Chapter VI - Science, Theology, Medicine
Nature of drugs
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possess intrinsic virtues or intelligent curative qualities,
possess intrinsic virtues or intelligent curative qualities,
these qualities must be mental. Who named drugs, and
what made them good or bad for mortals, beneficial or
injurious?
Dropsy cured without drugs
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A case of dropsy, given up by the faculty, fell into
A case of dropsy, given up by the faculty, fell into
my hands. It was a terrible case. Tapping had been
employed, and yet, as she lay in her bed, the
patient looked like a barrel. I prescribed
the fourth attenuation of Argentum nitratum with occa-
sional doses of a high attenuation of Sulphuris. She im-
proved perceptibly. Believing then somewhat in the
ordinary theories of medical practice, and learning that
her former physician had prescribed these remedies, I
began to fear an aggravation of symptoms from their
prolonged use, and told the patient so; but she was
unwilling to give up the medicine while she was re-
covering. It then occurred to me to give her un-
medicated pellets and watch the result. I did so, and
she continued to gain. Finally she said that she would
give up her medicine for one day, and risk the
effects. After trying this, she informed me that she
could get along two days without globules; but on
the third day she again suffered, and was relieved by
taking them. She went on in this way, taking the
unmedicated pellets, – and receiving occasional visits
from me, – but employing no other means, and she was
cured.
A stately advance
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Metaphysics, as taught in Christian Science, is the
Metaphysics, as taught in Christian Science, is the
next stately step beyond homoeopathy. In metaphysics,
matter disappears from the remedy entirely,
and Mind takes its rightful and supreme
place. Homoeopathy takes mental symptoms largely
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into consideration in its diagnosis of disease. Christian
into consideration in its diagnosis of disease. Christian
Science deals wholly with the mental cause in judging and
destroying disease. It succeeds where homoeopathy fails,
solely because its one recognized Principle of healing is
Mind, and the whole force of the mental element is em-
ployed through the Science of Mind, which never shares
its rights with inanimate matter.
The modus of homoeopathy
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Christian Science exterminates the drug, and rests on
Christian Science exterminates the drug, and rests on
Mind alone as the curative Principle, acknowledging that
the divine Mind has all power. Homoeopathy
mentalizes a drug with such repetition of
thought-attenuations, that the drug becomes
more like the human mind than the substratum of this so‑
called mind, which we call matter; and the drug's power
of action is proportionately increased.
Drugging unchristian
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If drugs are part of God's creation, which (according
If drugs are part of God's creation, which (according
to the narrative in Genesis) He pronounced good, then
drugs cannot be poisonous. If He could cre-
ate drugs intrinsically bad, then they should
never be used. If He creates drugs at all and designs
them for medical use, why did Jesus not employ them
and recommend them for the treatment of disease?
Matter is not self-creative, for it is unintelligent. Erring
mortal mind confers the power which the drug seems to
possess.
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Narcotics quiet mortal mind, and so relieve the body;
Narcotics quiet mortal mind, and so relieve the body;
but they leave both mind and body worse for this sub-
mission. Christian Science impresses the entire corpore-
ality, – namely, mind and body, – and brings out the
proof that Life is continuous and harmonious. Science
both neutralizes error and destroys it. Mankind is the
better for this spiritual and profound pathology.