Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
The cure of infants
413:1
and cannot transmit good or evil intelligence to man, and
and cannot transmit good or evil intelligence to man, and
God, the only Mind, does not produce pain in matter.
The act of yielding one's thoughts to the undue contem-
plation of physical wants or conditions induces those very
conditions. A single requirement, beyond what is neces-
sary to meet the simplest needs of the babe is harmful.
Mind regulates the condition of the stomach, bowels, and
food, the temperature of children and of men, and matter
does not. The wise or unwise views of parents and other
persons on these subjects produce good or bad effects on
the health of children.
Ablutions for cleanliness
413:12
The daily ablutions of an infant are no more natural
The daily ablutions of an infant are no more natural
nor necessary than would be the process of taking a fish
out of water every day and covering it with dirt
in order to make it thrive more vigorously in its
own element. "Cleanliness is next to godliness," but
washing should be only for the purpose of keeping the
body clean, and this can be effected without scrubbing the
whole surface daily. Water is not the natural habitat of
humanity. I insist on bodily cleanliness within and with-
out. I am not patient with a speck of dirt; but in caring
for an infant one need not wash his little body all over each
day in order to keep it sweet as the new-blown flower.
Juvenile ailments
413:24
Giving drugs to infants, noticing every symptom of
Giving drugs to infants, noticing every symptom of
flatulency, and constantly directing the mind to such
signs, – that mind being laden with illusions
about disease, health-laws, and death, – these
actions convey mental images to children's budding
thoughts, and often stamp them there, making it probable
at any time that such ills may be reproduced in the very
ailments feared. A child may have worms, if you say so,
or any other malady, timorously held in the beliefs con-
414:1
cerning his body. Thus are laid the foundations of the
cerning his body. Thus are laid the foundations of the
belief in disease and death, and thus are children educated
into discord.
Cure of insanity
414:4
The treatment of insanity is especially interesting.
The treatment of insanity is especially interesting.
However obstinate the case, it yields more readily than
do most diseases to the salutary action of
truth, which counteracts error. The argu-
ments to be used in curing insanity are the same as in
other diseases: namely, the impossibility that matter,
brain, can control or derange mind, can suffer or cause
suffering; also the fact that truth and love will establish
a healthy state, guide and govern mortal mind or the
thought of the patient, and destroy all error, whether it is
called dementia, hatred, or any other discord.
414:15
To fix truth steadfastly in your patients' thoughts, ex-
To fix truth steadfastly in your patients' thoughts, ex-
plain Christian Science to them, but not too soon, – not
until your patients are prepared for the explanation, –
lest you array the sick against their own interests by troub-
ling and perplexing their thought. The Christian Scien-
tist's argument rests on the Christianly scientific basis of
being. The Scripture declares, "The Lord He is God
[good]; there is none else beside Him." Even so, harmony
is universal, and discord is unreal. Christian Science de-
clares that Mind is substance, also that matter neither
feels, suffers, nor enjoys. Hold these points strongly in
view. Keep in mind the verity of being, – that man is
the image and likeness of God, in whom all being is
painless and permanent. Remember that man's perfec-
tion is real and unimpeachable, whereas imperfection is
blameworthy, unreal, and is not brought about by divine
Love.
Matter is not inflamed
414:32
Matter cannot be inflamed. Inflammation is fear, an
Matter cannot be inflamed. Inflammation is fear, an