During the year 1881 I was seized with curvature of the spine. By advice of one of the best surgeons of the state, I wore a plaster cast six months, when, as I seemed much improved, it was discarded.
Several years later the trouble returned. The joints of the spine would slip by, causing great suffering; when this would occur I used to lie on my right side until the joints slipped back into place. As the surgeon thought I was not strong enough to wear another cast or to endure the ordeal of having one put on, he advised me to wear very strong corsets, made to order, which I did, but the attacks increased in frequency.
In the year 1889 I went with my family to Ocean Point. Me., to spend the month of August, hoping to be benefited by change. My condition grew worse. I could get into no position that was not painful. A surgeon was called who made a specialty of spinal diseases and also manufactured spinal supports. His verdict was that the muscles on one side of the spine were shrunken and on the other side swollen, that there were two curvatures, one towards the right side, the other an outward curve which caused me to bend forward, also a twist of the spine, and that I would be a cripple within two years if I did not wear a spinal support. My husband intended to order one at once, but the glad tidings of Christian Science came to me in that hour of great need. My daughter went into the cottage of one of Mrs. Eddy's students, and the lady, noticing a troubled look on her usually happy face, asked the cause. She replied by telling the Scientist of my condition. The practitioner then said, "Tell your mother I think she can be healed by Christian Science." My daughter came joyfully back to bring the message. I sent for the Scientist. She came bringing hope and the book Science and Health. She lent me the book, and day after day, lovingly helped me over passages that seemed dark to me. I bought a copy of the book and came home and began to study it. I was so weak I would often lie down and read, resting the book on my pillow. When I retired at night and when I awoke in the morning I studied the book in that way. I became so interested in the revelation of Truth it contained that the healing became a secondary matter.
