There Is a River

by Thomas Sugrue

  In September, I went to the best specialists that we could find here at home, and after being X-rayed completely and thoroughly examined, they said it was arthritis. This disease comes from some source of infection, but in my case they have never found that source.

  The only thing that the doctors thought might help was for me to go to Arizona to live. The medicine I had been taking hadn’t helped, and strychnine had been prescribed for my heart. We were positively at the end of our rope, so my father decided to list our home for sale and send me to Arizona. In so doing we met the man who so graciously told us of Mr. Cayce.

  We wrote to him that same day and a few days later he gave me a physical reading.

  He told me where my trouble lay, what to do and take, and completely changed my diet. Mother and I started in to follow everything to the letter.

  On the morning of the third day I awoke and could actually bend one knee! Our happiness knew no bounds, we were practically delirious with happiness.

  Since then I have steadily improved and am now practically well. I seldom have even a touch of arthritis, but when I do, a dose of the medicine prescribed sets me on my feet again.

  We will never be able to express our thanks to Mr. Cayce for curing me and saving me from so horrible a death, as the reading stated that I would gradually develop sleeping or stony paralysis.

  (Signed) Miss M. J. McC.

  Summary

  First, let us consider the personal side of this case.

  This young woman had never seen Edgar Cayce when the reading was given. Like so many who ask for readings, she sought it as a last resort. She followed the suggestions in every detail and obtained results.

  Second, let us consider the case as it relates to the research work of the Association. The results obtained in following these readings would certainly indicate that such information may prove helpful in discovering the causes and suggesting aids for even the most serious types of arthritis.

  Third, there is the possibility of securing information of a general nature on such ailments. To adequately carry forward research work of this character the cooperation of open-minded medical scientists must be secured. There is much to gain from such general studies, and nothing to lose.

  IV. SCLERODERMA

  In January, 1937, when D. E. H. returned from Vanderbilt Clinic, Nashville, Tennessee, to her home in a small Kentucky town, she was given up as a hopeless case.

  From her waist to her knees her legs were like stone. The right arm was hard to the elbow. Her stomach and bowels were hard and her face was swollen and hard. The severe pain was constant. At times she could scarcely breathe, and rigors and sinking spells followed.

  The telegram received on January 8, 1937, describes the condition in part:

  GIVE ME PHYSICAL READING. IN BED EIGHT WEEKS. IS THERE ANY TROUBLE IN CHEST? WHAT CAUSES ACHING OVER ENTIRE BODY? WHAT IS HARDNESS THRU BUTTOCKS AND UPPER LEG? WHAT CAUSES TEMPERATURE AND SWEATING AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH? WHAT IS BURNING ALONG SPINE?

  The first reading was given on January 14th and an outline of the suggested treatment was wired to the family. The suggestions were followed carefully with the assistance of a practical nurse, and later a doctor worked sympathetically in following the treatment.

  Shortly after beginning the treatments recommended in the reading, some kind of injection was tried at the advice of a local physician. A relapse followed. The treatments which had in part been discontinued during the period of the injections, were taken up again and followed carefully through the year.

  Progress was slow at first, but gradually the body responded, and this young woman was able finally to take up her normal activities.

  Extracts from Readings

  The following extracts from the twelve psychic readings given on this case have been selected with the view of presenting a picture of the gradual improvement. They also show the clarity of the analyses of the condition:

  —

  January 14, 1937—“As we find, it has been rather late in beginning with the disturbances that have arisen.

  “These as we find are of a very subtle nature. Unless there can be some activities produced in which there is assistance to the vitality of the body, in resisting the inroads of a tubercle in the nature in which it is involving not only those areas through the respiratory system but even the structural portions of the body, from which the blood supply attains or gains its division of a supply of elements from which the red blood cells are builded, we find that the condition will rapidly continue to make inroads.

  “Hence we find that which may be of an addition is to disseminate . . . such forces as will bring relief by heat and the elements that would carry those vibrations to not only the circulatory forces but through the muscular activities. Such measures must include elements which by the radical activity of their vibratory forces upon the physical body itself, may assist in the elimination of the conditions. At the same time these elements would supply to the system those forces to destroy or throw off the conditions by adding to the blood stream that which will give resistance in the hemoglobin and the effluvia of the blood.”

  Treatment

  The following treatment was outlined: (a) sponge body with saturated solution of Bicarbonate of Soda; (b) heavy, hot Castor Oil Packs over abdominal area, lower lumbar, sacral, lower diaphragm and along spine; (c) half a teaspoonful of Ventriculin twice each day; (d) discontinue all starchy foods. Give small quantities of beef juice frequently; (e) give enemas at the temperature of body when necessary, rather than cathartics.

  —

  February 6, 1937—“As we would find, if there is the careful study of the conditions that exist . . . while not being fully understood by many . . . it will be seen that these are the indications and the disturbances as have been given: the effect of the tubercle activity to the superficial circulation, and with the properties in the system that make for the hardening through this portion of the system it works a hardship for the circulation and for the general condition of the body.

  “And this may become constitutional, as the very nature of consumptive force . . . or the consumption of tissue by the disturbance . . . makes for this constitutional nature.

  “Hence we would follow those suggestions as to external applications, as to massage, as to the diet, more closely . . . all of these; and we would find better conditions.

  “The injections have caused disturbances to the heart’s activity, to the coordination between the sympathetic and the cerebrospinal system. The sinking spells and the weakness are from the lack of assimilation of these conditions to the body.

  “Either use one or the other.”

  Treatment

  The following treatment was outlined: Wet Cell Appliance carrying alternate solutions of Atomidine, Chloride of Gold and Spirits of Camphor. Attachments for thirty minutes each day alternating over certain lumbar, dorsal and cervical areas and over the lacteal duct area.

  February 24, 1937—“As we find, while the existing conditions appear somewhat disturbing . . . unless it breaks farther, through strain or through some other overactivity of the body, this is the system’s attempting to adjust itself and eliminate those disturbances in the circulation that have caused the checking of the flow to the lymph circulation.”

  The following treatment was recommended: Glyco-Thymoline enema every other day. Diluted grain alcohol rub over limbs and shoulders. Begin use of Camphor solution with Appliance two days in succession.

  —

  March 5, 1937—“Now the conditions are much on the improve, by the vibrations that have been set up through the system by the low electrical forces and the rub. These should be kept.

  “The plates of the Appliance should be kept a little cleaner. Not that the precautions haven’t been taken, but so easily do the emanations from the body . . . with the little temperature and the poisons, and the very charac
ter of the condition . . . tend to clog that constant flow that should be had from the vibrations.” The following treatments were added: Inhale fumes two or three times each day from pure apple brandy in charred keg. Sip beef juice often. Use red wine with brown bread in afternoons.

  NOTE: This reading was given voluntarily, while information was being sought for other individuals.

  —

  March 23, 1937—“While conditions as we find are far from being entirely satisfactory, there is much improvement shown in many ways . . . that should be most gratifying to the body, as well as to those so anxious about the conditions.

  “As we find in the present, a disturbance arises mostly from lack of activity to make for the proper character and manner of eliminations.

  “Hence those tendencies are existent for the hepatic circulation to gather the poisons that are being thrown off, and to tend to make for temperature that becomes aggravating to the circulation.

  “Then, in those portions of the lymph circulation there is the hardening of the muscular forces in the activities . . . as through the shoulders and the neck, and as portions of the lower limbs and across the abdomen. These very influences then, of course, tend to make for a formation of gas.

  “We would not change or alter so very much, then, the properties that have been indicated, in the blood building, blood purifying, the rubs and the vibratory forces for making for the better coordination with the low electrical forces.”

  Only the following treatments were added: High enemas about once each week, of soda and salt solutions. Small quantities of Olive Oil should be taken three or four times each day. Keep body in open air as much as possible.

  —

  April 26, 1937—“These are the conditions as we find them in the present, and . . . as has been indicated at other times, there is much improvement, yet much to be desired.

  “In the blood stream and in the manner of its circulation in the superficial forces of the body, we still find there are the indications of the effect of those disturbing factors that are a portion of the cause of the disturbing condition, or the hardening and the withdrawal of proper circulation.

  “These arise, to be sure, from an inherent condition from those things that have disturbed the body. This comes about by the lack of the ability of the glandular system to effect, through the assimilations, sufficient of the lecocytes to ward off or destroy this form or type of bacilli that has been and is still active. However, the causes are being reached, and the ability of building up in the blood supply is being gradually improved.

  “Then as there is sufficient improvement for the body to become more active in the open and to keep the necessary balance through the diets and through the activities from those influences and forces as may be given, there will be more and more of a gain; and there should be an eliminating of the causes and a building back to normalcy for the body.

  “As to just how long this will require, to be sure depends upon the responses of the system to a great extent to the applications and circumstances as it were for conditions as might cause or produce a detrimental condition in the experiences of the body.”

  The following additional suggestions were made: Keep up all treatments. Use mineral oil and a liver regulator when needed. Salt air, pines and sand recommended as best environ as soon as body was able to travel. (This part of treatment was not followed.)

  —

  July 15, 1937—“While there is still much to be desired in the general physical forces of the body, as we find the conditions in the main continue on the improve.

  “There is still the necessity of keeping much of those things suggested for the building of the body for the resistances in the system against the cellular forces that tend to break down in the superficial circulation, and to cause much of the inflammation and the activities in the muscular forces of the body . . . though, these, too, show improvements somewhat.”

  All treatments previously suggested were to be kept. A rub with a combination of Olive Oil and Tincture of Myrrh was to be given daily over knees, hips, abdomen and shoulders. A stricter alkaline diet was recommended.

  —

  October 8, 1937—“Now as we find, while there is still much to be desired, the body is on the improve.

  “These are conditions as we find to be reckoned with in the present, and these the applications that are the better for the body in the present.

  “The manipulations have been very good. These may be put a little further apart, but should be kept up as yet; say three in each two weeks for another six, or four to six weeks; then we would give the further instructions regarding these.

  “There must be, as we find, care in the manner of the adjustments and manipulative measures. For, contrary to the ordinary conditions, we find in the upper dorsal, and even through the cervical areas, the inclinations for the segments to be far apart rather than close together. And this tends to make for leakages; or too easily does the body . . . or those portions of same . . . become influenced by the impulses that arise through those portions of the body from which there is not the tension. Hence this achy condition, or the hurting, or the feeling of a full flow.

  “We find in the lumbar and through the sacral area a tendency of tightness. This makes for that inclination, now, from which there are the inclinations of a flushing; that is, in the circulation, to the lower portions of the body.

  “Hence in the manipulations these would be not so much movements of the segments as to stimulate the muscular forces along the side of the spine and following the nerve ends . . . or the nerve branches from those portions to their extremities in the body.”

  All treatments were to be continued. One minim of Atomidine was to be taken each day in half a glass of water. The body was advised not to take the typhoid fever serum at this time.

  —

  January 17, 1938—“As we find, there has been the inclination for too severe a taxation to the body without taking those precautions to keep the body alkalized sufficiently. And the leaving off of sufficient of the corrections osteopathically to keep the conditions in the cerebrospinal system from leaking, as it were, in the circulation has caused the body to become disturbed with cold, congestion, and the effect of poisons in the system.

  “We would rest from so much taxation. This does not mean go to bed, or not work or play. Keep in the open, active to be sure. Make those applications which will break up the congestion: by the manipulations osteopathically, and by the deep inhalations from the charred keg with brandy in it.”

  The solutions of Camphor and Gold Chloride were to be discontinued, but the Atomidine solution continued with the Appliance. The body was to begin with Halibut Oil with Viosterol. Osteopathic treatments were to be given once each week over the whole cerebrospinal system. Atomidine spray was to be used for throat and nose to prevent colds. General suggestions were made for keeping eliminations open. Warnings were given not to worry too much and not to overtax the nervous system.

  Summary

  The reports on this case are contained in letters from the mother, nurse, doctor, and patient. They cover a period of a year. Each one shows a gradual improvement. Extracts follow:

  —

  January 26, 1937—(From mother) “We are so very anxious over D.’s condition. She has not been so well since Sunday. She awakened with a weak spell Sunday morning, with another one at noon, and one at noon Monday . . . The hardness of the skin is very slightly less in the upper hips . . .”

  —

  March 5, 1937—(From mother) “D. has not been so well since I wired you last week. Her stomach is badly upset, she has severe pains in the lower abdomen and much gas. Her food will not digest and she aches badly over entire body, more however in the right shoulder and down all of back.”

  —

  March 31, 1937—(From mother) “She is feeling fairly well, still aches badly and her skin is
very sore. The stomach condition is some better. She is up for a few minutes each day now as you suggested, but is very weak.”

  —

  June 8, 1937—(From patient) “I still ache awfully bad—of course it is worse in the back and across the shoulders, but the muscles over the entire body are affected. The right knee is sore at the place I bend it. The temperature started again after being free of it for about three weeks . . .”

  —

  June 22, 1937—(From patient) “You don’t know how happy the last reading made me when you said to stay out of the oil packs. I was staying right with them but in the summer time they are not very funny. When I read that the aching will leave me and that I can go back to work and take up both the teaching and the choir, I did everything but shout . . . I want to go to work by September if I possibly can and I’m about to walk myself to death to get strong enough. I know that aching won’t be gone by then because it sure is setting me wild now. When I get the Olive Oil rub, following the Appliance, my back between the shoulders and the neck burns and feels like needles are sticking in it . . .”

  —

  July 12, 1937—“I went to Mayo’s Saturday two weeks ago. Nothing would do my family but that I go. We knew the hardness was much better but that aching still sticks with me. Sometimes it makes me so nervous that I feel I’ll lose my mind. Don’t you think for a minute that I had thought of not following the readings and my family have just as much confidence in them as I do. They just wanted me checked over on account of this aching. We couldn’t tell just how much was hardness and how much was muscle. They said that just enough hardness was there with the symptoms for them to diagnose the trouble. They called it scleroderma. They said that there was fluid in the tissues and inflammation of the muscles. They found no focus of infection to cause the aching. All they told me to do was to take plenty of exercise and quit this high nervous tension I was under. They thought it came on from recurrent attacks of flu . . . I came straight home and got in the oil packs.”