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

CELEBRATED CURES AT lOURDES
for that purpose. The case is then
referred to one or more medical men
and other competent and trustworthy
persons, who undertake to continue the
inquiry after the pilgrimage has left
Lourdes. All the information they can
send is carefully kept and more is re-
quested, if necessary, until the evil
dence is sufficiently complete to re-
move all uncertainty about the cure,
and it can be affirmed that no similar
case has ever been noticed in medical
practice, and that no theory, however
plausible, or however strained, can &C.
count for it's occurrence.
To obtain satisfactory evidence on
all these points requires considerable
time and trouble. At first sight it
would seem simple enough to bring
well-prepared case, with all necessary
certificates as to the nature and dura-
ton of the disease and it's undoubtedly
incurable character. If cure &C.
Cured suddenly at Lourdes under
such conditions there would practical
ly be very little difficulty in coming to
definite conclusion Unfortunately
such an ideal conception is very sell
dom, If ever, realized there, and even
in the most favorable cases the inves-
tigation has to be carried on careful
ly and in its minutest details, in order
to guard against possible error.
The cures, apparently, obey no law
as to their number or the time and
place of their occurrence. Their i'm
mediate cause has always remained
beyond the reach of our most careful
observation, and has shown absolute
power and independence, not only in
the selection of those who are cured,
but also in the extent and degree of
such benefit, and in all circumstances
connected with it. Statistics of pre-
vious cases cannot help us to estimate
the number of cures likely to take
place in given year.
The surrounding conditions, at the
time of their occurrence, vary consid-
erably. Some cases are observed in
the piscine, some during the process
sion and benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament, others during the Mass, at
the grotto, at the hospital; others
again during the return journey, when
the invalid has apparently become re.
signed to his sufferings, and given up
all hope of an immediate cure.
Many other different instances might
be mentioned in connection with this
subject The cure may be complete
and instantaneous or it may occur in
such short space of time as would
be considered quite insufficient, &C.
cording to medical experience. The dis
ease may disappear entirely, leaving
no trace of its previous existence, or
some such trace may remain in the
shape of scar or some other appreci-
able sign. In many cases the occur
renee of the cure may coincide with
or be preceded by some special SEN
sation experienced by the invalid, vary
ing in character from intense, unbear.
able pain to sense of perfect relief
and comfort, beyond anything the suf-
ferer could have conceived.
The complete disappearance of all
the effect of the disease, while the lat
ter apparently persists, is another alb.
normal fact which has more than once
beer observed at the bureau. For in
stance, total blindness, of more or less
prolonged duration, may disappear and
perfect vision may be. restored sud.
denly, while the signs of atrophy Of
both optic nerves, on which the loss
Of sight depended, may remain un.