Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-30
DENIES HOSTILITY TO
WORK OF PHYSICIANS
Christian Science Publicity Agent
Makes Further Statement
on Norton Case.
WILL WELCOME INVESTIGATION
says Most States, Including Virginia,
Have Made Practice OF Christian
Science Legal by Statute-Does
Not Criticize Attending Physician.

Asserting that the Christian Science
Church Will welcome the fullest inves-
tigation OF the recent death of eight
year-old Claudion Norton. of il l-2
south Second Street who died of diph-
liberia after having been treated by n
Christian Science healer. w. j. Tucker,
publicity committee for the Christian
science Church. last night gave out Il
signed statement denying that the
Christian Science Church has any hos
tility TO physicians and their practice.
The statement follows:
III an erroneous impression was con-
yeyed by my Interview which appeared
IN Saturdays press. to the effect that
nostliity TO PHYSICIANS and their practice
animated that statement. | desire to
correct It, Christian Scientists gen
orally and myself included have the
highest respect for those members Of
the medical profession who arc de-
voting their lives TO the effort to re-
lieve human suffering IN the way and
by the means which seem to them to
be most efIicaclous.
The cure OF case of dIpUheria to
winch previously referred occurred
In st. Louis. In that case when the
child'S symptoms indicated diphtheria
physician was called. Christian
Science treatment way continued. When
the doctor arrived and made an cxami-
nation he stated that there was unmis-
taxable evidence that the disease had
been present. but that it was healing
rapidly, and tho child quickly recov-
cred. Surely, this was good reason for
the mother to have confidence in Chris
tan Science treatment. and no parent
or guardian could he accused OF negli-
Eence who secures for her child the
kind OF treatment in which she has the
most confidence. On the contrary.
would she not fail to do her duty il
she did not secure such treatment?
Il wish to state most positively that
~ IL the teaching and practice of Chris
tiaR Science to obey the law. and 80
far from trying to cvade the require
lncnt OF reporting cases OF contagious
diseases. we do report such cases. even
lt only suspected In the present case.
az soon as II was known that il was "A
contagious disease the doctor was
called and made the report. as was his
duty.
PHYSICIAN CALLED THREE
DAYS BE.FORE END
Some of the reports have stated that
the physician was called almost nj the
last moment. but the fact is that he
waB Called three and q hnlf days before
the end. There IL no desire on our
part TO attack the medical profession
or to criticize It's methods We Iecog
niZe the necessity for their work az
long as IL is desired and believed in
and when the ministry of Christian
Science is better understood it Will not
he considered that those who turn to
IL for healing are having nothing done
for them.
All informed peoplc-and this GER
tainly includes the doctors--know tina,
Christian Science is n recognized meth :
Cd OF cure. and the fact OF it's cures
is easily provablc. In view of these
facts, In ii not little unfair To at
tack its practice, when an occasional
failure occurs, especially in Xiew of
the fallibility of other sya,ems. should
not all recognized systems be treated
with the same considerations? II Chris.
tian Science did not heal. uplift and
bless mankind. il would soon fall.
VIRGINIA HAS MADE
SCIENCE PRACTICE LEGAL
Most of the States. including Fir-
ginia. have made it's practice legal by
statute law. and We believe ii to he
legal by constitutional law In NIL
States. Some states have mad. IL lc-
gal By specifically naming 1t in the
law. This recognition came only after
II was fully established that II does
heal Il large percentage Of its cases.
Why should one who died under it's
treatment be characterized as a mar
tyr. any more than one who died unde,
other methods OF treatment?
"ln conclusion. lie, me repeat what
stated In my previous interview. that
i do not wish TO criticize the attend
ing physician On the contrary, he
was most considerable and kind. and
used his best judgment i'm his treat
ment. In other words, he did his best
and the practitioner did her best, both
endeavoring to come up 10 the re-
Quirement OF the love that Is the full
filling of the law.
The disciples healed many cases OIL
all kinds Of 'lisease, but they failed In
the case of the epileptc boy on ac-
count OF lack Of sufficient spiritual adj
vancement TO meet that particular case
Jesus, however, possessing this adj
vancement. healed the boy provins
the method which both He and the dis
uoad fcss.-A.. l.nrrnni nd ..1Iunl q