RELIED ON FAITH HEALING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3581, 30 December 1926, Page 2

RELIED ON FAITH HEALING.

.MEDICAL AID COULD HAVE SAVED LIFE. Auckland, December 2D. An inquest into the circumstances of the death of Mrs Edith'Martin, on Monday, was held at Whakatane by the Coroner (Mr G. A. Bra-" bant). Airs Eva Woodward, sister of deceased, said that Mrs Martin was residing with her and had been jil for about a month but did not stay in bed until Sunday. Deceased was a Christian Scientist and would not have a doctor as she believed solely in faitli healing. On Monday morning deceased became considerably worse and" witness rang up for Dr Appleby. Although the doctor arrived a few minutes after he was called, deceased had died. E. S. Woodward, husband of the previous' witness, said that several times he had urged that deceased should consult a doctor. Airs Martin said that she had no fear of dying and did not require a doctor as she firmly believed in faith healing. Dr. Appleby, who made a postmortem examination, stated that apparently for some time a stricture had been developing in the bowels, At the side of the stricture was a sharp piece of bone which had been swallowed. This.piece of bone had perforated the bowel and set up peritonitis. If deceased had been treated at lirs! the obstruction could have been removed surgically. Deceased must have suffered acute distress. The Coroner returned a verdict that death was due to peritonitis, cause] by intestinal obstruction. TTe added a rider that in spite of deceased persisting in her intention of allowing Christian Science to eecet a cure, the relatives would have been well advised to have insisted on obtaining medical advice during deceased's illness.