FOUR SHILLINGS A PRAYER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 March 1910, Page 4

FOUR SHILLINGS A PRAYER.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE "CURE." "It is surprising" said the coroner at Chelsea recently, "that people will pay fees for prayers which , can be obtained from any clergyman in the country for nothing." He was enquiring into the death of a retired Army captain, John* Robert Donne, nged forty-seven, of Hans crescent, Chelsea, who died while under "treatment" by Christian scientists. ' Mr Donne was formerly in the Dragoon Guards, but lie left fourteen years ago on account of locomotor ataxy. His widow, Mrs Ethel Caroline Donne, said that he had tried twenty-two doctors and they could do nothing. Hβ had been trying Christian Science for eight years, and was under the care of a ''healer" at tho time of his death. Hβ declined to have a doctor, though in great pain. The witness added that she a-Iso was a Christian Scientist, and also her butler and her maid. Miss Daisy Hawton, of Wimbledon, a. trained nurse, "now working for Christian Science,' said the only treatment was "prayer and understanding with God." Mr Donne was perfectly sane. Mrs Jessie Braithwaite, of Clarence terrace, Regent's park, said she had been attending Mr Donne for seven years as a healer or practitioner. The Coroner: What treatment did you use?—A form of prayer. Did you get fees for itr—Yes, a guinea a week, or 4s a treatment. Did you do anything to relievo pain?— Only prayer. Would you have had morphia injected to relieve pain?— Yes, if he had wished it. In a case of cancer, what would you do?—I should trust to Christian Science to heal it. A Juror: If you saw a person in pain with a broken limb?—l think it would be better to Have a limb set by a surgeon. Do you suggest that prayer could set the limb?—l think it is quite possible. Dr Beaumont Comerford said that morphia was the only thing, except asperin, to relieve the paroxysms of acute pain attendant on locomotor ataxy. Dr Spilsbury. pathologist, ■of St Mary's Hospital, said that this progressive disease attacking the spinal cord and nerves was absolutely incurable, and was accompanied by intense pain. In this case cardiac stimulants, given when the heart was failing, would have prolonged life. - , The Coroner said there was no law to compel a man to have medical advice, but where the person was not responsible for his actions the duty devolved upon the nurse or person in charge. In this case the man appeared to have oeen a free agent, but it .was regrettable that no doctor was called in. The jury returned a verdict or death from natural causes, and added a rider regretting that a doctor was not called in.