The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-05-16
Health Officer spaIding Seeks to
End Faith Healing and Prayer
Treatment in Kenosha
BLOW AT DoWlE FOLLOWERS
Serves Notice on All Followers of This
Creed That Prosecutions for Crimi-
nal Neglect Will Follow Deaths
Without Care of Doctor

Or. ]. B. Spalding, health officer of
the city, threw bomb she'll into the
ranks of religious fanatics in the city
on Tuesday afternoon, when he di-
rected that notices be sent to every
follower of faith healing and prayer
healing sects in the city, notifying
them that the city of Kenosha would
no longer tolerate the treatment of
children by prayer and that the, par
ents or guardians of the children
diseased and treated in this manner
would be held strictly to account for
any fatalities which might result
from this treatment. DIR. Spalding
in an interview stated that he would
personally bring criminal charges
against any one who wil1fully per-
mitted any child under the age Of ma
turity to die from lack of medical at
tention and that as city physician he
would be ready to furnish the treat
ment needed to any children whose
parents were too poor 70 employ a
regular family physician.
The notice is aimed directly at the
Dowie people of the city, as it is
claimed that these people have been
repeatedly violating the laws of the
state by not giving children proper
care in cases of disease. The matter
was laid prominently before the city
health department yesterday, when a
large number of the neighbors of a
west side Dowieite called on DR..
Spalding and asked that immediate
steps be taken to force this man to
provide proper medical care for his
child, a girl sixteen years of age, who
was suffering from an organic disease.
1t was alleged by the neighbors that
the girl had repeatedly asked for the
services of regularly practicing
physician but that the father had in
sisted that she be treated by prayer
and had called in Elders and Deacons
to pray with the child. 1t is alleged
that the child was rapidly sinking and
that without proper care and medical
treatment the death of the young
woman was only question Of a few
days.
The man was promptly called to the
Office of the health officer and de-
| mand was made that he employ a
physician. He made an effort to
fence for time and declared that the
child was being properly cared for,
but when threatened with arrest he at
once called in DR.. G. H. Ripley to
treat the child. The man was notified
that if his daughter died he would be
prosecuted for criminal neglect. The
wife of the man died several months
ago and she died without the services
of any physician. However, it was
her desire to the last that no phys
ician be called.
In speaking of the matter DR..
lSpa1ding stated that no one save the
followers of Dowie were now under
investigation but it is thought that
this action will ultimately cover all
sects who believe in treating the sick
without the aid of physician.
Other health departments in all
parts Of the country are taking SINH
lar measures to protect the lives of
little children against religious
fanatics and there is little doubt but
that the health department of the
city will have every possible aid from
the city and county authorities in en-.
forcing the rule that has been laid
down.
In the past two or three years
several people have died in Kenosha
without medical attention and Cor.
oner Robinson always insisted that
an inquest be held over such cases.
Coroner Andre will undoubtedly fol-
| low this plan.