Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-16
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For Sunday Reading. !
Al eores o. Opinions.
Observation-Disclosures
Or. osIer on Christian Science.

~ TLQllOI NEW lOTk SUM
Sir: The sailing the other day for
Europe of Dr. William Osler, one of the
most commanding figures in medical
science now living, calls to mind some
Of his recent public comments on faith
healing, with particular reference to
Christian Science. For the benefit of
those who have not seen his article
on THE Progress of Medicine" the
following extract Is here offered:
"One mode of faith healing in mod
ern days, which passes under the re-
markabe name of Christian Science. is
probably nothing more than mental
suggestion under another name. The
patient Is told to be calm. and is as
sured that all will go we'll; that he
must try to aid the healer by believing
that what is told him is true. The
healer then, quietly, but firmly, asserts
and reiterates that tn re is no pain, no
suffering: that 1T Is disappearing. that
relief will come. that the patient is
getting WE'LL This is precisely the
method which Bernheim used with such
success in his hypnotic patients at
Nancy. iterating and reiterating in a
most weariseme way that the disease
would disappear and the patient would
feel better.
LAS has been pointed out by re-
cent writer CDR. Harry MarshalD, the
chief basis for the growth of Christian
Science is that which underlies every
popular fallacy. Oliver Wendell Holmes
outlined very clearly the factors con-
cerned, showing (a) how easily abund-
ant facts can be collected to prove
anything whatsoever; (b) how insult
fici,ant exalted wisdom, immaculate
honesty and vast general requirements
are to prevent an individual from
having the most primitive ideas upon
subjects out of his line of thought;
and finally demonstrating the bound
less credulity and excitability of man
kind upon subjects connected with
medicine
while we often overlook or are g.
norant of our own faith cures. doctors
are just wee bit too sensitive about
those performed outside our ranks.
They have never had. and cannot ex-
pect to have. a monopoly in this pan
acea, which is open to ALL free as the
sun, and which may make of any che
in certain cases "a good physician out
of natures grace Faith in the gods or
in the saints cures ones, faith in little
pills another, hypnotic suggestion d
third, faith in a plain common doctor
fourth In all ages the prayer of
faith has healed the sick, and the men
tai attitude OF the suppliant seems
to be of no more consequence than the
powers to which the prayer is adj
dressed.
I'VE physicians use the same power
every day. II a poor lass, paralyZed
apparently, helpless, bedridden for
Wears. comes to me, having worn out
in mind. body and estate a devoted
family: If she in a few weeks or less
by having faith in me, and faith alone,
takes up her bed and walks, the saints
of old could not have done more. Ste.
Anne de Beaupre and many others can
scarcely today do less. We doctors en-
joy, l say, no monopoly in the faith
business. But the faith with which
we all work, the faith which is avail
able in everyday life. has it's limita-
tons. 1t will not raise the dead; 1t
will not put in new eye in place of
a bad one, nor will it cure cancer or
pneumonia, or knit a bone: but in spite
of these restrictions, such as we find
it. faith is most precious commodity,
without which we should be very badly
off. &C. r. EASTMAN"
Cambridge, Mass, January IL.
Jewish Race About to Forget Palestine
Rabbi Charles F'leischer of Boston,
in a recent lecture in that city on ''1'he
Jew in America" expressed his belief
that the Jewish race has already
ceased to be Palestinean.