In February, 1902, I made application for life insurance., and in due course of time was obliged to submit to a physical examination by the medical representative of the insurance company, with the result that an adverse report was made on my application, on the ground that there was a diseased condition of the kidneys. After further examinations by other doctors, the local medical examiner again sent for me and advised me to see my regular physician at once, as my life was endangered. I did as he suggested, and my physician's diagnosis was the same as that of the insurance examiner. He at once put me under the usual treatment and a restricted diet, but in September of 1902 my trouble took a very decided turn for the worse, and in a very short time I was hardly more than a mere skeleton of my former self. At this point my wife persuaded me to call in a third physician, and in his diagnosis he agreed with the others. I was obliged to abandon my business for a period of several months, and gave myself up to rest and quiet; but all to no avail, and after having carefully followed the doctor's advice up to March, 1903, and having steadily grown weaker and more emaciated as a result, I lost heart, my friends lost hope, and the doctors gave no encouragement.
As a last resort I then gave heed to the counsels of a friend and called on a Christian Science practitioner. My first visit was made in doubt, but within a very few days this doubt was dispelled and confidence took its place. In about three weeks I was practically free from pain, and commenced to appreciate life once more. Up to the time I began taking Science treatments I had suffered greatly, sleeping very little and enduring the most excruciating pains. For a great portion of the time I suffered to such an extent that I could not dress myself without assistance, and could hardly raise my hands to my head; but all this disappeared within a few weeks after I turned to Christian Science, and to-day I am as strong and healthy as ever I was in my life.
From materia medica I received no benefit whatever but grew steadily worse, while a few weeks in Science made me a well man. While treating with materia medica I was absent several months from my office, which resulted in considerable financial loss; whereas, from the time I turned to Science to the present, I have never lost a day from my office on account of any sickness whatever. The Science practitioner to whom I applied for help informed me at once that there was no valid reason why I should not proceed right along in the conduct of my business, while on the other hand the doctors had one and all united in advising me that unless I gave up my business worries and took absolute rest there could be no hope for me.
