The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-11-28

Although it would be difficult to af-
firm that prejudice has died out, yet
1t Is clear that there are now a con.
siderable number of medical men who
are ready to study the facts laid be.
fore them with ar open mind, and to
take each case on it's own merits. They
find, when they come to Lourdes, that
they are freely admitted to the bu-
reau; that they not only can, but are
asked to join in the examination of the
cures as they occur. In many in.
stances the case is left entirely in their
hands, principally when they are spe.
cialists, the presidents interference
being limited to few practical sug-
gestions founded on long experience
and which can only facilitate the in.
quiry
A large number of the reports en-.
tered in the register are, to Il great
extent ard sometimes entirely, written
by occasional visitors who have come
to Lourdes on a few days pilgrimage.
and have given several hours of their
time, every day, to the work of the
medical bureau. A marked proportion
OF these return every year. and their
services which become more and
more valuable from increasing experi.
ence, are highly appreciated. They and
all members Of the profession are al
ways freely admitted, whatsoever ma,
be their religious opinions.
The investigation of the cures is. in
mary cases, accompanied with consid-
cradle difficulty and has to be carried
on patiently and carefully before Il
definite opinion can be arrived at. The
long prevalent idea that only nervous
disorders are cured at Iourdes has
long been proven to be absolutely un-
founded. The great majority of the
sick brought there are suffering from
chronic disease with distinct material
injury to one or more organs or parts
OF the body, frequently of many years.
duration, and have tried various forms
OF medical and surgical treatment
without success. They came to pray
for supernatural help and join, as far
as their condition will allow, in the
various devotional exercises, giving up
every natural remedy they may have
been taking hitherto.
All are free to come to the bureau
for examination, at the beginning of
their pilgrimage, but, in many cases,
the person brought in as cured has
never been seen or heard of before.
The first step in the inquiry is, there
fore, to ascertain the nature of the pre-.
viously existing disease, its duration
and its durability or incurability by
natural means. The certificate deliv-
cred by the ordinary medical attend.
ant rarely gives all the required in.
formation on these points, and he gen.
orally has to be asked for more COM
plete statement of the case. The
present condition has next to be in
vestigated and the quondam invalid is
carefully examined by one or more
medical men, who write special re.
port on the subject. Finally descrip-
tion of the cure is taken down with Il
every particular as to time, place and
all circumstances connected with it.
II, after careful consideration and
discussion by the medical men present
at the bureau, the fact under notice is Il
found more or less difficult, IL not ab-
impossible, to explain on usual
grounds, the notes taken about 1t aroSj
entered in the special register 3kepts
,tcoaunued On Pass IL \. WIZ S5ss