The history of the medical profession, and the expressed opinions of many of the members of that profession, both of past generations and of the present generation, warrant all that is claimed by believers in Christian Science touching the inadequacy of drugs and medicines as healing agents. Indeed, according to the common verdict of the more learned and honest members of the profession, if drugs and medicines are the only healing means, the startling fact confronts us that humanity is without a healing power, or a means of saving human life, for the most that is claimed for the drugging system is that it alleviates pain and suffering, and aids nature in throwing off disease.
To accomplish the results thus far attained in materia medica, much time, labor, and expense have been incurred. Great institutions of learning have been erected in many parts of the world, and millions upon millions of dollars have been appropriated, and are being constantly appropriated, to the erection and maintenance of such institutions. Liberal endowments have been, and are being, made for the establishment of chairs of medical instruction in our great colleges and universities, the laudable end and aim of which is the alleviating of human suffering, and the curing of human ills.
Thousands of young men and women are being annually graduated and sent out from these institutions to practice the healing art as there taught them. Most of the great colleges and universities have attached as auxiliaries to their main systems of education, schools of law, medicine and theology. Thus, for ages have the three learned professions travelled hand in hand down the avenues of time, each in its organized capacity, believing in the solid footing and right basis of the other. It must be true then, that the powers which control in our institutions of learning, and which shape our generally prevalent educational systems, are believers in the efficacy of drugs and medicines as healing agents, and so believing, are conscientious in instilling their views into the minds of the students who worship at their educational shrines. Otherwise they would not so sedulously foster and so earnestly perpetuate such views and systems.
