Chapter VI - Science, Theology, Medicine
Mortal mind dethroned
152:1
called mind is a myth, and must by its own consent yield
called mind is a myth, and must by its own consent yield
to Truth. It would wield the sceptre of a monarch, but
it is powerless. The immortal divine Mind
takes away all its supposed sovereignty, and
saves mortal mind from itself. The author has endeavored
to make this book the AEsculapius of mind as well as of
body, that it may give hope to the sick and heal them,
although they know not how the work is done. Truth
has a healing effect, even when not fully understood.
All activity from thought
152:10
Anatomy describes muscular action as produced by
Anatomy describes muscular action as produced by
mind in one instance and not in another. Such errors
beset every material theory, in which one
statement contradicts another over and over
again. It is related that Sir Humphry Davy once ap-
parently cured a case of paralysis simply by introducing
a thermometer into the patient's mouth. This he did
merely to ascertain the temperature of the patient's body;
but the sick man supposed this ceremony was intended
to heal him, and he recovered accordingly. Such a fact
illustrates our theories.
The author's experiments in medicine
152:21
The author's medical researches and experiments had
The author's medical researches and experiments had
prepared her thought for the metaphysics of Christian
Science. Every material dependence had
failed her in her search for truth; and she can
now understand why, and can see the means
by which mortals are divinely driven to a spiritual source
for health and happiness.
Homoeopathic attenuations
152:28
Her experiments in homoeopathy had made her skep-
Her experiments in homoeopathy had made her skep-
tical as to material curative methods. Jahr, from
Aconitum to Zincum oxydatum, enumerates
the general symptoms, the characteristic
signs, which demand different remedies; but the drug
153:1
is frequently attenuated to such a degree that not a ves-
is frequently attenuated to such a degree that not a ves-
tige of it remains. Thus we learn that it is not the drug
which expels the disease or changes one of the symptoms
of disease.
Only salt and water
153:5
The author has attenuated Natrum muriaticum (com-
The author has attenuated Natrum muriaticum (com-
mon table-salt) until there was not a single saline property
left. The salt had "lost his savour;" and yet,
with one drop of that attenuation in a goblet of
water, and a teaspoonful of the water administered at in-
tervals of three hours, she has cured a patient sinking in
the last stage of typhoid fever. The highest attenuation
of homoeopathy and the most potent rises above matter into
mind. This discovery leads to more light. From it may
be learned that either human faith or the divine Mind is
the healer and that there is no efficacy in a drug.
Origin of pain
153:16
You say a boil is painful; but that is impossible, for
You say a boil is painful; but that is impossible, for
matter without mind is not painful. The boil simply
manifests, through inflammation and swell-
ing, a belief in pain, and this belief is called a
boil. Now administer mentally to your patient a high
attenuation of truth, and it will soon cure the boil. The
fact that pain cannot exist where there is no mortal mind
to feel it is a proof that this so-called mind makes its
own pain – that is, its own belief in pain.
Source of contagion
153:25
We weep because others weep, we yawn because they
We weep because others weep, we yawn because they
yawn, and we have smallpox because others have it; but
mortal mind, not matter, contains and carries
the infection. When this mental contagion is
understood, we shall be more careful of our mental con-
ditions and we shall avoid loquacious tattling about
disease, as we would avoid advocating crime. Neither
sympathy nor society should ever tempt us to cherish