Boston, March 10, 1889. Editor of Journal:—A lady seventy years of age, with a belief of paralysis and other complications, abandoned as hopeless by the doctors, recently came under my care. She received Science joyfully, and refused, when pressed by friends, to return to medicine. Her symptoms were alleviated under my treatment, but in a short time she passed peacefully on, strong in the faith of Science, and several of her family have become interested in it from their observation of its operation in her case.
A physician was called a few hours before she passed on, but he refused to give a certificate for burial and I finally signed one as nurse which was accepted by the authorities. Some of my Scientist friends disapproved my taking so unpromising a case, and warned me of the danger of uproar over "another case of death under Scientist practice." Whilst I felt strong in the conviction that I was doing right, and rejoiced in the spiritual healing, as well as the freedom from pain of my patient, and the operation of Truth in the minds of her friends, I could not help shrinking from publicity. I am afraid that should a similar case again present itself, it would be undertaken, if at all, with misgiving and timidity.
Is there not something unworthy, not to say wrong, in this attitude of Scientists before a false public sentiment? Shall we shrink because of unreasonable clamor, from doing the work of our Master? It seems to me that there is need for an examination of our position.
