the thirtieth attenuation of Natrum Muriaticum, in a tumbler-full of water, and one teaspoonful of the water mixed with the faith of ages, would cure patients not affected by a larger dose. The drug disappears in the higher attenuations of Homœopathy, and matter is thereby reduced to the proportions of mortal mind; but the curative principle remains, and is found to be even more active.
The mental virtues of the material methods of medicine, when understood, were insufficient to solve my doubts. I must know more of the unmixed, unerring source, in order to gain the Science of Mind, the All-in-all of Spirit, in which matter is obsolete. Nothing less could unravel the mental problem. If I sought an answer from the medical schools, the reply was dark, contradictory, unillumined. Neither ancient nor modern philosophy could clear the clouds, or give me one distinct statement of the Science of Mind-healing. Human reason was not equal to it.
About the year 1862 my health was failing rapidly;
and I employed a distinguished mesmerist, Mr. P. P.
Quimby, whose method of treatment was by
manipulation and water. He helped me temporarily, but I
returned home still an invalid. While with Mr. Quimby
I cured some of his most helpless cases on the general
lines of my own notions, which were then in line with
some of his.
I rearranged a few of his short essays, and gave him also some of my own writings, which remained among his papers, and have been spoken of, by persons unfamiliar with the facts, as his own. Mr. Quimby's son has stated, over his own signature, that he has in his possession all his father's written utterances; and I have offered to pay for their publication; but he declines to publish them, for their publication would silence the insinuation that Mr. Quimby originated my system of healing.
