The Tragedy of a Faith Healer in Puyallup
When a man fell ill, his family turned to a 'Christian Science faith curist' instead of a doctor, leading to a fatal outcome that shook the community.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Charles West, an old resident of Puyallup, died Sunday night. He had been somewhat indisposed Saturday night and a Mrs. Reese, a Christian Science faith curist, was called. Nothing was done to relieve the patient, who was then suffering from a chill. Mr. West died from want of medical attendance, nothing having been done.
“Mr. West died from want of medical attendance, nothing having been done.”
In 1892, the clash between emerging 'faith cure' movements and traditional medicine was a common point of legal and social friction. Today, this story resonates with the ongoing tension between alternative health movements and the medical establishment, illustrating a century-long debate over personal autonomy, medical standards, and responsibility in end-of-life care.
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