Edmund F. Burton

Edmund F. Burton (1862 – October 25, 1921) was an American physician who left medicine for the study of Christian Science. He was licensed to practice in Illinois, Arizona, and California. While still practicing medicine, he was a member of the American Medical Association.

Career He was a graduate of Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois, where he later taught. He was also on the surgical staff of Cook County Hospital. In 1896, he received the L. C. P. Freer Second Prize and wrote an article on tuberculosis for The Corpuscle, a publication of the Rush Medical College. Burton was a member of the American Medical Association, but resigned when he left medicine for Christian Science.

Finding himself ill with tuberculosis of the lungs, Burton became unable to work. He moved to what he hoped was a more favorable climate in Arizona, where he recovered enough to work as assistant surgeon of the United States Marine Hospital Service. Eventually Burton was unable to eat, suffered a breakdown and fell unconscious for over 48 hours.

Personal Burton was married to Alberta Neiswanger Hall, a composer who wrote songs for children, including settings for L. Frank Baum's The Songs of Father Goose.