CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 761 



have occasioned the medical man the slightest surprise. What 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, 1898, 

 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. Not 

 having received it, I called a third time, on November 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." I 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 



