The San Francisco call., 1908-12-20
Christian Science publishing


I would it be easy to distinguish be
tween an organic disease which is
produced by functional troubles" and
one which is not occasioned by func-
tional troubles. Therefore DR.. Cabot's
logic convinces one that to be on the
safe side every individual afflicted with
organic or functional troubles should
avail himself of Christian Science
treatment lest he should be neglecting
a means of recovery.
The doctor declares that he has
grouped the one hundred cases which
he has 'tanalyzed" in four classes:
First, 70 in which he finds ION care
full study. reasonably good evidence
for the diagnosis of functional or ner-
vous disorder. Second. seven cases Of
what appears to be organic disease.
Third, II cases very difficult to classify,
but probably belonging in the func
tional group. Fourth. 10 cases. regard
| ing the diagnosis of which no reason
able conjecture can be made"
May I 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 enlarging the
| thought of disease, it's elaborate de-
| scription is eliminated from them.
These descriptions, which are usually
given by those who send in their testi-
mony. but which are omitted out of
consideration for the young especially,
give the details of diagnosis and of
painful experiences as the result of
operations and drug treatment which
distinctly emphasize the seriousness of
| the maladies endured. Hence, in the
! investigation into the merits of cases,
and into the efficacy of Christian Sci
ence treatment for all disorders,
whether organic or functional, an ex-
animation of the unabridged testimo-
MES would greatly enlarge and
strengthen the evidence that upon the
basis of expert diagnosis by physicians
of the most unquestioned standing,
Christian Science must be credited
with having proved efficient in healing
cases of every 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 investi-
cation outside of a mere consideration
of the wording of the testimonies
Neither is it stated why the doctor
concluded" that the IL cases very diff
ficult to classify probably belong to
the functional group" 1t was doubt
less 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 prob
ably belong to the organic group, or
he might have added these II cases to
the fourth group. regarding the dag
nosis of which he declares mo reason
able conjecture can be made" Then
| the organic class would have an equal
chance with the functional group.
ORGANIC DISEASES SAID
TO BE NERVOUS DISORDERS
Not very long ago, one medical au-
thority went so far as to declare that
many organic diseases were nervous
disorders Such an authority adds still
more to the confusion. and we begin TO
wonder If, after all. our medical breth-
rem know any more about the real ma
ture and cause of disease than Chris
tian Scientists. At the same time we
are we'll aware of the ability of our dis
tinguished brethren to make physical
diagnosis of disease. and we are not
unmindful that in this respect they
possess an accomplishment to which
the Christian Scientist makes no pre-
lenses whatever except what he learns
by observation and experience and pos
sibly some reading on the subject
But the real question is after all.
what is the foundation of both func-
tional and organic disorders? If by COR
recting the mental conditions of pa
tient both organic and functional
troubles are healed we have the evf-
dence that an erroneous mental condi-
ton was the foundation of the dis
ease, and we believe that ere long Dr..
Cabot and all the host of medical men
will have arrived at this conclusion
and will note the fact that, notwith-
standing all that is said and done re-