ABOUT a year and a half ago I became interested in Christian Science, and was healed through it of what is known as exophthalmic goiter. It was toward the end of the year 1908 that I consulted a doctor, but for months before deciding to do this I had felt ill and very weary. He ordered me to have electrical treatment, but my condition became worse, and I was in bed for five or six weeks. As soon as I was able to be up I was sent to Switzerland, to a sanitarium, where I remained for three months. At the end of this time I had made some slight improvement and went to a hotel, where I was advised to spend the winter. I may mention that this illness was attended by many distressing symptoms and the whole nervous system was affected, so that I lost control of the muscles. I could walk about only with the assistance of a stick or some one's arm. The heart also was said to be much enlarged, and as time went on caused almost constant distress. Gradually the little strength I had regained left me, and I finally consulted a wellknown specialist in Lausanne, who ordered me complete rest, adding that if I did not follow his advice he would not answer for the consequences.
This was the ninth doctor to examine me, and up to that time I had tried all manner of so-called cures, including the X-ray and innumerable medicines; and now cold-water treatment was suggested, which meant wearing an appliance of tubes round my neck all day, through which the water was conducted, as well as eight or nine months of lying in bed, seeing nobody save my sister who attended me, and a very occasional visitor, all of which wrought no apparent change. The last remaining hope held out to me was an operation, which might or might not prove successful.
This was my condition in June, 1910, when a cousin from Scotland came out to visit us. Before leaving Edinburgh she made inquiries about Christian Science in the hope that it might help me, and brought with her a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. She told me all she had heard about it, and read some pages of the book aloud to me every day. Eventually a practitioner was found and absent treatment was begun. At first I did not seem to make much progress, but after a few weeks the Scientist came to see me, and a talk with her explained many things and filled me with hope and courage. Little by little health and strength returned, as I grew to depend less on self and more on God, whom I was learning to know as Life. I was greatly helped each step of the way, and while formerly I had been unable to put a foot to the ground, I now found I could move about from room to room, and no longer had to be carried up and down stairs. At length I was able to take my old place in the home, and now my freedom is complete.
