A Last Word About Christian Science. 183 



cures have been wrought is of the greatest interest. It is reasonable 

 to believe that if certain mental states can unfavorably change the 

 functions of organs, and cause temporary disorder (as is often the case 

 with the stomach and heart), other mental states are conceivable 

 which can favorably change them. For example, any thing which 

 depresses the mind may seriously interfere with digestion; change now 

 the mind to a more cheerful and happy state, and the stomach re- 

 sumes its proper work and the indigestion is cured. Conceive of the 

 depressed state as chronic or abiding, and there is adequate cause of 

 chronic dyspepsia. This rule holds good with other organs. 



The effect of the emotions on the skin and mucous membranes, caus- 

 ing heat or cold, dryness or moisture, is probably experienced by most 

 persons. — It is not unusual in the experience of physicians to treat 

 cases of relaxation of the bowels, for example, brought on by any 

 thing that annoys or depresses the mind. It has been maintained by 

 eminent medical authority that disease as serious as cancer may owe 

 its origin to concentrated attention to the part affected . Dr. Murchi- 

 son said: "There is good evidence that nervous agencies may not 

 only cause functional derangement of the liver, but may cure real or 

 structural disease of that organ/' 



But I seem to have wandered from my subject, and it may be asked, 

 what has all this to do with Christian Science ? Christian Science, 

 in essence, is nothing new, but hoary with age now appears with a 

 new name and new garb, that is all. It is to be considered as on a par 

 with Perkins' " tractors," the water of Lourdes, the cement of Knock, 

 Long's liniment, the "weapon ointment "and " sympathetic powder," 

 the king's " touch," faith, and all the numberless mysterious forms of 

 healing which have been known since the foundation of the world. 

 These all have had and still have believers thoroughly convinced of 

 their reality and power, and all have had cures as numerous and 

 miraculous as those presented by Christian Science. They all have had 

 about the same successes and the same failures. None of them has 

 satisfactorily authenticated cures of fractured bones, for example, 

 or the specific fevers — measles, scarlet fever, small-pox, and so on — 

 though all of these may have been recovered from under any or no 

 form of treatment. Intelligent laymen as well as physicians know 

 that most diseases have an inherent tendency to recover of themselves, 

 perhaps nine-tenths or nineteen-twentieths needing no medical assist- 

 ance whatever, and in such cases the physician who does least harm 

 does most good. No honest physician pretends to cure them, although 

 ne may assist nature in her effort to cure. 



