Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-28
HEALTH AUTHORITIES
AWAIT LEWIS RETURN
investigation of Circumstances of
Clautlion Norton's Death May
BE Made Next Week.
TUCKER ISSUES STATEMENT
As Committee OH Publicity, IIc Gives
Official Attitude Of Christian Science
Church Toward Diagnosis and
Treatment of Norton CIild'S Case.

No official action will be taken until
next week looking toward an invcs-
| tigation OF the circumstances sur
rounding the death from diphtheria
of eight-year-old Claudion Norton.
daughter of Mrs. Fenton Norton. of
IL IL South Second Street, who was
| treated by 4 Christian Science healer
until she was in eXtrcmis. This is due
to the absence from the city Of Dr.
T.. G. Levy. CHIEF Health Officer, who
has been attending a convention OF pub
! lie health officers this week I'm Gin
! cinnati. He is expected to return to
his Office on Monday morning, and the
matter Will he Immediately brought
to his attention.
/, is believed that he will first as
| certain who was responsible for fail
! IRE To report the existence Of the case
O; diphthcra to the Health Department.
as is required By law. If IL develops
that some one was guilty, the matter
may go into Police Court.
1t appears certain. however. that
the Richmond Academy Of Medicine
viii take notice of it. DIR. Lazarus
karp. the physician. who was finally
called to attend the girl said that he
would present the matter to the acad-
l.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE OFFICIAL
STATES CiIuRCH'S POSITION
William j. Tucker committee on
publication for the state of Virginia
as official representative OF the Chris
tian Science Church. last night gave
10 The Times Dispatch the following
signed statement OF the position of the
church in regard to the Norton case:
The Norton case has caused so
much excitement and comment, prin.
cipally by those who are not in sym
rathy with Christian Science. that 1t
seems not out Of place for further
statement from an authorized repre-
sentative OF the Christian Science
Church.
1T would seem that the notoriety
that has been given the case is due
Science treatment had been given the
child during the earlier part OF the
disease.
Permit me to give Il brief state
m.nt OF the events Of the Norton case.
ON October II. the mother OF the child,
who. by the way, had previously had
'hild quickly healed of diphthcria b.
Christian Science treatment. requested
treatin.n II, from Il practitioner. stating
That she seemed to have :, Slight cold
and a crick in ,hc neck. The practi-
TONER did not see the child until the
18Th. when the appearance seemed tn
he that Of tonsilitis. As the case had
not yielded to treatment as quickly ag
usual, the practitioner suggested that
physician be called to diagnose il,
but this the mother was reluctant Ia
DO. The next day tine child showed
considerable Improvement, but the fol-
lowing day the 2lst, she seemed to be
worse again. and the practitioner again
suggested that a physicians he called
which was done, and re assumed charge
OF the case and administered a dose of
antitoNin consisting OF 1900 units
On the afternoon OF the 23rd he adj
ministered second dose OF 10000
UNITS. The Child passed away on the
morning OF the 25th
SUGGESTS THAT ANTi'rOXIN
MAY HAVE CAUSED DEATH
II 10 not wish to even seem to crit
icizc the attending physician. who GER
tHinly was kind, and did the best he
knew for her recovery, nor 10 under
take TO argue on TN. merits OF anti
toxin. IT is only that certain other
make statements reEardinc
the probability of recovery if the anti
toxin had been administered earlier
regarding; II alr oSt Il certainty and
using this statement as Il basis for
criticizing Christian Science ana It's
practice, that have any comment to
oier on the US" Of antitoXin.
y few years ago. during tho pre-
Tatcncc OF diphthcria in Western
city. number Of healthy, well chill
drcn were inocul?tcd with nntitoxin AS
Il preventative, and seven OF them died
In one week as Il result
How then does any one know that
the death OF ;h" Norton child may not
nave been caused by the antitoxin,
even though il was given with very
best OF intentions. and in the kindcst
spirit. as II undoubtedly was
Those who are familiar with what
Is going on In the world know that
CHRISTIAN Science has taken a place as
~ lcast one Of the great curative sys-
ems. so that physicians Of the hirhcs,
S'hhdihS are advising; some Of their
ihcnr"hlc cases TO try il with the re
suit vat they are being healed in large
RUNNERS. lnasmuch as the results arc
hchcndcnt On the understanding of the
there are cases of faiIuro
ana this fact has never been denied.
nut the fact remains. that, MS practiccd.
l. hcais larger percentage of cases
man any other system known The
'iihc is not far distant whom il will be
recognized TO be entirely unfair to adj
vcriiSe deaths occurring under this
'r"atment any more than is done under
allopathic or any other system"
'Sished WIIL1AM ]. TUCKER
Copmittcc on Publicity"
Conducting Traffic School.