[Extracts from a letter to Rev. M. B. G. Eddy.]
My Very Precious Teacher: I have thought several times I would write, but waited to find something of interest to communicate. I have for three days been waiting to see the result which I am to tell you now. I will begin at the beginning. I was in New Hampshire, lecturing and teaching, when a telegram came to me, asking if I could come immediately to Belfast,—"case very urgent." After some further correspondence by telegraph, I came here a day or two later, and found that the gentleman who had summoned me was an eminent physician, withdrawn from active practice. The doctors in charge of the case received me very courteously, and on learning that I could not act with them, they kindly left the case entirely in my hands. Indeed they acknowledged they had done all they could to help the patient, but without success.
The lady had not been moved for four days, and had not slept but a moment at a time for fourteen days. They had fed her for two weeks on a teaspoonful of broth every hour, till she could keep nothing on her stomach, and vomited all the time. I gave her a treatment Wednesday night, and she slept very well. Thursday she slept all day, only waking to eat, and remark, "Oh, how beautifully I rest!" Friday she could sit up and move, as strongly as anyone, in bed. Saturday and Sunday she ate beefsteak, potatoes, oysters,—everything she wanted. Three days ago she was so weak that she could only live (in her belief) by fanning. Today she is livelier than anyone in the house. Her mother met me with tears, and said: "Oh, can you save my child? The doctors say she can't live." I replied, "With God all things are possible. I will try."
