I desire to bear testimony to the efficiency of Christian Science in what I consider a most remarkable case. I have waited three years for the following reason: in consulting the best authorities on the disease during the time of my daughter's affliction, I found it the consensus of opinion that when a patient had passed a period of two years without a reappearance of the disease, it was conclusive of an absolute cure; if there should be a return of the symptoms later than this, it must be considered a new case. Hence, I have not only allowed the required two years to elapse! but have waited three years.
In the summer of 1905 our daughter, then five years of age, showed symptoms of a nervous disease. These gradually grew worse, and the spells were of longer duration; then light spasms, which gradually increased in violence until she would fall and lose all consciousness. The spasms occurred frequently, night as well as day, and numbered from eight to over thirty in the twenty-four hours. Her mentality was affected, also her memory; she lost all desire to amuse herself or to be amused. Still she grew worse, until the spasms would leave her in a paralyzed condition. Our family physician was called at the start, and found the symptoms puzzling, for while they pointed to epilepsy in a general way. they were adverse "in the minor details. On his advice I called the other local physicians, one at a time, but could get no encouragement. Osteopathic treatment was suggested at one time, and a course of that treatment had; but she was no better.
In the early stages of the trouble, I took her to the city and consulted an oculist, thinking the trouble might come from the eyes; but they were pronounced all right. She also underwent a minor operation for adhesions, which are supposed sometimes to cause such trouble. Still the spells grew more severe, more frequent, and of longer duration. I then consulted one of the most prominent physicians in a near-by city, who also pronounced it a case of epilepsy, but gave us some hope. We tried his treatment, and kept the child on a strict diet for a period of three months; still with no results. Having reached the end of our resources, we were awaiting the time when we could take her to the university to consult the best authorities there upon the disease. This was done at the suggestion of a brother who is a medical practitioner, and who was as much puzzled over the case as any of the other physicians.
During the interval, Christian Science was suggested, and a hope held out to us. Being a constant user of drugs in the daily practice of my profession, and producing the desired results with their use. it was not easy for me to believe there was no efficiency in them: not only this, but I was decidedly opposed to Christian Science, or rather, like a great many whose knowledge of it comes from those who know nothing of it, I was prejudiced. But there was a hope held out. and like the drowning man, we grasped at it, with the belief that the treatment could do no harm, if it did no good. Drugs were doing no good, and our physician was frank enough to say that it was useless to give them. Nine months 'bad elapsed since the first symptoms, and the strain of constant watching, never allowing the child out of sight for a minute, was telling on the mother, and she was at the point of a nervous breakdown.
These were the conditions when Christian Science was presented, and now comes the part I do not fathom and cannot understand. Skeptic that I was, the little faith I had in its powers at the time of submitting to the treatment, it was not long before a feeling possessed me that we were doing the right thing. Although the child continued for a time to grow worse, yet something told me that she would recover. In all, Christian Science treatment was had for about two months, and one morning, after probably the severest night we had experienced, the child arose as bright as any child of her years,—her mentality restored, her interest in things around her renewed. From that day to this, now over three years, she has not shown the slightest sign of the disease; "furthermore, I do not believe she ever will. Since then we have had several of what might be termed minor demonstrations; but this major demonstration has proven to me, beyond a doubt, that there is much in Christian Science.
Grand Haven, Mich.
