The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-09

science in determining incidentally tho
value Of drugs. and furnishes every rea-
son. every possible reason, for
your accepting the medicinal force
of Christian Science as preseryer OF
health and as a destroyer of disease. that
the medical profession has at any time
asserted for reliance upon material RENE
dies.
uNCoNTRoVERTED PROPOSITION.
IL is an uncontroverted proposition that
the use OF material medicine from the
beginning mas been. and now is based
wholly upon experiment with dumb anil
mails when opportunity offers, and with
men when seeming necessity requires:
and yet IL Is apparent that from such
experiments you can only learn the re-
suit OF the use OF drugs and never the
primal cause OF the result BY closest
observation and most persistent search
you will not be able TO discover why
any specified drug has a specific effect
any more than by searching you can
ascertain why you breathe, or see or hear
mystery that the genius OF the world
has not been able 10 solve
certainly hazard nothing I'm saying
that there Is not a physician living who
can tell you why any drug has its reputed
enect; and with much investigation I
have not been able 10 learn that any
writer upon material medicine from the
Egyptians 10 our own time ever has
attempted 10 solve the mystery of the
action OF medicine, 10 state the reason
why. etc, and doubtless for the simple
reason that the comprehension OF the
cause OF the action OF medicine is not
TO the human understanding attainable
l assert that the aggregate medical
learning OF the world cannot inform Won
why arsenic or strychnine in given guam
tity acts as tonic and IN an infinite
simally increased quantity becomes a re-
morseless poison: or why n given quantity
OF opium Will lull you TO sleep, and a
little more sweep you 10 death All the
doctors know. or can know, respecting
the active properties or therapeutic force
OF the remedies they give Is what they
have learned or may learn from expert
ment
No one will deny that the entire prac.
tice of the administration OF drugs is
based solely upon observation Of actual
tests. and Is wholly dependent upon the
theory that remedy effective In a large
majority of cases. involving sinjiar con-
iitions. Is safe remedy 10 administer in
hat class Of cases: that Is. IL upon trial
actual test, covering. perhaps thousands
" cases Of named disease. the case
being similar In early manifestations.
condition OF pulse. respiration. digestion.
ecretions. etc.
TEST OF DRUG VALUES.
1t is found that a given drug produces a
svorable result in 60, % or 80 per cent
Il the cases tested, then, by the con-
ensus OF medical men the world over. |
I becomes rule, law of material medi- |
Inc. that the given drug Is safe |
me to prescribe In all cases coming with |
n the scope of the experiment made; and |
he result of such test is absolutely the |
Init Of the physicians knowledge upon |
he question Of the choice OF medicine TO |
e used. have stated the rule by which |
he value Of each drug is tested. and [ \
eR you TO understand that am not COM
laining or the rule. that I find no fault /
rith the modus employed by the doctors
\ reaching their ultimate standard of |
Judgment respecting the choice Of the
emedies they use: I'm fact. II might he
RELY conceded that none better could
r can, he suggested and for this argu-
lent do concede that the rule the doc
ors have adopted is the very climax OF
urnan precaution touching a subject that
uman reason cannot compass: and I
efer TO this rule, not TO criticise or les |
sn It's force, but simply 10 invite all |
'ho are satisfied with such test OF the
irtues Of material medicine 10 try by tn.
ime rule the medicinal virtues or healing
over OF tnf1Stan science. |
Some facts respecting the practice OF
hristian Science Will aid YOU in reach
& conclusion respecting its medici-
II virtue. This science has been prac- |
ced I'm this country for about q third |
a century, in very limited way for |
while. hut for the last two decades |
lite extensively. so that now its prac-
iioners are numbered by tens OF thou
nds, and it's patients by hundreds Of
ousands.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE METHODS.
Within 25 years. in the United States
one, quite 1000. 900. including both sexes |
ID all ages. in every variety and condi- |
IN OF climate. have been treated by |
tristan Science methods and cured Of |
manner OF diseases. named and un-
med. substantially covering the whole |
nge OF mortal Affections. There are
me failures. IL is true. but the percent
q or these failures is many times small
that the percentage OF failures under |
'thods OF msteria medica IN any age OF
2 world II we add 10 this statement OF |
ses cured the fact that large propor-
m Of the cures effected by Christian | :
fence were Of persons confessedly be- ,
nd the reach Of material remedies we | :
II have an experimental test OF mental
arapeutics. Divine healing in every | '
~ more satisfactory and conclusive |
an is Afforded OF the curative quality Of | .
y drug I'm the whole history OF medi- Z
le :
submit this simple proposition: IT, as $
elligent men and women. YOU may de-
mine the virtues OF ma terial medicine | J
experiment; ". by human observation | !
experience YOU may ascertain salts 2
'torily 10 your reason the efficacy OF | r
ZEN drug. by percentage OF cures ef- Z
ted by its use then Is 81 not clear be- {
I'd controversy that the same test will | 9
asure with equal accuracy the medical | q
tues Of Christian Scienceg -
nd I'm common fairness and by .he log | b
NJ the axiom that Things equal 10 the | 8
ne things are equal to each other" are y
4 not driven by relentless logic to ac- | y
4 the hundreds Of thousands OF closely -
'erved tests or the merit OF mental | I,
diclne in forming your Judgment of the | o
ative force OF Christian Science? The | b
II has lone since passed when any in | o.
ectuai man. without n shock 10 his | -
raj sense. can say that Christian Sci
q does not have its victories over dis a
o: that II does not restore health. that | N
locs not reclaim the drunkard: that it | g
= not heal wounds OF bone and nesh | "
{ ~ does not give vision 20 the eve and | y
ring 20 the ear: that IL does not | (,
mister TO the mind diseased" In al n