Testimony of Healing January 1, 1916 Issue

Some thirteen years ago I had what is known as the "mastoid"...

William B. Acton

Some thirteen years ago I had what is known as the "mastoid" operation, that is, the removal of the bone just behind the ear. In operating, an incision was made through the ear which destroyed the ear-drum, and also the hearing in that ear, as I was told and for years believed. Less than two weeks after this operation skin was grafted from off the leg on to the wound to start the healing process, but some sixteen months thereafter, the head not having healed, the wound was sewed up. Nothing further was done until about six years ago, when a growth was noticed in the inner ear. This was removed at that time, and though not a serious operation, it was extremely painful. The growth constantly reappeared, and twice a year for five years I had it removed. These operations were so painful that I could not bear to have the growth removed in one cutting. I always had to make two or three trips to the doctor's office.

In November, 1912, my employer made up his mind that something was wrong, and insisted on my going to his doctor, who was well known, for an examination. This doctor made an examination and advised that the head and ear be again opened and the old wound scraped clean and sewed up. He said in response to my inquiry that I had one chance in two to survive. Inasmuch as on three prior occasions I came near passing on, a fourth risk was not too inviting. My own doctor said that the operation would be in the interests of medical science, and would most likely result in my death; at any rate, to insure my living it would be better to have the minor operation twice a year, as I had been accustomed to do, adding that he would not be a party to the operation. I therefore had the growth again removed.

For some time several friends had been urging me to take up Christian Science, and immediately after the above operation, on the first day of December, 1912, I visited a practitioner. I had been wearing glasses for four years, and the doctor had been working on my eyes to get them into shape for permanent glasses. Every day during the month of December, 1912, I visited the practitioner for treatment, and every night very earnestly studied the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. I also attended the church regularly. Just before Christmas the glasses were discarded. I did not come to Science for the healing of my eyes, nor did I expect to be healed of deafness, but I desired to know if the treatment would stop the growth in the ear, and this it did. For months I had carried with me four pairs of glasses, and for every move I made, a change seemed necessary. Before Christmas day I gave all my glasses to the practitioner, and with the exception of one occasion, when I borrowed them to show some friends who would not or could not believe my statement as to my healing, I have not seen them since. I have, however, read more and with greater comfort than ever before.

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