WCP2593

[1]¹

2, MANCHESTER SQUARE

W

London

15 Feb. 1893.

Dear Sir

I have been very grateful to you for allowing my eldest brother² and myself to look at a most interesting letter from St George Mivart³ which I am returning to you herewith. The subject of the case at Lourdes is one that is particularly interesting to me. the I am sorry to say the only short visit I have myself paid to Lourdes in 1885 did [2] not afford me any satisfactory evidence, but the testimony of others give some evidence of great value which requires careful attention. I find such in Boissarie'⁴ 'Lourdes — Histoire Médicale' & in some passages of the 25 vols of the 'Annales de Lourdes'. The collection of satisfactory evidence on points requiring highly skilled observation upon large crowds of sick people who are for the most part emotional [3] & ignorant must be a very difficult matter, especially when, as their apologists admit, only about 2 per cent of them are affected ^{so that it} must be a work of great labour ^{& many disappointments,} and I most sincerely hope that the extreme interest of the subject may induce some thoroughly competent observers to spend a long time on the minutes & exact examination & record of the cases. The want of accuracy & medical knowledge in some reported cases of 'Faith-cure’ in the United States [4] must, I am afraid, have to some extent prejudiced the popular mind against some phenomena in Europe which are, to some superficial extent at least, similar.

yours faithfully | A. T. Myers.⁵ M.D. [signature]

I have understood ^{that it is your wish} that St G. Mivart's letter should not be mentioned or quoted in any discussion of this subject and I shall take care to carry out what you desire on the point.