Taylor - Mabel
Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana 3-24-1899
The 15-year-old daughter of Thomas Taylor, of Crawfordsville died on Saturday of spinal meningitis. She was treated during her sickness by Christian Scientists, and her death is causing much comment. -- kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 24 March 1899
Two or three weeks ago Mabel Taylor, the young daughter of Tom Taylor, of South Grant Avenue, was taken down with brain fever and Dr. Hutchings was called in. The case developed ugly symptoms and the patient did not progress toward recovery with the speed her family thought desirable. Mr. Taylor had read a number of books on Christian Science and he was laboring under the dazzling rays of a great light. He concluded the practice of medicine was a barren ideality and that Christian Science was the only thing. Accordingly Mrs. Tillotson was called in, she being a Christian Science doctor with a reputation of having affected some remarkable cures here. This was two weeks ago and last Thursday morning the family became alarmed and concluded to go back to the old way of curing the sick. Accordingly Mrs. Tillotson was dismissed and Dr. Hutchings was recalled. Dr. Hutchings, however, refused to obey the call. He said that the patient was getting well rapidly and all she had to do was to just think so and she would come out flying. Other doctors when summoned spoke facetiously also. Finally Dr. Swank was called. He now has the case, the girl being quite low. Last Friday a representative of The Journal called on Mrs. Tillotson, at her home on West College Street, and found her an exceptionally bright and intelligent woman with an enthusiastic faith in her profession. She gave the following story of her experience with the Taylor case: “Something over a week ago I was called to take charge of the girl. I understand they had summoned that Dr. Hutchings, who had the case, had been dismissed. I had been in the house only a few minutes when I saw him drive up. I stepped into an adjoining room and allowed the family to tell him that the case had been passed out of his hands. He was much surprised and very angry and I had the pleasure of hearing his opinion of me. He went on at a great rate and abused me roundly, calling me ‘an old quack’ among other things. It was very amusing and as soon as he had gone I began treatment of the case. The girl was wildly delirious and it required the efforts of four persons to hold her in bed. She could be quieted only by hypodermic injections of morphine and was in a very bad way. Almost immediately after I took the case improvement was apparent. She became quiet and seemed to progress satisfactorily toward ultimate recovery. It was a hard case to treat as all kinds of people were about, but still everything went well. Yesterday morning the girl became perfectly rational and at once became conscious of her lameness and bruises, resultant on her violence before I took the case. She naturally was fretful and the family unwarrantedly took alarm and concluded to go back to medicine. I accordingly withdrew after Dr. Swank came. He was very kind and had no criticism to offer on my treatment.”
Mrs. Tillotson on being interrogated as to her mode of treatment said: “I treat simply be declaring the allness of God and the nothingness of matter. I have had several cases since I began practicing and some remarkable demonstrations. The Taylor case is in fact, the first one not eminently satisfactory. Mrs. E. C. Voris and daughter were both treated by me with the best possible results after doctors of all kinds and health resorts had failed. Mrs. Michaels here on the corner would also be a fine witness as to the efficiency of our treatment. I might mention other cases. There are quite a number of Christian Scientists here in town and all of them are thoroughly devoted.”
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 24 March 1899
Mabel Taylor, the fifteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Taylor, died Saturday evening of brain fever after an illness of three weeks. The funeral took place on Monday, the services being conducted by Dr. Tharp, interment at the Masonic Cemetery.
The deceased was the young woman who received Christian Science treatment for some days and who is alleged by the Christian Scientists to have favorably progressed under their ministrations. The regular doctors, who saw the case, express opinions exactly to the contrary. -s