“ MIRACLE CURE.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 10

“ MIRACLE CURE.”

YOUNG "WOMAN’S CLAIM. ■A ‘‘miracle cure” at Lourdes, the shrine to. which- thousands, journey every year, was investigated by 50 doctors at the Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth, St. John’s Wood, N.W. (says a London paper of recent date). A young woman of 25, it was claimed, " had been miraculously cured at Lourdes. , ' She cut her hand a year ago. The wound became septic, and finally, according to her doctor, she lost the „ power to move her fingers. It was claimed that, having bathed her hand in the miracle-working spring, sue was cured. , The examination was arranged by Father Woodlock, medical registrar of this year’s Finglish National Pilgrimage. MORE INQUIRIES WANTED. The inquiry lasted for some hours. The woman’s hand was medically inspected, and three English doctors Who saw her at Lourdes, together With the nurse who 1 was with her at the bath, were subjected to intense cross-exam-ination ; and it appeared that, while . the sores on the hand had entirely disappeared, it could not be said that the fingers had completely regained their freedom of movement. At the close of the inquiry a statement was issued to the Press that, on the evidence submitted, the case was not proven. 4 It was suggested that further socalled miracle cures should be brought before the doctors for examination in the manner regularly adopted in France. Father Woodlock thought that perhaps something more systematic might be done in that direction. PRIEST CRITICISES DOCTORS. Speaking at the Jesuit Church at Farm Street, Mayfair, the Rev. F. Woodlock said that there was too great a tendency in this country to prejudge the reality of the “miraculous cures” at Lourdes.

Because of their supernatural character they were considered, without investigation, to be either not authentic or merely instances of faith-healing. “The view taken of this matter, even by doctors of position/’ he added, “is utterly false. No account is taken of the cure of purely nervous diseases, as the sudden restoration of function.

“Grave organic diseases suddenly healed are the type of cures that are investigated in the medical bureau on the spot, and they alone have the chance of being registered as miracles.”