Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.djvu/66

54 disease is formed in mortal mind, it is sure to appear on the body, sooner or later. The thought of disease is sometimes formed before you see your doctor, and before he undertakes to dispel it by a counter fear, — perhaps by a blister, by the application of caustic, by croton oil, or by a surgical operation. Or, giving another direction to faith, he prescribes drugs, until the elasticity of mortal thought haply causes a vigorous reaction upon itself, and thus reproduces a picture of healthful and harmonious formations.

The patient's belief is more or less moulded and formed by his doctor's belief in the case, even though the doctor says nothing to support his theory. His thoughts and his patient's commingle, and the stronger rule the weaker. Hence the importance that doctors be Christian Scientists.

We respect the motives and philanthropy of the higher class of physicians. We know that if they understood the Science of Mental Healing they would abandon their systems of drugging. Even this one reform in medicine would ultimately deliver mankind from the oppressive bondage of sickness that false theories enforce.

Because the muscles of the blacksmith's arm are strongly developed, it does not follow that exercise did it, or that an arm less used must be fragile. If matter were the cause of action, and muscles, without the co-operation of mortal mind, could lift the hammer and smite the nail, it might be thought true that hammering enlarges the muscles. But the trip-hammer is not increased in size by exercise. Why not, since muscles are as material as wood and iron? Because mortal mind is not producing that result in the hammer.