The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-28
CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
ON THE LEWIS CASE.

| charge; secondly, that II was a menace to
| public health that the case was not re-
| ported sooner. Although the first thing
| the doctor did was TO report
| the case himself, yet the family,
who were I'm daily contact with
the patient, up to the time the
| physicians took the case, were not quar-
antined and were not instructed To stay
at home, but instead were allowed TO WIS.,
| Ii around the neighborhood. We have no
idea that the board of health desires
cases reported to them for the purpose OF
giving absent treatment or that they be-
lieve patients do better because of being
reported.
1t is said that the Christian Science
healer refused to admit that the child was
Ill. SO much has been said i'm the press
about the fact that Christian Scientists
ignore disease that l deem 1t, necessary
to consider this point briefly While the
adherents of this faith differ in their
understanding of the nature of disease
and it's proper remedy, yet they recognize
that disease and sin exist I'm human eX-
perlence, and must be grappled with and
overcome through the power OF God
They are anxious to quarantine their pa
tients, even before having been so in
structed by the law, because they have
no desire TO incur the unnecessary labor
and risk from having their sick mingled
with others.
AS 10 whether the parents OF this child
were Christian Scientists, / have nothing
to say. They arc able TO speak for them
selves in this respect. 1 am informed that
the father has repeatedly been much
benefited through this science, and for
this reason IL was believed by his wife
that IL would lie his desire to have
Christian Scientist, and she manifested
her great respect for him by calling a
Scientist instead Of an NJ ID. I'm this case,
thus sacrificing her own choice. In turn,
the husband, upon his return, learning
that the wife desired 10 have physician,
sacrificed his chosen treatment and con-
sented TO the calling OF an NJ. ID. The
Scientist did not desert the case nor
recommend a physician because she had
any faith in medicine. But because she
knew that this was the wifes desire, and
because she thought that the child would
be saved any way.
The mayor is reported having said IF
there is any way I'm which proceedings
under the law may be begun against. the
Christian Scientists who gave this treat
ment, i shall certainly advise the city
solicitor TO begin them" IL might be well
In this case to advise the NJ DIS to clear
UP their own record first befora proceeding
to throw stones at the Christian Scien-
lists. Let them first show why they did
not quarantine the family after having
decided that the child had diphtheria
for this, I understand, is the purpose of
reporting such cases. Then let them show
why they did not heal this case them
selves: why. Notwithstanding the child
was delivered to them In good condition,
strong, and with almost normal tempera-
ture, they lost the case. am informed
that they administered antitoxin and
strychnia, and that the child rapidly
failed and died. II would be difficult for
layman to determine whether tho dl-
sease or the treatment killed the patient
i'm this case. II. IL. GREENE.