About seventeen years ago I was a sufferer from bronchial asthma. Several physicians declared there was no cure for me. I was filled with fear, self-pity, self-love, self-justification—in bondage to self; but if I had been accused of some of these things, I would have resented it, and felt that people did not know how much I suffered. I tried every remedy that was suggested, but found the relief, if any, only temporary. I carried chloroform and morphine with me all the time, and, whether I needed them or not, when these "gods" were not available I was filled with fear. Nearly every winter I was taken to a different place, as a change of climate seemed to help me, but that improvement also was merely temporary.
About this time I had a fall from a street car, which injured my back by tearing the ligaments and caused a lump to form under my shoulder blade. I suffered all the time with the ache and pain; and it caused such nervousness that I had to add to my medicine chest codeine and strychnine, besides being bound around under my shoulders with adhesive tape about a foot wide, which seemed to support and strengthen me. One of the best doctors in the city told me my back would never get well; another, who was called in consultation, said there was a possibility of my outgrowing the trouble, but that it would take a long time. I was unable to do the lightest kind of work. One day the doctor before leaving asked if I knew anything of Christian Science. I told him I did not. He said, "Well, I do not know anything about it, but it is doing a lot of good, and if I were you I would try it, as it cannot hurt you and may help you; and you know that all I can do is to fill you full of dope."
I told him I would, but forgot all about it, and in a short time moved to Utah and California for relief. It seemed that everyone I met knew of Christian Science. On the train I got into conversation with a lady from Boston who asked me why I did not try it, and who showed me a copy of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy and a Christian Science Quarterly. She also explained to me about the beautiful service, and asked me to go to a church service in Salt Lake City. I told her I would, but did not do so.
