end directly, the operation on the mother's organism,
is good in itself; (_c_) The good effect intended, her safety, to which
she has an undoubted right, overbalances the evil effect, the possible
death of the child, whose right to life is doubtful, since its very
existence is doubtful; now, a certain right must take precedence of a
doubtful right of the same species; (_d_) The evil is not made the means
to obtain the good effect (see "Am. Eccl. Rev.," Nov., 1893, p. 353).
This last condition would not be verified if it were proposed, not to
cut out the cyst, but to destroy its contents by an electric current.
Then, it would seem, the foetus itself, if there be one, would be
directly attacked.

2. The case would present greater difficulties if the growth in question
were _known_ to contain a living foetus. Such a case is discussed in all
its details, with remarkable philosophical acumen, and in the light of
copious information furnished by prominent members of the medical
profession, in the pages of the "American Ecclesiastical Review" for
November, 1893, pages 331-360. The participants in this interesting
discussion are writers who enjoy a world-wide reputation for keenness of
intellect and soundness of doctrine in philosophical and theological
learning. They are not at all agreed as to the practical conclusion
arrived at, and even those who agree to the same conclusion do so for
different reasons. Three of them agree that in the case of a cyst known
to contain a living embryo, when a rupture most probably fatal to mother
and child is imminent, the abdominal section might be performed
lawfully, the cyst opened and the child baptized before its certain
death. Two of these justify this conclusion on the principle that the
death of the child is then permitted only or indirectly intended; one
maintains that the killing of the embryo is then directly procured, but
he considers that an embryo in a place not intended for it by nature is
where it has no right to be, and therefore may be treated as an unjust
aggressor upon the mother's life. At least one of the disputants
condemns the operation as absolutely unlawful.

Gentlemen, when such authorities disagree, I would not presume to
attempt a theoretic decision. But then we have this other principle
practically to guide us, that in matters so very doubtful we need not
condemn those who differ from our view, as long as they feel convinced
that they are acting wisely and pruden