The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-05
URGES DEATH TO
INFlRM And WEAK
Charles Eliot Norton Would End
Suffering, Both Mental and
sssesss. Physical. zfsS.e.ss,.s---.i
journal Special Service.

journal Special Service. -
Cambridge, Mass, Jan. 5.--Dr.
Charles Eliot Norton, professor Of art
in Harvard university, has written q
letter to Miss Anne Hall of Cincinnati
indorsing her theory, recently expounsd;,
ed, that infrm and weak persons should
be put to death. He says:
"Dear Madam: You ask me to ex-
press my opinion in such form that it
prolongaticn of life by medical and
surgical science when it can be pro
longed only at the cost Of misery. [
have no objection to doing so.
"The matter of late has acquired a
new claimato. consideration, owing. to
the rapid advance in knowledge and
skill alike by physicians and surgeons,
and to the application Of this increased
knowledge and skill to lengthen wretch
ed lives.
"The principle that it is duty to
prolong every human life SO long as
possible, at whatever cost, hitherto has
been generally accepted.
Part Taken by Physicians.
s'Its main support has been the doc
trine of the sacredness Of human life,
and this has been reinforced by two
practical considerations OF great
weight: One, freedom by the physician
or surgeon from all responsibility as to
the decision Of a question that IS grave
in, any case, and in which mistake
in Judgment might be severely blame7
worthy the other, a natural desfI9ol
the part of members Of the medical and
surgical profession to exhibit the re-
sources of their art in mastering ex-
IRENE difficulties. ~...~ = =.
'H4The doctrine and practice have both
been. pressed too far. 49,
| "There/ is no ground in reason to
| hold every human life as inviolably sa-
cred and to be preserved, no matter
what results to the Individual or 9th
ers: On the contrary, there are lives
to which every reasonable considera-
tion urges that an end should. be put.
To End Suffering.
HSetting aside all doubtful cases
no right-thinking man would hesitate
to give dose of laudanum sufficient
to end the suffering victim Of an &C
cident, from the torturing Effects OF
which recovery was impossible, how
ever many hours of misery might be
added to conscious life by stimulants
or surgical operations.
HNor should reasonable man hest
tate to hasten death in the case of {
mortal disease, such, for example, a:
cancer, when it has reached the stage
of incessant severe pain and when thu
patient desires to die.
'tCriminal Crulty.''
| HProlongation Of life in such cases
by whatever means, is mere crimina
cruelty. - $1,000 .'
cor, take another instance, that o
an old person, whose mind has becom
chaotic, and whose wild imagination
!; productive Of constant distress, no
only to the sufferer, but to all who Low
and attend him.
1.-THE plain duty in such case
not to prolong. but to shorten life: ]
, is not to be hoped that the traditio
that life must be prolonged at any cos
readily will yield to arguments of -res
son, or the pleadings Of compassion
but discussion Of the subject in II
various aspects may lead gradually
more enlightened public opinion an
to a consequent relief from much mi
cry. Charles Eliot Norton