I was first offered Christian Science by a younger sister. I was so afraid that she had only been deceived by some new-fangled religion that it was very hard for me to accept it. Although I could see that it really worked, I felt sure it was the work of the devil, and I had heard preachers say so. Finally, with trembling hands, I took "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy and began to study it in conjunction with my Bible. I read for some time before I had any physical problem to work out for myself.
I had seen Science heal measles in three days, whooping cough in a very short time, colds, sore throat, and other diseases, and I decided that if I should have to work out a problem for myself it would strengthen my faith. About two years later I was taken with a severe case of malarial fever, which lasted about six months. With the help of practitioners the healing was complete. During this experience, because I lost weight so rapidly, I was told by a member of my family that I was going to die; but I was never afraid for one moment that I should not be healed.
Following this experience I was healed of two carbuncles which had appeared on the back of my neck, one after the other. I kept up my household duties during this experience. Very soon after this healing I splashed a drop of concentrated lye on the ball of my right eye. The lye had been dissolved to make soap. I immediately began to say "the scientific statement of being" (Science and Health, p. 468). In about two hours I was sufficiently relieved to continue my work with a cloth over the eye. The eye was very red for a day or so, but within a week it was as normal as ever.
