When I turned to Christian Science for help, I was in what appeared to be a hopeless condition, being completely bedridden and entirely helpless. I was not able to move or turn myself at all, and suffered great pain. I had been under the care of several physicians of different schools of medicine, and they diagnosed the condition as rheumatoid arthritis. While they tried all they knew to help me, and I faithfully carried out all their instructions, which included the latest serum treatments, and so forth, I steadily grew worse, until finally they said I was incurable and medical skill could do nothing more for me; so that it seemed there was nothing else before me except to remain a helpless invalid as long as I lived.
When we knew the medical men could not do anything more for me, we began to try all the patent remedies we heard of, but none of them did the slightest good. I had then reached such a state that all my limbs were distorted and the joints rigid and immovable. I was completely helpless. In addition to the helplessness and suffering, there was an eruption of the skin which affected the entire body. One of the doctors said it was eczema; but the others thought it must be a form of septic poisoning. They could not understand it, and were unable to do anything even to give relief.
Then Christian Science was mentioned to a member of my family, and I thought I might as well try it; but I had not the least idea what Christian Science was. This relative, however, spoke to a practitioner about the case, and the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, was sent for me to read.
