CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 761 



have occasioned tlie medical man tlie slightest surprise. "WTiat did 

 surprise me was the vast disproportion between the results they 

 exhibited and the claims made by Christian-Science healers. One 

 of these cases may be cited as an example of the loose generaliza- 

 tion upon which many of the claims of these healers rest. A lady 

 stated that she had had pneumonia. I asked how she knew she had 

 had pneumonia. She declared she knew, because her nurse " could 

 tell at a glance she had pneumonia." No medical examination had 

 been made. I asked what symptoms she had had — how she had 

 suffered. She told me she had purposely forgotten — she had tried 

 to dismiss from her mind all recollection of this distressing illness. 

 Well, this is no doubt commendable enough ; but how do we know, 

 then, if she really had pneumonia, or anything more than an ordi- 

 nary cold? 



I heard during my investigation of cases of yellow fever, 

 phthisis, cancer, and locomotor ataxia which had been " healed in 

 Christian Science." But truth compels the statement that my 

 efforts to examine these cases were defeated by the cheapest sort 

 of subterfuge and elusion. To be explicit: On November 2, 1S9S, 

 a man arose in an " experience meeting " which I attended and 

 stated that he had been one of a party of twelve who, while in Cen- 

 tral America, contracted yellow fever, he having suffered with the 

 rest. All took medicine but himself; instead, he read Science and 

 Health. Among his companions seven died; he recovered com- 

 pletely. Several days later I called at the church and asked for 

 the name and address of this gentleman, and twice, on this and a 

 subsequent visit, the clerk promised to send me his address, l^ot 

 having received it, I called a third time, on iSTovember 21st. The 

 clerk told me he could not find this eel-like specimen, and could 

 not get his address. This man was, however, a member of that 

 church, and had, on the evening I was present, a number of ac- 

 quaintances in the congregation. 



Again, I had- been told that a young lady living out of town had 

 been " healed " of consumption. I wrote her mother, who sent 

 me a kind note, inviting me to call several evenings later, and 

 inclosing a time-table. She stated, " I shall be happy to give you 

 any information in my power, as Christian Science has been a great 

 blessing in my family." Before the appointed evening I received 

 a note, breaking the engagement. Again, at an " experience meet- 

 ing " a man arose and declared he had cured a case of locomotor 

 ataxia, " so that the patient's two former physicians had been lost 

 in amazement at the change." T learned also that his wife, an- 

 other " healer," had cured a case of cancer of the tongue. I wrote 

 this gentleman, and he sent me an answer, kindly inviting me to 



