A Last Word About Christian, Science. 175 



of the reaction which is going on against an excessive materialism. 

 But the reaction has already exceeded a safe limit in such as have 

 joined themselves to any of these one-sided systems, for the whole truth 

 cannot be stated in a single sentence nor found in a single theory. 



If our education and alleged culture have been acquired at the ex- 

 pense of bodily health and a vigorous and touring .self-reliance, have 

 they not cost too much ? Do not our methods of rearing children and 

 our own habits of life inevitably produce weakness and susceptibility to 

 disease? Finding ourselves weak and easy victims of disease, what 

 more natural than that we should look about for something to remedy 

 the weakness and cure the disease? Hence man flies to medicine and 

 all manner of external and artificial supports. What is the alternative? 

 With the body strong and the mind pre-occupied man is not likely to 

 be preyed on by disease, for the system so fortified is hard to get into 

 and harder to overcome. Very easily does the weak and delicate product 

 of our civilization — the average man— fall a prey to the slightest symp- 

 toms, surrender at once, take to the bed, and send for the doctor. The 

 less highly civilized man, relying more on himself and nature, stands 

 on his feet and dares the devil. Hew the savage with a broad-ax, and 

 iu a day or two the flesh unites, as water from the parting keel; the 

 same blow consigns the white man to the care of the undertaker. 



If the claims of Christian Science rest principally on its alleged 

 ability to cure disease, and they do so rest, it may not be amiss to 

 look back into the past, and around us in the present, for cures as 

 numerous, as wonderful, and as miraculous, as any performed by Mrs. 

 Eddy and her disciples. 



Dr. Elisha Perkins was born in Ct., in 1740, and practiced with suc- 

 cess for many years. At length, inspired by the recent discoveries of 

 Galvani, he conceived the idea that metallic substances applied in a 

 certain manner might remove disease. In 1796 he gave to the world 

 his metallic « Tractors/' These consisted of two pieces of metal, one 

 iron and one brass, about three inches long. He affirmed that they 

 cured rheumatism, local pains, inflammation, tumors, etc., by being 

 drawn over the affected parts. He patented his discovery and soon 

 found numerous adherents, many of them being among persons of 

 wealth and position. His son crossed the Atlantic with the Tractors, 

 their reputation was soon established in London, and they became 

 the fashion. The Royal Societv accepted both the Tractors and Dr. 

 Perkins' book, and passed a vote of thanks to him. Within five or 

 8 ttyearsa«Perkincan Institution " had been formed, which published 

 transactions, and held annual dinners. Lord Rivers was the first 



