Testimony of Healing July 29, 1905 Issue

On Friday, July 8, a year ago, my son, nine years of...

James W. Minnich

On Friday, July 8, a year ago, my son, nine years of age, was accidentally thrown from a heavy wagon on an asphalt paved street, and falling between the wagon box and wheel his body caught in the rear wheel and was carried around twice; the third time he caught hold of the axle and thought, "God will take care of me," and then went to sleep. When he recovered consciousness his mother had arrived, and he said to her, "Mamma, I am not going to be a cripple." He had a slight understanding of Christian Science and used what he had. In addition to receiving severe bruises on body and limbs, the rear wheel of the wagon passed twice over his right leg between the ankle and knee, causing what the surgeons called a compound fracture. The bones of the limb were crushed the width of the wagon tire, and the bones below where the wheel passed over had burst through the flesh so that they were exposed. Three surgeons assisted in reducing the fracture. They said it was the worst case of the kind they ever attempted to adjust, and they were very doubtful of saving the limb. The accident occurred about noon. When I arrived home in the evening, my son had come out from under the influence of the anaesthetic and was suffering intense pain. I at once telephoned the surgeon and stated his condition, and was given the comforting information that we could expect this condition to continue for at least a week or ten days, and that the only way to allay the pain was to administer morphine tablets, which he had left for this purpose. We kept the child under this influence Friday night. Saturday morning my wife and I talked the matter over. Knowing the condition of the patient, that he could not stand the severe pain, and not wishing him kept under the influence of morphine, we decided to ask for Christian Science treatment, feeling that this was our only hope. I telephoned at once to a practitioner and explained the situation as best I could, asking her to take the case, which she kindly consented to do. In the afternoon, when she called at our home, we found a rather difficult proposition before us. as we wanted assistance from both Christian Science and materia medica. This obstacle was removed through the mutual understanding that the only work of the surgeon was to keep the bandages properly adjusted, and that no medicines were to be given. When this was first explained to the surgeon he demurred, as he was afraid the severe shock which the child's system had received would result in bringing on a high fever, and that other complications would set in. He, however, finally consented to our wishes. Sunday morning when he called, he took the temperature, and admitted that he was surprised to find it only one degree above normal,—practically no fever.

I then had a talk with him as to his opinion of the case and its results, and was told that the matter of saving the limb all depended on establishing circulation through the crushed portion of the limb and foot. If this could not be done, the portion of the limb below the injury would die and amputation would be necessary, and in his opinion this would be the result. We advised the practitioner of this situation, and inside of twenty-four hours perfect circulation had been restored, greatly to the surprise of the surgeon. Another surprise was, that in just two weeks from the time of the accident, when the surgeons were adjusting the bandages, it was found that there was no discoloration in the injured portion of the limb, the natural color of the flesh being restored, while a small bruise on the arm was still quite visible. When we dismissed the surgeons about the first of August, we were advised not to allow the boy to attempt to walk before the latter part of December, and then only by having the injured portion well protected with bandages. He walked, however, in the latter part of September without any assistance whatever, the limb being perfect, as was its action.

Many obstacles had to be met and overcome by the practitioner, in treating the case,—such as my wife and I our trust being about equally divided between Christian Science and materia medica. Another, was the surgeon's opinion that there would be trouble in the action of the knee and ankle joints. This also was met and overcome by Truth. When the child was first allowed the use of the knee joint, the action was perfect and painless, as was also that of the ankle when he was allowed to use the foot. From the time Christian Science treatment began, his health was perfect and he did not suffer over an hour's pain altogether.

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