Evening star., 1944-04-28
Letters to The Star
Medical Authorities Cited
In Behalf of Miracles

In Behalf OF Miracles .
To the Editor of The Star:
For the benefit of many fair-minded
persons who might be deceived and mis-
led by the slurring references to cures
effected at Lourdes, written by Adam
Quill in The Star for April 20, ask
space in which to present a statement
great shrine.
1t very generally is conceded by i'm
partial authorities that Lourdes offers
the best place in the world for the study
of unexpected cures, because of the ex-
istence there of a strictly impartial med
ical board which examines all claims
for cures. In the world wide history of
shrines the medical board at Lourdes
Is unique.
1t is called the Bureau des Constata-
tions Medicales. 1t was founded in 1882
to examine and certify reported cures.
The bureau is under the direct author
ity of a president and a staff of II
eminent physicians.
The president of the medical bureau
received his degree at the University of
Bordeaux. He has been a student OF
the School of Naval Physicians at Bor-
deaux, a physician and surgeon of the
first class of Colonial Troops, and a
professor at the Franco Chinese Insti-
tute at Shanghai.
More than 5000 medical men of all
creeds and from all nations take part
in the rigid examinations OF reported
cures. Until the present war these ex-
aminations were held every year.
The doctors on the presidents stan
always are in attendance in an ONCE
near the grotto. When a cure is re-
ported the patient Immediately is re-
moved from the crowd and taken to the
office, where he is examined, X-rayed,
and tested by med al experts. The
record and history of his case from his
local physicians must be presented and
studied for comparison with his existing
conditions. Cases OF psychiatric inter-
est, whether accompanied with organic
conditions or not, are sunmarily dis
posed of.
The function of the bureau is to de-
eide:
l.. Are there certificates that show the
malady to have existed at the time of
the pilgrimage to Lourdes? Z. Was the
malady suddenly stopped in its evolu-
tion at time when there was no tend
ency to an improvement? And what
morbid symptoms disappeared at that
time? 3. Was there cure? In what
way can it be proved? Did the cure take
place with or without the use of med
icine? 4. In the present state of science
Is medical explanation of this cure
likely to be given?
The medical bureau may make one
OF four decisions: % The patient is
hysterical, there is no cure; ca the
case is not completely cured but an
interesting amelioration" has taken
place; Cd the case, which (under cer-
tain natural conditions) was durable.
has been cured; % the case, which was
incurable, has been cured supernatu-
rally.
In the event Of this last decision the
patient must return after q years time
to be re-examined. Then, II he has suf-
fered no relapse, his cure will be Ger
tined" ofncially by the bureau. It is
quite weh known that q high percentage
oi the French members Of the medical
bureau are "free-thinkers" and are en-
treiy out of sympathy with Lourdes,
Yet from time to time they are forced
to confess that there is no scientinc
explanation for the sudden cure Of some
organic nalady 1t Lourdes.
The internationally known SURGEON
ana biologist, DR.. Alexis Carrell, for
many years has been interested in the
phenomena that takes place at Lourdes
ana he publicly has declared to bodies
OF MS professional associates that Or
ganic LESSONS sometimes instantaneously
have been cured at the famed shrine
And DR.. Wallet has said:
The cures Of Lourdes are in sorne
sense suspension Of the laws of ma
ture. Logic forces us to admit thai
they are brought about by a direct in-
tervention OF God, for it is impossible
otherwise to explain how natures laws
can be rendered imperative in 30 MANY
instances"
TO attempt comparison between the
cures at Lourdes and the fakerv NJ
Alexander Dowie, as Mr.. Quill has done
Is TO display ignorance beyond compre-
hension in this day of intelligence.
May I remind Mr.. Quill that the Ma
ton Is at war? 1t is the duty of all
Americans to stand together in the com
mon cause. 1t Is no time to be snipine
at the faith professed by many thou
sands of the Nations defenders
FRANCIS DE SALES RYAN