Science has completely changed man's
attitude towards disease.
Take a recent concrete illustration. A couple of years ago in
Philadelphia and in some other parts of the United States, a very
peculiar disease appeared, characterized by a rash upon the skin and
moderate fever, and a constitutional disturbance proportionate to the
extent and severity of the eruption. The malady first broke out in the
members of a crew of a private yacht; then in the crews of other boats,
and among persons living in the boarding-houses along the docks. It was
the cause of a great deal of suffering and disability.
There were three courses open: to accept the disease as a visitation
of God, a chastening affliction sent from above, and to call to aid the
spiritual arm of the church. Except the "Peculiar People" few now take
this view or adopt this practice. The Christian Scientist would probably
deny the existence of the rash and of the fever, refuse to recognize
the itching and get himself into harmony with the Infinite. Thirdly, the
method of experimental medicine.
First, the conditions were studied under which the individual cases
occurred. The only common factor seemed to be certain straw mattresses
manufactured by four different firms, all of which obtained the straw
from the same source.
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