The technique of prescribing drugs, like that of every other phase of medical or surgical practice, has changed immensely, since the discovery of Christian Science, as the doctors themselves have recognized that the effect of a prescription on a patient is mental. It is interesting to see, therefore, such an open letter on the subject of prescriptions as that sent out to physicians by "The Propaganda Committee of the Retail"Druggists Association of St. Louis, Missouri." In this open letter, which has been published in the newspapers of that city, the doctors are advised to add coloring and other "inert" ingredients to simple, white remedies, since "the following of this practice will induce the patient to consider the remedy of greater importance." Later in the letter the suggestion is made: "To prescribe 'factory-made' pills, tablets, or capsules only, or continuously, may lead patients to believe that too much 'routine' treatment is practiced variety in prescribing will tend to educate the patient to believe that the physician is 'up' in materia medica and is giving the case his individual attention as well as individual medication." Toward the end of the lenghty letter that is full of such advice, we read: "It is not always prudent to tell the patient how the prescribed medicine will 'act'; conditions with different patients sometimes show contradictory results. Should a medicine not act as you have told the patient he may conclude that either the pharmacist or you have committed an error." These few extracts show what a remarkable piece of propaganda this is.

After reading these statements, one may well ask, Is the drug itself supposed to have any effect, or is it simply the belief of the patient that is supposed to work a change? What Mrs. Eddy says on page 149 of Science and Health is especially pertinent to quote in this connection: "Is materia medica a science or a bundle of speculative human theories? The prescription which succeeds in one instance fails in another, and this is owing to the different mental states of the patient. These states are not comprehended, and they are left without explanation except in Christian Science." Christian Science shows unmistakably that the supposed action of a drug is in every case only a belief in mortal mind. It may be a general belief, developed through extended medical practice, or it may be a specific belief on the part of a single doctor or a single patient. In either instance, it is belief without the firm basis of Principle, and as such is subject to constant fluctuations and reversals. Mortal mind itself is not real Mind but is merely supposititious opposite of the infinite Mind, Spirit, which, with its spiritual idea, is truly all there is. Thus the only sure way of healing is the way that relies wholly on infinite Mind, absolute Principle, and not on supposititious mortal mind and its illusory beliefs. This is the way of Christian Science. As Mrs. Eddy continues in the next sentence after what has already been quoted, "The rule and its perfection of operation never vary in Science." The genuine turning to Principle always brings undeniable healing results.

Mrs. Eddy further explains the action of prescribed drugs when, on page 198 of Science and Health, she declares: "The materialistic doctor, though humane, is an artist who outlines his thought relative to disease, and then fills in his delineations with sketches from textbooks." The fact that savages and animals have used various material things, whether vegetable, animal, or mineral, in seeking relief from distress proves only that they have equipped these things with their belief in them as remedies. It was always the belief, and not the thing, that even seemingly wrought any change. That a savage or an animal or a physician in the past has believed that a certain thing would bring about a certain physical change is no reason why this thing should be used as a medicine to-day. The belief in any drug or combination of drugs as a specific is decidedly volatile. For the genuine healing, which is the replacement of false belief with the spiritual idea actively manifesting Principle, no mortal concept of medication will ever suffice. The healing wholeness of orderly action is produced only by divine intelligence. Thus the sooner a man turns unreservedly to divine intelligence and away from matter for relief, the sooner will he prove enduring health.

At the end of the paragraph on page 198 of Science and Health already quoted, Mrs. Eddy says: "Again, giving another direction of faith, the physician prescribes drugs, until the elasticity of mortal thought haply causes a vigorous reaction upon itself, and reproduces a picture of healthy and harmonious formations." Mrs. Eddy clearly comprehended why the prescribing of drugs has ever seemed to do any good, but she went infinitely further when she showed the way for all mankind to supersede the belief in drugs with the understanding of absolute Principle which requires no material aid. For the instability of mortal beliefs Christian Science gives the sureness of orderly action in Mind, not matter. The real man, in fact, lives entirely in Mind, not in matter, and is in no least respect subject to matter, mortal beliefs, experimental fluctuations, or mistakes. The real man here and now is the active idea of the divine Mind, including no element of destruction or discord. The healing process of Christian Science is the replacement of every false belief about man with this understanding of the real man as the only man there is and as ever manifesting perfect intelligence. The proof of this understanding is the disappearance of the belief in limitation and distress and the presence of true vigor and harmony. Knowing and proving this, the student of Christian Science is grateful for having progressed beyond the belief in prescriptions of drugs to the one true prescription of infinite Principle infinitely manifest as exactly right action, for he is finding the infallible remedy for every ill.

Gustavus S. Paine.