Chapter VI - Science, Theology, Medicine
Mythology and materia medica
158:1
It is recorded that the profession of medicine originated
It is recorded that the profession of medicine originated
in idolatry with pagan priests, who besought the gods to
heal the sick and designated Apollo as "the god
of medicine." He was supposed to have dic-
tated the first prescription, according to the
"History of Four Thousand Years of Medicine." It is
here noticeable that Apollo was also regarded as the sender
of disease, "the god of pestilence." Hippocrates turned
from image-gods to vegetable and mineral drugs for heal-
ing. This was deemed progress in medicine; but
what we need is the truth which heals both mind and
body. The future history of material medicine may
correspond with that of its material god, Apollo, who was
banished from heaven and endured great sufferings
upon earth.
Footsteps to intemperance
158:16
Drugs, cataplasms, and whiskey are stupid substitutes
Drugs, cataplasms, and whiskey are stupid substitutes
for the dignity and potency of divine Mind and its effi-
cacy to heal. It is pitiful to lead men into
temptation through the byways of this wil-
derness world, – to victimize the race with intoxicating
prescriptions for the sick, until mortal mind acquires an
educated appetite for strong drink, and men and women
become loathsome sots.
Advancing degrees
158:24
Evidences of progress and of spiritualization greet us
Evidences of progress and of spiritualization greet us
on every hand. Drug-systems are quitting their hold on
matter and so letting in matter's higher stra-
tum, mortal mind. Homoeopathy, a step in
advance of allopathy, is doing this. Matter is going out
of medicine; and mortal mind, of a higher attenuation
than the drug, is governing the pellet.
Effects of fear
158:31
A woman in the city of Lynn, Massachusetts, was
A woman in the city of Lynn, Massachusetts, was
etherized and died in consequence, although her physi-
159:1
cians insisted that it would be unsafe to perform a needed
cians insisted that it would be unsafe to perform a needed
surgical operation without the ether. After the autopsy,
her sister testified that the deceased protested
against inhaling the ether and said it would kill
her, but that she was compelled by her physicians to take
it. Her hands were held, and she was forced into sub-
mission. The case was brought to trial. The evidence
was found to be conclusive, and a verdict was returned that
death was occasioned, not by the ether, but by fear of
inhaling it.
Mental conditions to be heeded
159:11
Is it skilful or scientific surgery to take no heed of men-
Is it skilful or scientific surgery to take no heed of men-
tal conditions and to treat the patient as if she were so
much mindless matter, and as if matter were
the only factor to be consulted? Had these
unscientific surgeons understood metaphysics,
they would have considered the woman's state of mind,
and not have risked such treatment. They would either
have allayed her fear or would have performed the opera-
tion without ether.
159:20
The sequel proved that this Lynn woman died from
The sequel proved that this Lynn woman died from
effects produced by mortal mind, and not from the disease
or the operation.
False source of knowledge
159:23
The medical schools would learn the state of man
The medical schools would learn the state of man
from matter instead of from Mind. They examine the
lungs, tongue, and pulse to ascertain how
much harmony, or health, matter is permit-
ting to matter, – how much pain or pleasure, action or
stagnation, one form of matter is allowing another form
of matter.
159:30
Ignorant of the fact that a man's belief produces dis-
Ignorant of the fact that a man's belief produces dis-
ease and all its symptoms, the ordinary physician is
liable to increase disease with his own mind, when he