If Christian scientists had more science and doctors more Christianity, it wouldn’t make any difference which you called in — if you had a good nurse.

Dunne’s quip (in the voice of his Irish-American bartender-philosopher, Mr. Dooley) satirizes early-20th-century medical culture wars—especially the rivalry between orthodox physicians and Christian Science healing. By imagining each side borrowing the other’s supposed virtues (“science” for Christian Scientists, “Christianity” for doctors), he punctures their claims to exclusive authority. The punchline elevates practical bedside care: whatever the theory, recovery often depends on competent nursing—attention, hygiene, monitoring, and comfort—rather than on doctrinal disputes. The joke also flatters common sense over professional posturing, a hallmark of Dunne’s social commentary.