Dear Journal:—The May Journal has just been read. Inferring to the case which we had here a year ago in the courts on the charge of "practising medicine without a license," I want to say that, whatever the Court meant in the statement, "evidence of criminal negligence," so far as Christian Science was concerned there was none. Substantially and briefly these are the facts in the case. The patient was the son of a poor man, a day-laborer, and was in the hands of a "regular" M. D., until he told the family that the boy would live only a few hours, and that he could do no more, so the family reported. At this juncture a neighbor, a woman over seventy years old who had been very kind to this family in their trouble, came in and advised the father to try Christian Science. As the physician had no hope, they decided to do so. The first Christian Scientist that was sent for was not at home, but one of the family recommended another one, who happened to be one of our young students who had just commenced practice as a Christian Scientist. The student was asked to take the case, and went at once to the house. She found the child in great suffering, and the family in sore distress of mind and fear. The fever abated with the first treatment, and very soon the membrane was expelled from the throat, and the patient was resting quietly. The family began to have great hopes of the child's recovery, and the student of Christian Science felt sure of bringing out the case. At this point a representative of the Board of Health appeared, to place in the house disinfectants and post a card marked "diphtheria" on the outside. This had not been attended to before. The representative asked the Scientist if she was a doctor. She replied, "No, I am a Christian Scientist." He remarked, "Well, if the worst comes, as is likely, it will probably be very unpleasant for you."
This had the effect of alarming her, and she left the house long enough to come to see me, and ask if she should go on with the case. After learning the facts, and what had been the result of her treatment, I advised her to hold her ground and meet the fear in her own thought. I have never given up a case myself from fear of consequences of the law, or persecution, and do not think that a Christian Scientist should, and so advised her. However, while she was absent from the house malicious error seemed to get in enough work to prevent the demonstration, and the boy passed on in a few hours, but without any of the suffering or distress usual in such cases under physicians. At first I felt that perhaps my advice to a student of so little experience was not wise; but so much good has resulted to our Cause as the outcome of this case that we are inclined to feel and know that " All things work together for good to them that love God."
Our Cause and church are prospering in this city, despite the predictions that the teachings of Science and Health would never gain a permanent foothold in Washington.
