Chapter 12: 'Science and Health with Key to The Scriptures' by Mary Baker Eddy

Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice

Matter is not inflamed

415:1
excited state of mortals which is not normal. Immor-

tal Mind is the only cause; therefore disease is neither a

cause nor an effect. Mind in every case is the

eternal God, good. Sin, disease, and death

have no foundations in Truth. Inflamation as a mor-

tal belief quickens or impedes the action of the system,

because thought moves quickly or slowly, leaps or halts

when it contemplates unpleasant things, or when the in-

dividual looks upon some object which he dreads. In-

flammation never appears in a part which mortal thought

does not reach. That is why opiates relieve inflammation.

They quiet the thought by inducing stupefaction and by

resorting to matter instead of to Mind. Opiates do not

remove the pain in any scientific sense. They only ren-

der mortal mind temporarily less fearful, till it can master

an erroneous belief.

Truth calms the thought

415:17
Note how thought makes the face pallid. It either re-

tards the circulation or quickens it, causing a pale or

flushed cheek. In the same way thought in-

creases or diminishes the secretions, the action

of the lungs, of the bowels, and of the heart. The mus-

cles, moving quickly or slowly and impelled or palsied by

thought, represent the action of all the organs of the hu-

man system, including brain and viscera. To remove

the error producing disorder, you must calm and instruct

mortal mind with immortal Truth.

Effects of etherization

415:27
Etherization will apparently cause the body to dis-

appear. Before the thoughts are fully at rest, the limbs

will vanish from consciousness. Indeed, the

whole frame will sink from sight along with

surrounding objects, leaving the pain standing forth as

distinctly as a mountain-peak, as if it were a separate