FAITH HEALING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1921, Page 5

FAITH HEALING.

ITS POWER TO CURE. WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY. In regard to the cases of faith-healing which are attributed to Ratana, the Maori chief, a Daily News reporter yesterday sought the opinions of a number of medical men, in regard to the case reported yesterday morning, concerning the recovery of the boy Adams, who, it is said, had been suffering from infantile paralysis, and who has, since visiting Ratana, regained the use of his limbs. Generally, the replies of the doctors were that they could hardly express any definite view as to the cure unless they had seen the patient. There was a concensus of opinion that in a case of real paralysis, where degeneration of muscles had taken place, a recovery, such as mentioned, would be beyond the bounds of possibility. “We naturally feel sceptical that such a thing could happen,” said one doctor. He added that there were occaaional cases which could be relieved by suggestion, but people who secured benefit from metaphysicians and other side i&n sues of the medical profess sion, were only affected !n mind, and were what might be called self-maimed. Thia related to the theory of the effect of mind over matter. Another doctor pointed to the famou» Lourde miracles, while another remarked that acquaintance with the case wu necessary before any view could be taken. He stated that in a case of paralysis wasting of the muscles of the legs todk place, and walking again on the part of the patient was a very gradual and slow process, and was in most instances not a complete recovery.