SPIRITUAL HEALING

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 29

SPIRITUAL HEALING

A MEDICAL WARNING. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) Tb n u u Januar y 18. ihe British Medical Association of .Australia through its official organ, has issued a warning in regard to the spiritual healing mission of Mr J. M. Hickson, who is about to tour Australia, and who will afterwards visit New Zealand. It is pointed out that certain facts should be made known in view of the fact that medical practitioners have in the past, and may again, be asked to co-operate or’ lend approval to this procedure. It is explained that the methods of Mr Hickson consist in the holding of a church service, with prayer and address, followed by the “laying on of hands” by the missioner on all the sick who have congregated for that purpose. The journal explains ™ at ,- 1909. in England, the British Medical Association appointed a subcommittee which examined patients brought forward by Mr Hickson. The conclusion arrived at was that the “essential factor in the cures that had been wrought was suggestion. No evidence was forthcoming of any authenticated cure of organic disease.” The sub-committee was satisfied that the ministrations of the spiritual healers of any persons skilfully using suggestion in its various forms, might, cure functional disease, and alleviate pain in organic disease. “No instance has been recorded in which an organic disease proved by pathological examination to exist has been cured by suggestion. No practitioner of medicine will deny that suggestion is a very powerful agent in the treatment of disease, particularly of a functional character. The physician, however, is the person responsible for the treatment of disease. There is a distinct danger that in the hands of untrained persons irreparable harm may be done ro the patient. The danger of delay in seeking medical aid is no small one, and the present ‘preparations’ for Mr Hickson’s visit are in this regard potentially dangerous.” “When spiritual healing can produce a single cure of cancer the medical profession will be willing to revise its position” is the conclusion of the journal’s warning.