Article March 21, 1914 Issue

In a recent issue of the Medical Times there is a note about...

Frederick Dixon—London, England

Medical Times

In a recent issue of the Medical Times there is a note about a Christian Scientist who had scarlet fever, and who was chased from Wallington to Bexhill by two doctors in a motorcar. As this story has been circulated throughout the press in general, and as yours is the only paper, I think, which has been considerate enough to assume that the story may not be quite true, will you permit me to state the exact facts, which I have learned by prosecuting numerous inquiries in several places? The result of this investigation shows how the ordinary newspaper paragraph is generated.

A lady at Wallington was apparently told by a doctor there that she had scarlet fever. Questioning the diagnosis, she determined to consult her own family doctor at Bexhill. She accordingly went there and saw this gentleman, who advised her to avoid all chance of responsibility for spreading infection by spending some time in the isolation hospital at Hastings, in case the symptoms should prove to be scarlet fever. That is the story, as far as I have been able to learn it from the lady's family doctor. The lady herself is in the isolation hospital at Hastings, and we have been informed by the authorities there she declares she is not a Christian Scientist. As we are in touch with the members of the Christian Science congregation in Wallington, and as we have made the most careful inquiries from them with respect to the subject, it is natural to conclude that this is the case.

As a matter of fact, no Christian Scientist would dream of running the risk of spreading infection. It is one of the strongest unwritten laws of the movement that the most absolute care shall be taken to respect the feelings of the world on this subject. Christian Scientists are not afraid of infection themselves, but they recognize the great part fear plays in the human consciousness, and the disastrous effects of unnecessarily filling their neighbors with fear. They are therefore peculiarly careful to obey the law with respect to infection, and immediately to report to the proper authorities any case in which there is even doubt or suspicion. In the present instance, the family medical attendant of the lady has expressed his opinion that the public ran no risk whatever through her action, and that in coming straight to him and taking his advice to enter the hospital, she acted with perfect discretion and propriety. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to see what is to be gained through frightening the public by filling the press with a report of this nature. Searching for a reason, one is driven to the conclusion that the sole idea is to prejudice people against Christian Science, which is not even concerned with the matter.

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