As so many persons are interested in knowing more of the scope of Christian Science treatment in its relation to cases of accident, which usually come under surgical treatment in the hands of physicians, I should like to give the readers of the Journal a carefully prepared statement of a very interesting case of healing which was brought out in this city about two years ago.
I should like to say for the information of those who know only a little about the Christian Science method of treatment, that Truth is the most wonderful educator and develops the mental faculties in ways that are simply wonderful, and teaches the practitioner to observe more closely than all others the workings of the human mind and the effects of thought upon the body.
When I was first called upon to attend this case I was at once reminded of a similar condition which had come under my notice a number of years ago and before I was a Christian Scientist. The patient in this case was supposed to have injured her knee slightly, but within a week was unable to walk at all and at the time of my acquaintance with her had been for eighteen months confined entirely to her bed in a hospital and the greater part of the time the knee was kept packed in ice. When I last heard of her she was still in the hospital and amputation was being considered.
When I was called to attend the boy, whose case is here given, he was manifesting a high fever with some delirium, and it did not seem possible to move the knee joint at all. Within a few days he was perfectly healed, with the exception of a slight stiffness which disappeared within two or three weeks, and no one but a Christian Scientist practitioner can tell how great is the joy which comes to us when we see these signs of Immanuel or God with us.
Such a demonstration proves conclusively that the Divine Mind has ample provision for all human need, whether in sickness or in health.
A letter written by the boy's brother will give the details of the case as follows:—
"During the early part of July, 1898, my brother, who was then fourteen years old, complained of a severe pain in his left knee, which he laid to a jar which he had sustained while playing. Very little attention was paid to the matter by our family,—as it was nothing unusual for Fred to show signs of his rough play, and it must have been two or three days after the occurrence referred to, that he returned home after starting for school in the morning, complaining of feeling badly generally, and of his knee hurting him severely.
"He appeared to grow worse rapidly after this, a high fever having set in, which was attended with severe nausea. He was delirious a good deal of the time during the succeeding three days, and the injured limb became very badly swollen and discolored, the swelling finally extending into the foot and up to the thigh. I believe it was the fourth day after my brother was taken severely ill, that the case was placed in your hands and a marked improvement was apparent from the first treatment. His recovery was accomplished in a remarkably short space of time considering the severity of his claim. Within a week after your treatment was begun he was able to be on his feet, although it was some little time before he could straighten his limb and walk without a limp.
"The demonstration was finally accomplished, however, and there is to-day no sign of weakness or stiffness in the knee joint, a result, I believe, which is rarely accomplished in such cases under medical treatment.
"Hoping you may be able to use the foregoing statement to such good effect that others in similar situations may be led to investigate the Christian Science system of healing which has proved so effectual in this case, I remain,
"Yours sincerely,
Detroit, Mich.
