The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-28
CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
MAKES STATEMENT
W. J. Tucker, Omcial Representative
of Church In Virginia, Would blame
Anti-Toxfn For Girls Death.
TO ADVERTISE DEATHS
Death OF Claudia Norton VIII Re Con-
sidered BY Richmond Academy OF
Mcdicine-Dr. Levy VIII Return
Tonight.


Virginia, last night issued statement
in connection with the case of Claudia
Norton. the seven-year- old daughter
OF Mrs. Fenton Norton, OF II IL
South Second Street. who died last
Wednesday morning from diphtheria,
The child was first treated by a Chris
tian Science practitioner. and later
DIR. Lazarus karp was called in when
the condition OF the little girl grew
worse Mr.. fuckers statement fol-
| lows:
THE Norton case has caused so
much excitement and comment, prin-
| cipally by those who are net in SYM
pathy with Christian Science. that it
seems not out OF place for a further
statement from an authorized repre-
sentative of the Christian Science
Cchurch.
1T would seem that the notoriety
! that has been given the case is due
entirely to the fact that Christian
Science treatment had been given the
child during the earlier part of the
disease. Some months ago a young
child in perfect health, living on Clay
Street, was compelled to submit to
vaccination in order that she might
have the privilege OF attending the
public schools The result of the In
PRODUCTION of the vile corruption from
the diseased foot of a calf into her
pure circulation, was. her death. One
could hardly conceive of a more out
rageous violation Of a persons rights
to life and health. and yet the incident
passed with only a brief mention in
the press. No large headlines, no talk
of prosecution. and yet the life of that
child was a sacrifice on the altar of
one type of fanaticism.
Gives History OF Case.
Permit me to give q brief state
ment of the events of the Norton case
On October IT, the mother OF the
child. who, by the way. had previous
ly had a child quickly healed of
diphtheria by Christian Science treat
nHent, requested treatment from a
practitioner. stating that she seemed
| to have a slight cold and crick in
| the neck. The practitioner did not
see the child until the 10th, when the
appearance seemed to be that of tom
siitis, AS the case had not yielded to
treatment as quickly as usual. the
practitioner suggested that a physician
/ be called to diagnose 1t, but this the
mother was reluctant to do. The next
day the child showed considerable i'm
provement. but the following day. the
4 2 list. she seemed to be worse again,
and the practitioner again suggested
that a physician be called, which was
done. and he assumed charge of the
case and administered a dose OF anti
| toxin, consisting Of Is, 600 units On
| the afternoon OF the 23rd he admin
istered a second dose of 10000 units.
! The child passed away on the morn
ing of the 25th
Crihtizcs Use of Antitoxin
Il do not wish to even seem to criti-
cize the attending physician, who GER
| tainly was kind, and did the best he
knew for her recovery, nor to under
take to argue on the merits Of anti
| toxin. 1t Is only that certain other
physicians make statements regard
ing the proba bility OF recovery If the
antitoxin had been administered
earlier, regarding it almost a certain
! ty. and using this statement as a basis
| for Criticizing Christian Science and its
! practice, that | have any comment to
| offer on the use OF antitoxin. A few
years ago. during the prevalence OF
! diphtheria in a Western city, num-
Der of healthy, well children were in
oculated with antitoxin as a proven
/ tative, and seven of them died in one
week as a result. DR., H +. Gillette,
, of Cuba. New York. read a paper
entitled "untoward Results From
| Diphtheria Antitoxin. With Special
Reference to Its Relation TO Asthma
before the New York State Medical
| Society at Albany, January 26, 1909,
! in which he gave a table of twenty
eight cases in which collapse or death
| had followed the administration of
horse serum, and in none of them
did the dose exceed 5000 units, and
this dose was confined 10 one case,
to 1900 units.
| ha Noxxt II q
| 1915 stated that the use of antitoxin
had not materially reduced the deaths
| from diphtheria since 1907, and par
ticularly during the past five years.
| The deaths in New York city from
cases using the antitoxin has averaged
from l.l00 to 100 per year.
| How, then, does anyone know that
the death o. the Norton child may not
have been caused by the antitoxin.
even though it was given with the
very best of intentions and in the
kindest spirit. as 1t undoubtedly was.
Those who are familiar with what
Is going on in the world know that
Christian Science has taken a place
as at least one of the great curative
systems, 80 that physicians of the
highest standing are advising some of
their incurable cases to try it, with
the result that they are being healed
in large numbers. Inasmuch as the
results are dependent on the under
standing of the practitioner. there are
cases OF failure, and this fact has never
been denied. but the fact remains that.
as practiced. 1t heals a larger per-
centage OF cases than any other sys-
tenn known. The time is not far dis
tant when 1t will be recognized to be
entirely unfair to advertise deaths &C.
curing under this treatment any
more than Is done under allopathic or
any other system"
Would Not Sign Such Certificate.
DR.. F. NJ Reads, secretary of the
Virginia Hospital. stated yesterday
that he hoped to see a city ordinance
passed which would prohibit any doc
tor from signing a death certificate
when the patient had been attended
by = Christian Science practitioner He
said that when this is done there ,s
no way to ix tho responsibility for
the death. At this time there Is no
city law which bears in any way On
this point
Dr. II. S. Stern. of the City Health
Department. stated last night that so
far as his department was concerned,
the matter is resting until the return
of DR.. Levy tonight. when he. will
consider the matter. Just what can
be done. IL anything. will be decided
on at that time. So far as Is known.
l. AAV