Testimony of Healing May 17, 1900 Issue

A Soldier's Remarkable Testimony

John C. Carlyle

I wish to add my testimony in behalf of the efficacy of Christian Science healing. To the sceptic or non-believer it may sound rather apochryphal, but I can be personally interviewed at any time if my statements are doubted. While in the late Cuban war (in the Engineer Corps), I was detailed to spy duty, and came upon a Spanish outpost. A short but severe engagement took place, during which I was struck by the butt of a gun, fracturing my jaw, and also in the chest, severely injuring the bones. I also received a terrible machete wound in the knee. Wounded as I was, being on horseback, I managed to escape, but shortly after fainted and fell from my horse from weakness and loss of blood. I was soon found by our men, however, and taken to the camp of the 16th Pennsylvania, whence I was sent to the hospital at Ponce. Lingering there for some time—it seemed years—I was finally returned with my regiment to New York, where I received my discharge in December, 1898, suffering untold agony in the mean time.

I tried to follow my business, but was too enfeebled, and went to a Philadelphia hospital, where I was examined by Dr. DaCosta, who deemed operations necessary to save my life. I took the opposite view (as most patients do), and came to St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, where I underwent a rigid examination by Drs. Bryant, Phelps, Dennis, and others. Their diagnosis revealed the fact that I was a thoroughly disorganized man, suffering from fractures, ulcers, abscesses, and necrosis of the bones. They concluded that I must have a silver jawbone inserted, a silver breastbone, and that my leg must come off above the knee! My sufferings can better be imagined than expressed. I was under the influence of morphine and other anæsthetics most of the time, and when without them I was like an infuriated demon, so intense was my agony. During April my jaw was operated upon, and a portion removed, and again in May and June, which caused my jaws to lock—my only food being fluids given through a rubber tube. I was then informed that my left leg had to be amputated,—that my life depended upon it. Feeling that my earthly career was drawing to a close, I asked and received permission, a few days before the time set for the operation, to visit a few friends for the last time; for I was certain I could not survive it. With my leg in a splint, and enveloped in bandages innumerable, I managed to get to a friend's house, to whom I related my experience.

Now for the sequel. This friend, seeing my hopeless condition, advised me to quit the hospital, throw my opiates and other medicines to the winds, and place my trust in Christian Science. Being a Catholic, I laughed at him. He assured me that not only would I get well, but that my leg would not have to come off! I was impressed with his earnestness, though inclined to doubt his sanity. His interest and expostulations finally prevailed, and I forthwith left the hospital with my leg—and I've got it yet! He introduced me to a Christian Science practitioner—a gentle, forbearing, patient woman, who taught me the Truth, as revealed in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and through her ministrations, and by the grace of God, I saw the Light, and was healed—absolutely cured! My jaw assumed its normal condition, a new bone having grown in the aperture sawed out by the physicians, my jaws unlocked, and I can masticate the toughest piece of meat or anything else, my breast healed, the necrosis and suppuration ceased, my face, which was twisted out of all human shape, assumed its original appearance, the fracture and necrosis of my leg healed, and in the short space of two months from date of first treatment I was running up and down stairs with the agility of an acrobat, and attended to all the active details of my business, immune from pain or suffering of any kind. At this writing I am in thorough bodily health, with scarcely a trace of my many wounds, except a slight scar upon my cheek (a remembrance of the surgeon's knife), and that is gradually disappearing. I am now an attendant of the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, New York City, and thankful beyond expression that I was directed in the way of health, Life, and Truth.

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