ignorant, if sometimes sincere persons
RICHARD H. BATTLE.
DIR. BAKERS VIEWS.
To the dtor:-Replying to your ques-
ton: What should the State do in regard
to the death of the little boy in Newbern
under the treatment of Christian Scien-
tist," I would say that liberal construc-
tion of the laws of North Carolina regu-
lating the practice of medicine and sur
gerry makes the operator" or healer"
guilty of a misdemeanor, and liable to
punishment accordingly. The laws of
1881 and 1889, it seems. are conclusive on
this point. Chapter 181, part of sections
4 and ) laws of 1889, says: "Any person
who shall practice or attempt to practice
medicine or surgery in the State without
first having registered and obtained GER
tificate as aforesaid, shall be guilty OF q
misdemeanor, &C." The Supreme Court
in State VS. Van Doran. 1O9 n. c.. page
S64, says: 'To constitute the offence of
practicing medicine under acts OF 1881
without registration, etc, it is not neces-
sary to allege or prove the person prac-
ticed upon; it is sufficient if the defend
ant held himself out to the public as
physician" A physician is one who prac-
tees medicine. Medicine is defined
STANDARD Dictionary: "The healing art;
the science of the preservation of health,
and the treating diseases for the purpose
of cure. Among the North American In
dams anything supposed to influence the
Gods favorably."
The practice of medicine is not simply
the administration of drugs, or the direc-
tion for the internal use of certain vegeta
bic or mineral substances. 1t includes
all means used for the cure of disease,
or the practice of the art of healing Any
person holding himself out to the public
as a healer although he may not call
himself physician, is attempting to prac-
tiee the healing art, and in such capacity
should be compelled to comply with the
laws, or suffer the penalty.
The recent case in Newbern is the first
warning of the invasion of the State by
a fanatical sect of charlatans. By claim
ing certain dependence upon religion and
under the cognomen of Christian Science,
a most dangerous application of hypno-
tism is practiced. Suggestive therapeu-
tics. IN the hands Of an honorable and in
telligent practitioner, has it's field of use
fulness but in the hands of ignorant and
fanatical laymen, making use of the nat
ural inclination to look with reverence
for. and awe upon, things connected with
the Divine, it is both dangerous and BIAS
phemous. 1t is in violation of both civil
and religious laws.
The words christian and science used
in the combination are simply terms to
coniure with. and to fix more firmly and
readily upon the mind of the individual
the hypnotic influence sought to be ex-
erted.
The Newbern case, according to the
report. was one of ordinary malarial in
lection, scientifically considered, it is q
disease produced by the entrance into the
blood of peculiar form of parasite, whose
life he's been studied and whose ravages
are we'll known. as is also the methods
of destroying it. To stand over the sick
child and tell him he was WE'LL" expect
ing thereby to destroy this parasite is ar
rogating to the operator superhuman pow
cr. To attempt this by suggestion, or
hypnotic influence, is display of criminal
ignorance of the power attempted to be
exerted. AS we'll might the operator
or healer" allow one to plant a seed of !
cotton or corn, under favorable environ |
ments and stand over it and tell it not to
terminate and grow, expecting it to do
as commanded.
The failure to recognize we'll established
principles and to use the means of re- |
lief we'll known in every household in. the |
land, resulted in this case. as it always
will, in disastrous results. The combina- /
ton of ignorance, superstition, fanaticism |
charlatanism makes victims of the inno-
cent, and the State should protect them. |
IT, as we believe, the laws cited are suffi- |
cient, the Judges of the criminal courts |
should be asked to call the attention of |
the grand jury to> all violations of this
character If the laws regulating the |
GTdCIlC6 o. InGClcln6 40 not cover the |
case, then certainly the criminal statutes |
do, and the solicitors should be urged to |
investigate each case, and whenever such !
criminal carelessness or negligence can |
be discovered as to justify it, indictments
for manslaughter should follow. But as
no law can be enforced unless it has the
of the community, the people |
should be made to understand the folly
and the danger of such evils. Should /
this be done there would be an earnest |
cooperation with the officers of the law
in their efforts to punish the offender,
and eradicate the evil. If on the. other
hand the present laws do not cover the
case, then certainly the coming Legisla
ture should be asked to pass a law that
would be sufficient to protect the citizens
of the State
Yours truly.
JULIAN M. BAKER.
DIR. McKEE'S VIEWS.
To the Editor: Replying to your COM
of the 18th instant will state.