I WOULD like to relate a case of healing from an accident. In order that the circumstances surrounding the case may be better understood, I will say, Sharpsville, Sharon, Wheatland, and West Middlesex, Pa., are iron towns within a radius of eight miles, of which Sharon is the largest. Within this radius there are twelve blast furnaces and several mills.
My brother-in-law, Mr. Cole, residing at Sharpsville, was called to West Middlesex to take temporary charge of a blast furnace November 9. The evening of the second day, November 11, at casting time, he was standing about eighteen feet away from the "notch," when one of the workmen struck through a weak place. The iron broke out striking Mr. Cole in the face and left side of his body with terrific force, knocking him down. (He is a large and powerful man, weighing over two hundred.) He was obliged to creep for some distance before he could regain an upright position.
The sight that met the frightened workmen—a flaming man fleeing from a lake of molten metal—seemed to paralyze them for an instant, then brave and willing hands rushed to the rescue and began tearing the burning clothing from his body.
He never for one moment lost his presence of mind, but with what understanding of Christian Science he had, began declaring the Truth for himself. It was then as never before he realized that "God is ... a very present help in trouble." His face, head, neck, left shoulder, arm, and hand were burned, also the leg from hip down to the shoe top, as well as many places on the right leg (which would have been considered at another time quite severe), and a deep hole in the right wrist.
His right eye, a place about the size of a silver dollar on the right cheek, the right ear, and a small space on the right side of the head was all that escaped of the head and face. His left ear was so badly burned and the iron penetrated so deep that two months afterward, while stooping over, iron the size of a No. 4 shot dropped from his ear to the carpeted floor and was easily heard.
The night nurse, who was a brother Odd Fellow and knew nothing of Christian Science, acknowledged with amazement the wonderful healing. He said he would not have been surprised had the ear dropped off at any time, as it was black, then to see that ear come out without a scar was proof positive to him that the claims made for Christian Science were not visionary but proved by practical demonstration. His mouth was so badly burned that the blood would run when he drank water.
The accident occurred on Saturday evening, and by the following Tuesday he could eat raw oysters with a little weak vinegar on them. Mr. Cole was able to realize the Truth for himself until they could reach me by telephone, which was less than an hour, so that he never suffered any pain through the entire healing process.
He was carried to his boarding house on a stretcher. The doctor who was called upon to dress his wounds, as well as those around him, were very much surprised to see that there was no suffering. He was afterward informed that we were Christian Scientists. The lady with whom Mr. Cole boarded remarked to her husband, when he expressed surprise at there being no pain, "Why, that is Christian Science," she having heard that we were Scientists.
As soon as I had realized the Truth for Mr. Cole I began to work for my sister and their son, therefore by the time the carriage which had been sent for them reached them, they were not frightened by the news of the accident. My sister said at once, "Auntie has been treating us I know, for I feel calm and peaceful."
They reached him about ten o'clock, and after the excitement had subsided and quiet of the house had been restored, Mr. Cole sank into a quiet sleep.
I was able to reach his bedside the following Monday morning. That morning four men were sent up from the furnace to carry Mr. Cole to the room where his wounds were to be dressed, but to the surprise of those present he was able to walk out. Many times the doctor stopped his work to inquire of him if he did not feel sick or feel the need of more air, which was met by Mr. Cole in the negative. My sister and I remained by his side making ourselves useful and doing our mental work carefully. The four men, also the manager of the furnace, were present.
It was apparent to me by Wednesday that if possible we must take him home. We saw the necessity of being where I could have entire charge of the case, although we were being treated with the greatest kindness and consideration by the physician and all around. We were met with love on all sides.
I talked over the situation with the doctor while assisting him in dressing the wounds, and he agreed with me that it would not injure him to be taken to his home, eight miles distant, in an ambulance, although it was a rainy day.
Having gained the doctor's approval and Mr. Cole's consent, we availed ourselves of the authority given me by the furnace manager in the morning to call the ambulance and to spare nothing that was needed for the comfort of the patient.
At one o'clock P.M. we began preparation, and with the aid of the clerical force (whose services were willingly and kindly given), all arrangements were soon completed—we had the home opened up and everything in readiness, and four brother Odd Fellows were there to take him from the ambulance, etc.
At five o'clock he was lifted out and placed upon a cot in his own home, where he realized a great sense of peace and thankfulness for the understanding that had made possible this demonstration. On Thursday I suggested that I take entire charge of the dressing of the wounds. He was perfectly willing. The first day or two it required about four hours to do the work, my sister waiting on me, but as the healing progressed much less time was required.
Many friends came regularly to see him, and although not Scientists were rejoiced to see the healing.
His face seemed swollen almost twice its normal size, being at one time covered with a thick coating, or scab, about one sixteenth of an inch thick, which was almost gone from the face in two weeks, leaving it smooth and pink as a babe's.
One physician who called as a friend while the scab was forming gave many reasons why he would be terribly scarred. When he heard afterward that there was no scar, he said he had not been burned so deeply as he thought.
The insurance adjuster (a physician) who saw him at that time, said when he met him after he was able to be out that he had expected to see him terribly disfigured, also that he had been in the accident ward of Bellevue Hospital for eight years and had never seen anything like this, and that he would have liked very much to have a photograph of him when he first saw him, for the clientele.
A minister who saw him at that time was so impressed by the fact of his being healed free scars, that he spoke of it twice in his pulpit, giving the name and also the fact that there was no medicine used.
Mr. Cole was able to be shaved on January 5, and on the sixth took a little trip to the neighbouring town of Sharon.
For five weeks he had to be fed, not having the use of his hands. After the fifth week he was able to use his right hand and could feed himself and walk around the house.
It was truly wonderful to see the filling up of his wounds with the solid flesh, and to see the little new veins threading the wrist as it healed.
At the end of five or six weeks he was able to open the injured eye, and could faintly discern light from darkness. The improvement of the eye seeming slow, my brother-in-law, to satisfy some friends, consulted one of the best oculists in western Pennsylvania, who immediately informed him that the sight was virtually destroyed, that the eye being so prominent would continue to grow more so, like a horn, and eventually run out. My sister informed him that it had receded some. He replied that if it went back it would be one in a thousand. He suggested an operation. My sister inquiring the reason for an operation he replied that a glass eye would look better than this one.
The oculist was not requested to treat the eye, only to give his opinion. I continued the treatment and the eye now presents an almost normal condition. It would attract very little attention.
He can discern objects with that eye by looking closely, and can distinguish colors.
We feel that Truth will be completely demonstrated in the eye and in regard to the ear. Some encrustations of iron came from his ear about one month ago. At times he can hear perfectly well with it.
I cannot close this article without paying loving tribute to our beloved Teacher, Mary Baker Eddy, through whose patient, tireless efforts was given the text-book of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the study of which made possible this demonstration.
Should any one desire to make further inquiry in regard to this case they can address Perrine Cole, West Middlesex, Pa.
One great evidence of the progression of the cause of Christian Science with us was the natural manner in which this case of healing was accepted by the general community. Also the fact that while he was under Christian Science treatment people would ask me in regard to the case as naturally as though he were under the care of a physician. One physician told a friend of the family, that, hearing of the case, he felt that he would have liked to have gone in. When asked why he did not do so, said that, knowing we were having Christian Science treatment he was afraid people might see him going in, and say we had given up Science and were having a doctor, and he did not wish to cause any comment. We appreciated the kindliness and love very much.
