Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Juvenile ailments
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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
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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.
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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
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Matter cannot be inflamed. Inflammation is fear, an
Matter cannot be inflamed. Inflammation is fear, an
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excited state of mortals which is not normal. Immor-
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
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Note how thought makes the face pallid. It either re-
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
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Etherization will apparently cause the body to dis-
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