The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-20


grouped the one hundred cases which
he has Analysed in four classes:
First. II in which" he finds ''on care
full study, reasonably good evidence for
the diagnosis of functional or nervous
disorder. Second, seven cases of what
appears to be organic disease. Third.
IL cases very difficult to classify, but
probably belonging in the functional
group. Fourth, 10 cases, regarding
the diagnosis of which no reasonable
conjecture can be made"
May / state parenthetically at this
point that the testimonies published
in the Christian Science periodicals
have all been carefully verified. but that
TO avoid nourishing and charging the
eliminated from them. These descrip-
lions, which are usually given by those
who send in their testimony, but
which are omitted out of consideration
for he young especially, give the de-
tails of diagnosis and of painful ex-
periences as he result of operations
and drug treatment which distinctly
emphasizes the seriousness of the NAL
aides endured. Hence in the investi-
CATION into the merits of the cases,
and into he efficacy of Christian
Science treatment for all disorders,
whether organic or functional. an ex-
animation of unabridged testimonies
would greatly enlarge and strengthen
the evidence that upon the basis of ex-
pert diagnosis by physicians of the
most unquestioned standing, Christian
Science must be credited with having
proved efficient in healing cases of ev-
erv variety of i'll, whether organic or
functional, with which poor humanity
Is afflicted.
What DR.. Cabot means by careful
study is not stated. He does not
make clear whether he has made any
investigation outside of a mere con-
sideration of the wording of t he testi-
monies. Neither is it stated why the
doctor concluded" that the 11cases
very difficult to classify probably be-
long to the functional group" 1t was
doubtless natural that he should give
the benefit of the doubt to his own
side of the question. Otherwise he
might have said that these doubtful
cases probably" belong to t he organ
ic group, or he might have added
these IL cases to the fourth group, re-
garding the diagnosis Of which he de-
clares mo reasonable conjecture can
be made" Then the organic class
would have an equal chance with the
functional group.
Not very long ago one medical au-
thority went so far as to declare that
many organic diseases were nervous
disorders. Such N authority adds still
more to the confusion. and we begin
to wonder il, after all. our medical
brethren know any more about the
real nature and cause of disease than
Christian Scientists. At the same time
we are well ware of the ability of our
distinguished brethren to make ply
steal diagnosis Of disease, and we are
not unmindful that in this respect
they possess an accomplishment to
which the Christian Scientist makes
no pretences whatever except what he
learns by observation and experience
and possibly some reading on the SUBJ
ject.
But the real question is after all,
what is the foundation of both func-
tional and organic disorders? If by
correcting the mental conditions of a
patient both organic and functional
troubles are healed, we have the evil
dence that an erroneous mental con-
dition was the foundation of the dis
ease. and we believe hat ere long Dr.
Cabot and all he host OF medical men
will have arrived at this conclusion
and will note he fact that, notwith-
standing all that is said and done re-
garding diagnosis, he Christian Sci
enlist is accurate in his conclusions
concerning the real nature of dis
ease. In any event probabilities" are
not sufficient evidence to the contrary.
The doctor declares Experience
shows that when person has had
many doctors, many diagnoses, many
diseases or many operations, he us
ually turns out to be suffering from
nervous prostration or some other
form of functional nervous trouble s.
There are a great many persons in
this world who ave had many doc
tors. many diagnoses. and many dis
eases, i not many operations. and ii
is kind in Dr. Cabot to point out he
fact that there is hope for them in
Christian Science.
DR.. Knapp. who is said to be op.
posed to the Emmanuel Movement. de-
clares: The distinction between func-
| tional and organic diseases is indefin-
| lite. Many diseases formerly called
| functional have been proved to be or
ganic and the few left which are still
called functional will in all probable
| ity be found to be organic"
! This statement practically relegates
| all diseases TO he functional class
which we understand even the most
| skeptical admit are amenable to Chris
7 tian Science treatment. 1t would seem
therefore that sufficient testimony is al
ready in TO settle the question. We
shall not hold ourselves responsible
/ for he conviction of DR.. Cabot, but
will wait for him TO discover the
truth of DR.. Knapp's assertion by ex
perience.
! Our critic declares: "A patient suf-
fering from organic disease rarely
consults Christian Scientist" TIC