The Text - Section 4
Quimby's Letters to His Patients
BU 18
Belfast, Nov. 4th, 1856
Madam:
Yours of the 2nd inst. was received, and now I sit down to answer your inquiry in
regard to your lameness. It seems to me that the skin on the knee is thinner and
has a more healthy appearance. But you cannot be made to believe anything
that is in plain contradiction to your own senses, and as your opinions have been
formed from the evidence of persons in whom you have placed confidence and
facts have gone to prove these opinions correct, it is not strange that you should
hold on to your belief till some kind friend should come to your aid and lead your
mind in a different direction.
Now to remind you of what I tried to make you understand is a very hard task on
my part; for as I said to you, some of my ideas fall on stony ground, and some on
dry ground, and some on good ground. These ideas are in your mind like the little
leaven, and they will work till the whole mind or lump is changed.
You have asked me many questions which time and space will not permit me to
answer, but I shall write that which seems to be of the most benefit to you. In
regard to your coming to Belfast, use your own judgment. The cure of your limb
depends on your faith. Your faith is what you receive from me, and what you
receive is what you understand. Now if you understand that the mind is the name
of the fluids of which your body is composed and your thoughts represent the
change of the fluids or mind, you will then be in a state to act understandingly.
I will try to illustrate it to you so you can apply your thoughts to your body so as to
receive the reward of your labor. As I told you, every thought contains a
substance either good or bad, and it comes in and makes up a part of your body
or mind; and as the thoughts which are in your system are poisoned, and the
poison has come from without, it is necessary to know how to keep them out of
your system so as not to be injured by them.
Now suppose you have around you a sort of heat like the light of a candle which
embraces all your knowledge, and your body being the centre and you having
the power to govern and control this heat, you then have a world of your own.
Now in health this globe of which your body is the centre is perfect harmony. The
heat of this globe is a protection to itself, like a walled city, to admit none but
supposed friends. Now as every person has the same globe or heat, each
person is a world or nation of itself. This is the state of a person in health.
Now as you wish to change and interchange with other nations, so does our
house like to enjoy the society of other persons, and as we are liberal we admit
strangers to our city or world as friends. When this proclamation goes out, our
globe is filled with all sorts of people from all nations, bringing with them goods,
setting up false doctrines, stirring up strife till the whole population or thoughts
are changed, and man becomes a stranger in his own land and his own
household becomes his enemies. This is the state of a person in disease. Now
as there is nothing in your own system of itself to disturb you, you must look for
your enemies from the strangers whom you have permitted to come into your
land.
_______________________
Belfast, Jan. 10th, 1857
Mr. Thomas Pelmgro
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 4th was received and would say in reply to your enquiry that my
opinion would be for your wife to remain at home for a short time.
On another case, I intend to visit Bangor in one or two weeks and while I am at
Bangor I can take the case and come to Newport and take a private team to your
house and return by the next train. This would be as long as I should wish to stop
and my expense would not be much. At any rate I would not charge you more
than two dollars above my expenses together.
If your wife should improve from that visit, she could come to Bangor or to Belfast
just as you think best. I write in this way because I am partially engaged to go to
Bangor and if your wife was here in Belfast it would make it very bad for her and I
would feel very bad myself. Now if this meets your ideas if you will leave word at
the nearest point or station where the train stops with some one to carry me to
your house, you could then carry me back to take the case so it would not be
much expense. The fare from Bangor to your place and back you can ascertain,
but if I don't go to Bangor I will let you know, and in the meantime you can
ascertain and let me know which of the two would suit your wife best, to come
here, or to have me visit her.
N.B. The price I charge you would have nothing to do with any other person. My
charge is $3.00 but to see your wife I would charge $2.00 over and above my
expenses from Bangor and back.
Yours truly,
P. P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, Feb., 1860
Mr. Editor:
I notice an article in your paper of the third inst. in answer to Y.C. I have nothing
to do with that; but when a person sees fit to attack me as a sorcerer and
humbug, he had better look out for his own theory or house and see if it is based
on a sure foundation before he commences throwing stones at outsiders, for he
will be likely to break his own windows and let in the cold.
Mr. J. seems to be troubled for the safety of the good people of Portland and
warns them against mesmerism, sorcery and all sorts of humbug. Who art thou,
oh man, that judges another without any cause? Did you know by what you
measured to another it shall be measured back to you again? Judge not that ye
be not judged. If you know more about my practice than I do, why did you not tell
the people where the deception is and enlighten them upon the subject; then you
would have done good to the sick. But you do not take the responsibility upon
yourself but, like a demagogue, you come forward with a face of brass and an
impudence that shows itself in every word you say. That shows you are giving an
opinion upon what you have not the slightest knowledge, expecting the people to
take your bare assertion for truth. Why are you not honest and say to the sick
that they have not sense enough to know whether they are benefited by me or
not and that you have just sense enough to see all through the humbug? For this
is what you mean.
Now the time is come when such oracles as you will be weighed in the balance,
and then you will receive sentence according to your knowledge.
P. P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 9th, 1860
[To a patient in Hill, N.H.]
Your letter apprised me of your situation and I want to see if I could affect you. I
am still trying to do so, but do not know as I can without sitting down and talking
with you as I am at present. So I will sit by you a short time and relieve the pain
in your stomach and carry it off. You can sit down when you receive this letter
and listen to my story and I think you will feel better. Sit up straight. I am now
rubbing the back part of your head and round the roots of your nose. I do not
know as you feel my hand, but you twist your arm as though it felt rather queer,
but it will make you feel better. When you read this, I shall be with you; and do as
I write. I am in this letter, so remember and look at me, and see if I do not mean
just as I say. I will now leave you and attend to some others that are waiting, so
"Good evening." Let me know how you get along. If I do not write, I may have
time to call for that does not require so much time.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 9th, 1860
To Miss K., Kennebunk, Me.:
Your letter of the 5th is received. I am surprised that you do not remember that all
my patients have "a cold" as they call it, when the belief is. For instance, if you
are told you have "consumption," this belief is matter under the direction of error,
and as it is put into practice, it changes the mind so that the idea of consumption
is thrown off from the belief. If you are excited by any other belief, you throw off
all the misery that follows your belief. For instance, you are made to believe you
are not so good as you ought to be. Your belief puts restrictions on your life, and
as it is a burden to you, it makes you throw off a shadow that contains the
punishment of your disobedience. This makes you another character, and you
are not the happy child of Wisdom.
This was your belief when you called on me. As I struck at the roots of your belief
with the axe of Truth, everything having a tendency to make you unhappy I tried
to destroy. So in the destruction there must be a change. This change must be
like its father. So if you had grief, it would produce grief for the present. Finally
the Truth would dry up your tears and you would rejoice in that Truth that sets
you free.
So in regard to the "cold"; if you had the idea of "consumption" when I drove that
enemy of man out of your belief, this must produce a like cough, but it is all for
the best. Remember that every error has its reaction, but an unravelling of error
leads to life and happiness, while the winding it up leads to disease and misery.
All that is taking place in your case is just what I anticipated. So it is all right.
Keep up good courage and all will come out right. Tell Miss F to keep good
courage. Her cure is certain.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, March 21st, 1860
To Mrs. Wayne
Dear Madam:
Yours of the 19th is received and I was very glad to hear I succeeded so well, but
I was not disappointed, for I felt sure I could raise you up. I will say a word or two
to you, Mrs. W. I was with you every little while after I first wrote you till the time I
named, and then it seemed as though you were up so I left you. Now I shall drop
in and see you often so you may not be surprised to feel my influence. Were
there any ones at your house when you first got up? If so let me know how long
you had been sick and how long since you walked. I shall be very glad. I think I
shall make a statement to the facts of your case; it is so remarkable that it ought
to be published for the benefit of the sick.
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
LETTER TO A PATIENT RECENTLY HELPED
Portland, March 22nd, 1860
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 21st is received and I take pleasure in answering it. You must
excuse me for addressing Maria for I come to save her, while those who are well
need no physician. So Maria, I am glad to know you are getting along so well.
Since I received the letter I have visited you often and shall drop in every day just
after you take your meals and sit by you and quiet your system so that your food
shall sit well. I shall visit you at night while you are sleeping in your bed and use
my influence to make you rest well so you will be able to walk. You need not give
yourself any fears of my forsaking you nor leaving you in the hands of your
enemies. I shall watch over you till you are able to take care of yourself if my
power is able to do it. I should be glad to hear how you get along.
_______________________
IN REPLY TO A YOUNG PHYSICIAN
Portland, Sept. 16, 1860
Dear Sir:
Yours of the 5th is received, and in answer I would say that it is easier to ask a
question than to answer it. But I will answer your question partly by asking
another, and partly by coming at it by a parable. For to answer any question with
regard to my mode of treatment would be like asking a physician how he knows a
patient has the typhoid fever by feeling the pulse, and requesting the answer
direct so that the person asking the question could sit down and be sure to define
the disease from the answer.
My mode of treatment is not decided in that way, and to give a definite answer to
your inquiry would be as much out of place as to ask you to tell me all you know
about the medical practice so that I could put it into practice for the curing of
disease, with no further knowledge independently from what I get from you. You
see the absurdity of that request.
If it were in my power to give to the world the benefit of twenty years' hard study
in one short or long letter, it would have been before the people long before this.
The people ask they know not what. You might as well ask a man to tell you how
to talk Greek without studying it, as to ask me to tell you how I test the true
pathology of disease or how I test the true diagnosis of disease, etc. All of these
questions would be very easily answered if I assumed a standard and then
tested all disease by that standard.
The old mode of determining the diagnosis of disease is made up of opinions of
diseased persons, in their right mind and out of it, under a nervous state of mind,
all mixed up together, and set down accompanied by a certain state of pulse. In
this dark chaos of error come to certain results like this. If you see a man going
towards the water, he is going in swimming, for people go in swimming. But if he
is running with his hat and coat off, he is either going to drown himself or some
one is drowning, and soon. This is the old way. Mine is this.
If I see a man, I know it, and if I feel the cold I know it. But to see a person going
towards the water is no sign that I know what he is going to do. He may be going
to bathe or may be going to drown himself. Now here is the difference between
the physician and myself, and this may give you some idea of how I define
disease.
The regular and I sit down by a patient. He takes her by the hand, and so do I.
He feels the pulse to ascertain the peculiar vibration and number of beats in a
given time. This to him is knowledge. To me it is all quackery or ignorance. He
looks at the tongue as though it contained information.
To me this is all folly and ignorance. He then begins to ask questions which
contain nothing to me, because is of no force. All this is shaken up in his head
and comes forth in the form of a disease to which he gives a name. This is the
diagnosis of a disease, which is all error to me, and I will give you the diagnosis
of this error.
The feeling of the pulse is to affect the patient so he will listen to the doctor.
Examining the tongue is all for effect. The peculiar cast of the doctor's head is the
same. The questions, accompanied by certain looks and gestures, are all to get
control of the patient's mind so as to produce an impression. Then he looks very
wise, and so on. All the symptoms put together show no knowledge but a lack of
wisdom, and the general credulity of mankind rendering liable to be humbugged
by any person however ignorant he may be, if he only has the reputation of
possessing all medical knowledge.
Now, sir, this is the field you are about to enter, and you will find the hardest
stumbling block from diplomas. Greek and Latin and the like are all of no
consequence to the sick. It is impossible to give you even a mere shadow of
twenty years' experience. But I may be of some use to you. I will say a word or
two on the old practice (not taking much time) that will answer all your questions
on the old school, for the less you know the better.
Watch the popular physician. See his shrewdness. Watch the sick patient,
nervous and trembling like a person in the hands of a magistrate who has him in
his power and whose real object is to deceive him. See the two together, one
perfectly honest, and the other, if honest, perfectly ignorant, undertaking
blindfolded to lead the patients through the dark valley of the shadow of death,
the patient being born blind. Then you see them going along, and at last they
both fall into the ditch.
Now, like the latter, do not deceive your patients. Try to instruct them and correct
their errors. Use all the wisdom you have and expose the hypocrisy of the
profession in any one. Never deceive your patients behind their backs. Always
remember that as you feel about your patients, just so they feel towards you. If
you deceive them, they lose confidence in you. Just as you prove yourself
superior to them, they give you credit mentally. If you pursue this course you
cannot help succeeding. Be charitable to the poor. Keep the health of your
patient in view, and if money comes, all well; but do not let that get the lead.
With all this advice, I leave you to your fate, trusting that the true wisdom will
guide you-not in the path of your predecessors. Shun evil and learn to do good.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
A LETTER REGARDING A PATIENT
Portland, Sept. 17th, 1860
Dear Sir:
Yours of Aug. 27th was received after a long journey through the state of Maine. I
will give you all the information that I am aware I possess.
If certain conditions of mind exist, certain effects will surely follow. For instance, if
two persons agree as touching one thing, it will be granted. But if one agrees and
the other knows not the thing desired, then the thing will not be accomplished.
For example, the lady in question wishes my services to restore her health. Now
her health is the thing she desires. Her faith is the substance of her hope. Her
hope is her desire, it is founded on public opinion, and in this is her haven, the
anchor to her desire, public opinion the ocean on which her barque or belief
floats. Reports of me are the wind that either presses her along to the haven of
health or down to despair. The tide of public opinion is either against her or in her
favor. Now, as she lies moored on the sea with her desire or cable attached to
her anchor of hope, tossed to and fro in the gale of disease, if she can see me or
my power walking on the water saying to her aches and pains, "Be still," then I
have no doubt that she will get better. The sea will then be calm, and she will get
that which she hoped for, her faith or cure. For her faith is her cure and if she
gets it, then her hope is lost in sight and she no longer hopes. This is the
commencement of her cure. I, like Jesus, will stand at her heart and knock. If she
hears my voice or feels my influence and opens the door of her belief, I will come
in and talk and help her out of her troubles.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
TO A GENTLEMAN REQUESTING HELP WITHOUT A PERSONAL
INTERVIEW
Portland, Oct. 20th, 1860
Dear Sir:
In answer to your inquiry, I would say that owing to the skepticism of the world I
do not feel inclined to assure you of any benefit which you may receive from my
influence while away from you, as your belief would probably keep me from
helping you. But it will not cost me much time nor expense to make the trial. So if
I stand at your door and knock, and you know my voice or influence and receive
me, you may be benefited. If you do receive my benefit, give it to the Principle,
not to me as a man but to that Wisdom which is able to break the bonds of the
prisoner, set him free from the errors of the doctors, and restore him to health.
This I will try to do with pleasure. But if this fails and your case is one which
requires my seeing you, then my opinion is of no use.
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
TO A CLERGYMAN
Oct. 28th, 1860
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the eighteenth was received, but owing to a press of business I
neglected answering it. I will try to give you the wisdom you ask. So far as giving
an opinion is concerned, it is out of my power as a physician, though as man I
might. But it would be of no service, for it would contain no wisdom except of this
world.
My practice is not of the wisdom of man, so my opinion as a man is of no value.
Jesus said, "If I judge of myself, my judgment is not true; but if I judge of God, it
is right," for that contains no opinion. So if I judge as a man it is an opinion, and
you can get plenty of them anywhere.
You inquire if I have ever cured any cases of chronic rheumatism. I answer,
"Yes." But there are as many cases of chronic rheumatism as there are of spinal
complaint so that I cannot decide your case by another. You cannot be saved by
pinning your faith on another's sleeve. Every one must answer for his own sins or
belief. Our beliefs are the cause of our misery. Our happiness and misery are
what follow our belief. So as we measure out to another, it will be measured to us
again.
You ask me if I ascribe my cures to spiritual influence. Not after the Rochester
rappings, nor after Dr. Newton's way of curing. I think I know how he cures,
though he does not. I gather by those I have seen who have been treated by him
that he thinks it is through the imagination of the patient's belief. So he and I have
no sympathy. If he cures disease, that is good for the one cured. But the world is
not any wiser.
You ask if my practice belongs to any known science. My answer is, "No," it
belongs to Wisdom that is above man as man. The Science that I try to practice
is the Science that was taught eighteen-hundred years ago and has never had a
place in the heart of man since, but is in the world, and the world knows it not. To
narrow it down to man's wisdom, I sit down by the patient and take his feelings,
and as the rest will be a long story, I will send you one of my circulars so that you
may read for yourself.
Hoping this may limber the cords of your neck, I remain,
Yours, etc.
P.P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, Me., Dec. 27th, 1860
To Miss G.F.:
Your letter was received, and now I sit down to use my power to affect you. I will
commence by telling you to sit upright and not give way to the pit of the stomach
but hold yourself up straight. If I felt that you saw me as plainly while I am talking
to you as I see you, then there would be no use in writing, for you are as plain
before my eyes as you were when I was talking to the shadow in Portland. For
the shadow came with the substance, and that which I am talking to now is the
substance. If I make an impression on it, it may throw forth a shadow of a young
lady upright without that "gone place" in the substance at the pit of the stomach.
Now I am looking into the second stomach, opening the outlet so that all
obstructions may be removed, also to prevent you from vomiting.
Remember that when I see you sitting or standing in the position I saw you in at
Portland, I shall place one hand on your breast and the other on your hips and
just straighten you up. If you complain of the back, you may lay it to me and I will
be a little more gentle. You may expect me once in a while in the evening. So
keep on the lookout. See that you have your lamp trimmed and burning so that
when the truth comes it shall not find you sleeping but up straight, ready to
receive the bridegroom. It seems that you understand this as I tell it to you. But
for fear you will not explain it to the shadow or natural man, I will try to make you
understand so it may come to the senses of the natural man. If I succeed, let my
natural man know by a letter.
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Me., Dec. 30th, 1860
To Mr. J.:
As your wife is about to leave for home, I take this way of expressing my ideas of
the trouble she is laboring under, thinking you would like my opinion of her case.
I think her friends are. not aware of her true state. Hers is one of a very peculiar
kind. She is not deaf in the strict sense of the word, but her condition has been
brought about by trouble of long standing. When I say "trouble" I do not confine it
to any neglect on the part of her friends, but trouble when young, which made her
nervous. This caused her to become low-spirited, till it has changed her system
so that she is not the same person she was twelve years ago. I have given my
attention to her general health, not to her deafness, for I think if she should come
right in her mental or physical condition as she used to be, she would be well.
You can see and judge of her appearance and buoyancy of mind. If you come to
the conclusion that she appears more like her former self, then I should think you
would not run much risk to send her back. For if you see any improvement in her
now, I think she will still improve to your satisfaction.
It takes a long time to produce a change in her system. To give you a full account
of her case would take a long time, so I will leave her to explain what I have
neglected to do.
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Me., Jan. 2nd, 1861
To Mr. H. Hobson:
In answer to your letter, I must say that it is out of my power to visit your place in
person at this time, from the fact that I have some thirty or more patients here on
my hands, but if there comes a slack time I will come and let you know
beforehand so you can meet me in Bangor.
Now a word or two to your wife. I will try my best while sitting by you, while
writing this letter, to produce an effect on your stomach. I want you to take a
tumbler of pure water while I write this, and now and then take a little. I am with
you now seeing you. Do not be in a hurry when you read this, but be calm and
you will in a short time feel it start from your left side and run down; then your
head will be relieved and you will have an inclination to rise. Be slow in your
movements so that your head will not swim around. I will take you by the hand at
first and steady you till you can walk alone. Now remember what I say to you. I
am in this letter and as often as you read this and listen to it, you listen to me. So
let me know the effect one week from now. I will be with you every time you read
this. Take about one half hour to devote to reading and listening to my counsel
and I assure you, you will be better. Now do not forget.
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Jan. 11th, 1861
To Miss G.:
Your letter to Miss W. was handed to me for perusal to see what course I thought
best to take. So I will sit down by you as I used to do and commence operations.
Excitement contracts the stomach, not from fright, but by being overjoyed at your
recovery and having a pretty good appetite; the food digests slowly and it will
make you feel a little sluggish at times. But it will soon act upon your system and
produce a diarrhea, relieving you of the trouble in the water, for that is only
nervous and has nothing to do with the kidneys. I will rub your head and work on
your stomach while I write this and when you are reading I will repeat the same
till you are all right.
Remember that I am with you when you read this and every time you read this
you will feel my influence. I do not know that you feel it at this time 6-1-2
Wednesday night. But I am with you now, knocking at your door, and if you do
not hear me when you get this message, open the door and I will come in and sit
and chat with you, if I do not get too cold waiting out of doors. So keep this in
remembrance of me, that is the Science, till the cure comes.
P.P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, Jan. 13th, 1861
Mrs. Dingley:
I went to you as soon as I received your letter but I cannot say you were aware of
it. Now at the time I write this, I am working on your stomach and now and then
giving you a little water so as to start this heat in your left side that rushes up to
your head.
When you receive this letter, at night after you are through your work, just sit
down in a chair and take a tumbler of cold water and this letter. Read this letter
once or twice very slowly and in the meantime take a swallow of water. When
you get through, this water will cause a sensation on your stomach and you will
feel the wind moving in the stomach and bowels. This will affect your whole
system and cause a sensation or perspiration opening the pores and throwing off
that heat that is confined in the pores and makes the humor.
Remember what I say. When you read this letter I am with you, and just as long
as you read this, I shall be in the letter using my wisdom to cure you. I leave you
now, so good night.-9-12 o'clock Sunday evening
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Jan. 16th, 1861
Mrs. Aukee:
I sit down by you, although much hurried, thinking that your face would grow
rather long and you would look down-hearted. It is Wednesday 7-1-2 evening, so
please give me your attention. I will relieve the pressure across the chest. This
will relax the stomach and you will hear these devils roar up out of your mouth.
Don't cough when it starts. As I am so far away, by your unbelief, I do not know
as you will feel my influence till you receive this. If not, when you receive this
letter, seat yourself at evening, take a tumbler of water and as you read this, take
a little, and you will feel my influence in you. Be about as long as when I was with
you and after you have read this, I will scratch your head as I used to, but you
won't have to comb your hair, for it is a spiritual scratch. You will feel a glow all
over you. This creates a circulation and you will clear your head easier and
speak better. As you read this, remember me and I shall be with you till your
voice comes.
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Jan. 19th, 1861
Mrs. Wheeler:
Your letter of the 11th came to hand, but for the want of time, I have been unable
to write and I had anticipated that I might help you by an examination of your
case. At the time I received your letter, I felt as though I was with you, explaining
to you your case. I will commence now on my way, and as I always sit down by
my patient and take them by the hand, I will seat myself by you and commence
telling your feelings.
So give me your attention and listen to what I say. The pain in your head arises
from a nervous fear which you do not understand. This nervous feeling affects
you when you are in company causing a contraction in the stomach which
creates a heat; this heat presses upon the aorta causing your heart to beat. This
causes a flash in your face, brings on a heat all over it and produces a sort of
faint or weak feeling. The fear makes you give way at the pit of the stomach,
confines that heat there; this heat numbs the side, like leaning your arm over a
chair. This makes the side feel as though it was swollen, and if you compare, you
will find the shoulder a little fuller than the other. When you lie on one side, it
feels as though there was a weight pulling you down. This you take for an
adhesion to the pleura, but it is in the fluids in the flesh. This numbness is often
taken for the lungs, but it is nothing more or less than a nervous heat that heats
the muscles at the back of the neck and runs down the chest. This causes a
contraction of the chest. This contraction makes you give way, like anyone in the
hands of robbers attempting to bind him.
Imagine yourself in their hands and see how you would try not to be bound. You
would be in the position of a fly in the foils of a spider. When the fly is buzzing,
the spider is still at a distance but draws in all the slack. So this eternal error that
man has invented and named consumption binds his victim and then waits to see
him try to break the bands. It makes you nervous; this nervousness makes you
cough. When the stomach relaxes, the heat passes out of it; then it affects the
bowels, also the water, etc.
Now remember, all that the doctors tell you is false. Your lungs are as sound as
any one's, all that you raise comes from your head. The heat presses over your
eyes, makes you feel sleepy and tries to escape out of the nose. The cold comes
in contact with it, just as the heat comes in contact with the glass on the window;
the cold meeting it condenses the heat and forms a frost; then it melts and runs
down. So the heat met by the cold produces a chemical change in the head, like
the frost, and runs down into the mouth. This is called catarrh-that which runs
into the throat, bronchitis. This is all your disease.
I will tell you what you must do. When you receive this letter, I want you to be
seated about eight o'clock in the evening and take a tumbler of water. As you
read this letter, or some one reads it to you, I shall be working on you. You take a
little water now and then till you take a tumbler full. I shall work on your side and
you will feel something like water run down. In a few days you will sneeze and
think you have taken cold. Do not be alarmed. You will be a little sick at the
stomach. Then it will work down and produce a diarrhea. This will relieve the
cough. If this comes out right please let me know.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Jan. 25th, 1861
To Mrs. Ware:
By the request of Emma and Sarah I sit down by you to see if I can amuse you
by my explanation of disease. You know I often talk to persons about religion and
you often look as though you would rather have me talk about anything else.
Perhaps it would be better, but if you knew the cause of every sensation, then
you would not want a physician. Now you will want me to tell you how you feel
and if you will give me your attention I will try to explain. This heavy lazy feeling
that you have, accompanied with a desire to lie down and sort of indifference
how things go along, comes from a quiet state of your system that prevents your
food from digesting as readily as it did while here. But it will act upon you like an
emetic or cathartic, either way is right. So give no care to what you shall eat or
drink, for that wisdom that governs all science will cause all things to work for the
best, and if you want to eat, consult your own feelings and take no one's opinion.
Remember that he who made us knows better our wants than man. So keep
yourself quiet and I will reverse the action from your head and you will feel it
passing out of your stomach. Then do not forget to sit up as I used to tell you and
remember not to believe what the blind guides say for they have a new mask.
They will come to you and if your throat is a little sore, as I have no doubt it will
be from what I see for when the food acts as a cathartic it most always makes
the throat sore, they will ask if you think this sore throat is the diphtheria, looking
as wise as though they had discovered the philosopher's stone. The heat goes
up to the head and tickles the nose; then it condenses and runs down into the
throat.
Remember what I tell you about this disease, for these hypocrites or blind guides
are working in the minds of the people like the demagogues of the south till they
get up a disunion party. So keep on the lookout for these deceivers. I do not say
that you will be troubled with them, but I have kept on their track for twenty years
and have not the slightest confidence in anything they say. Their wisdom is of
this world.
I hear you now, for the first time, asking me if I believe in another world. Yes, but
not in the sense of the clergy. I will try to explain my two worlds. You live in
Chicago and I in Portland, and if it will not be blasphemy to call your place
heaven, we will suppose you are there in heaven and I in Portland. Now, if I am
here sitting and talking with you I can't be on earth if your place is in heaven. So I
must leave the earth and the matter and come to you. Now if I am with you, what
is that that has left the body? It cannot be matter in a visible form, yet it is
something. Listen and I will tell you. You read that God made all living things that
had life out of the earth so that dead matter cannot produce living life, nor
anything else; so all living life is matter in a form or out of a form. As all matter
decomposes, the dust or odor that arises from it was the matter that man is
formed of; this was human life or man. As the child is of living matter, not
wisdom, when it grows to a certain age, it is ready to receive the breath of eternal
life.
I want to explain one word. I said the child was living life, that is what I mean, not
eternal life. Eternal life is a wisdom, just as much above human life as science is
above ignorance. I think I hear you say what becomes of the little child should it
die before it arrived at the age. It was made of the dust and shall return to the
dust again, and the dust of life. So what have you lost by the change? Nothing,
for it is still life, but sown in death or matter-a natural body, it rises a spiritual
body. Why is it not seen by the natural eyes? Because the natural man cannot
discern spiritual bodies. You can see a piece of silver dissolved by a galvanic
battery. Is it out of existence? No. Is it its natural self? No, it is the spiritual self. Is
it not as much yours as before? "I do not know." Well then reverse the poles of
the battery or your belief and you condense the silver into a solid, all but the
dross.
When a child is dead, as you call it, it is dissolved, then raised into a spiritual
form in the likeness of its natural body. Why? Because it is free from sin or
matter. Then you may ask where is it? With its mother's heavenly man or
wisdom, and grows in wisdom like a plant or child till it is ready to receive the
wisdom of eternal life. Eternal life is Christ or Science; this teaches us that matter
is a mere shadow of a substance which the natural man never saw nor never can
see, for it is not matter; it never changes; it is the same today and forever.
This substance is the essence of wisdom and is in every living form. Like a seed
in the earth it grows or develops either in matter or spirit just the same, and it is
much under the control of its mother's wisdom as the gold which is dissolved and
held in solution is under that of the chemist. If the mother's wisdom is of this
world, then the spiritual child is not under her earthly care; but nevertheless, it is
held in the bosom of its eternal wisdom that will cherish it till it is developed to
receive the science of eternal wisdom. Eternal wisdom and eternal life are not the
same, for the latter is not wisdom but living matter. Eternal wisdom cannot
change but acts on eternal life, changes its form and identity. Eternal wisdom
teaches us that all matter is to itself a shadow and is no barrier to wisdom, and
just as we are wise in one thing our opinion vanishes. The shadow becomes
transparent and nothing remains but the memory of what was, but now is not.
Matter is dense darkness; spirit is light. So, if you are wise your body or wisdom
is light, and just as you sink into error you become dense or dark. Therefore let
your light shine, so that when this cloud of wind comes blowing round in the form
of an opinion, you may know there is something in it, only it is the noise of a
demagogue. Believe them not and you will live and flourish. If you can
understand this, you get the basis of my belief. For fear I have not made my two
worlds clear to your mind, I will say a few words more.
The two worlds may be divided in this way: one opinions, the other science.
Opinions are matter or the shadow of science, both are eternal life but one is
limited in its sphere, and the other has no limits. One can be seen by the natural
eyes; the other is an endless progression. One is always changing; the other is
always progressing. The one is made up of reason, opinions, judgment, and the
other is science and is the mystery of the latter. The natural man never will know
one, for he cannot see wisdom and live.
Wisdom is the natural man's death. So he looks upon it as an enemy, prays to it,
pays tribute to it as though wisdom was a man. He often uses it as a balance to
weigh his ignorance in, but never to weigh the difference of his opinions. He often
quotes it, talking as though it were his intimate friend, while he to wisdom is only
known as a servant or shadow, all of imitation and all the above is matter;
science is another character. Science rises above all such narrow ideas. He who
is scientific in regard to health and happiness is his own law and is not subject to
the laws of man except as he is deceived or ignorant. For wisdom cannot let him
disobey her truth without knowing the consequences.
No one after he knows a scientific fact can ignorantly disobey it. So that with
science, the punishment is in the act. But with man's laws it is different; the
penalty may follow the act or come after. With wisdom, the laws are science. To
know science is to know wisdom and how can a man work a mathematical
problem intelligently and at the same time say he is not aware of the fact?
It cannot be done and so it is with every act of our lives. If we know the true
meaning of every word or thought we should know what follows so that a person
cannot scientifically act wrong. But being misled by public opinion, we believe a
lie, so we suffer.
I have gone so far that I have reduced certain states of mind to their causes, as
certain as ever a chemist saw the effect of a chemical change. For instance,
consumption. I know every sensation of its character and it is as much a
character as it ever had an existence. Its father or author is a hypocrite and
deceiver. I look upon it as the most vile of all characters. It comes to a person
under a most flattering form, with the kindest words, always very polite, ready to
lend its aid in any way where it can get a hold. I will illustrate this prince of
hypocrites.
I will come in the form of a lady, for it has many faces and characters. I enter as a
neighbor with the customary salutations and you reply that you are very well. "Oh
I am very glad, for I was expecting to find you abed by what I heard. But you can't
tell anything by gossip. You do not seem quite as well as when I saw you last?"
"Oh, yes, fully as well." "Well, you know there are diseases which always flatter
the patient, but you must keep good courage. I suppose you have heard of the
death of Mr. ." "No, when did he die?" "He died yesterday but was sick a long
time. Sometimes he thought he was getting better, but I knew all the time he was
running down. But you must not get discouraged because you are like him, for it
is not always certain that a person in the same way as you has consumption. So
good morning."
Here I make you nervous and you are glad when I leave. Knowing I am not
welcome in that form I assume another character. I appear as a doctor; I sit down
and count your pulse, look at your tongue, take a stick and examine the phlegm
that you have raised. Then leaning back in the chair, draw a long sigh, and ask if
you have a pain in your left side. Now I will not say but that the doctor is honest,
but if he is, it is worse for you. He is like a dog who wags his tail while you feed
him but when your back is turned will bite you. If ignorance and superstition is to
be put down by scientific facts it is useless to mince matters. If a person is aiding
an enemy, he is as guilty as the thief.
I want you to know that every word that is spoken is something, either matter or
wisdom. Opinions are made up of words condensed into a belief, so if I tell you
that you have congestion of the lungs, I impart my belief to you by a deposit of
matter in the form of words. As you eat my belief it goes to form a disease like
unto its author, it grows, comes forth and at last takes form as a pressure across
the chest.
The doctor comes to get rid of the enemy, and by his remedies he creates
another disease in the bowels. This is done by giving some little simple thing. He
begins to talk about inflammation of the bowels; this frightens you. The fright
contracts the stomach so the heat cannot escape, and it presses on the aorta at
the pit of the stomach. This sets your heart to beating, causes a flush in the face
which you call a rush of blood to the head.
It makes you feel sleepy and weak, as though you must lie down; then the
stomach relaxes and the heat passes down into the bowels; this causes pains.
You call it "Inflammation." All this is very simple if you know what caused it. I will
tell you.
Your situation is the cause. (At the time you were lying on the sofa at your
father's house, Judge Ware's, while I was sitting by you I was aware of your
situation, almost to a certainty. I thought you knew it almost to a certainty for you
kept laughing. Don't you remember it? I guess you do.) As your system changed
it must produce a chemical change in your breast, for the fluids must change.
This would make you feel a little nervous, which feeling would affect your head,
making you feel stupid and inclined to loll on the sofa. Finally it would take away
your appetite. All of this is not anything out of the way. The sickish feelings are to
act upon the stomach. This acts on the bowels and if you will only drink water it
will produce a diarrhea which will carry off all nervous excitement, and your
health will be better than it has been for some time. This letter is an essay for you
to read, so good night. Let me know how it works.
P.P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 8th, 1861
To Mr. S.:
In answer to your letter I will try to explain the color you speak of, if you have
forgotten, so that you will not forget it. Give me your attention while I explain. You
know I told you about your stooping over; this stooping is caused by excitement
affecting the head. this contracts the stomach, causes an irritation, sending the
heat to the head. This heat excites the glands about the nose, it runs down the
throat and this is all there is about it. It will affect you sometimes when you are a
little excited, and you will take it for a cold.
Remember how I explained to you about standing straight. Just put your hands
on your hips, then bend forward and back. This relaxes the muscles around the
waist at the pit of the stomach. This takes away the pressure from the nerves of
the stomach and allays the irritation. Now follow this and sit down and I will work
upon your stomach two or three times in three or four days. It will affect your
bowels and help your color. Tell your wife to sit down and give her attention and I
will affect her in the same way. Please take a little water when you are sitting,
say about 9 o'clock in the evening.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 8th, 1861
To Miss S., Hill, N.H.:
Your letter was received and I was sorry to learn that you thought you took cold.
Perhaps you did, but you know all of my patients have to go through the fiery
furnace to cleanse them of the dross of "this sinful world," made so by the
opinions of the blind guides. Remember that passage where it says, "Whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth." As Truth is our friend, it rids us of our errors, and if
we know its voice we should not fear but receive it with joy. For although it may
seem a hard master, nevertheless it will work out for you a more perfect health
and happiness than this world of error ever could. So listen to it and I will try to
set all things right.
Of course you get very tired, and this would cause the heat to affect the surface
as your head was affected; the heat would affect the fluids, and when the heat
came in contact with the cold it would chill the surface. This change you call "a
cold." But the same would come about in another way. Every word I said to you
is like yeast. This went into your system like food and came in contact with the
food of your old bread or belief. Mine was like a purgative, and acted like an
emetic on your mind so that it would keep up a war with your devils, and they will
not leave a person, when they have so good a hold as they have on you, without
making some resistance. But keep up good courage and I will drive them all out
so that you may once more rejoice in that Truth which will free you from your
tormentors or disease.
If you will sit down and read this letter, take a tumbler of water and think of what I
say, and drink and swallow now and then; I will make you sit up so you will feel
better. You must be just about as long as you used to be in Portland. Try this
every night about nine o'clock. This is the time I shall be with Mr. and Mrs. S. You
know that where two or three are gathered together in the name of this Truth,
there it will be in your midst and help you. So try it and see if it does help you. If
you do, let me know.
Hoping this letter will be of some comfort to you and the rest, I remain your true
friend and protector till you are well, if I have the Science to cure you. So I leave
you for the present and attend to others.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 9th, 1861
To Mr. S.:
Your wife's letter was received, and I was glad to learn you were all so much
better. But your wife says you still cough; this is necessary for your cure, for you
have no other way to get rid of that heat in the head called catarrh. Now, this
heat seems to be a mystery to every one; everybody acknowledges it and tries to
account for it.
Some call it nervous, but when asked to explain that, they fly to some other error.
You know I told you that mind was spiritual matter. In order to illustrate my
meaning so you will understand it, I will make use of an illustration that Jesus
used. He said, when the skies are red, you know it will be fair weather. Now
thought is something and this acts in space. For instance, the body is nothing but
a dense shadow, condensed into what is called matter or ignorance of God or
Wisdom. God or Wisdom is all light. Your identity acts in these two elements,
light and darkness, so that all impressions are made in this darkness or
ignorance, and as the light springs up, the darkness disappears. One of these
elements is governed by Wisdom, the other by error, and as all belief is in this
world of darkness, the truth comes in and explains the error. This rarefies the
darkness and the light takes its place. Now as this darkness is all the time
varying, like the clouds, it is necessary that man should be posted about it as he
would about the weather. For the wisdom of man has got so far from the truth
that even the weather is our enemy, so that we step out as though we were liable
to be caught by a cold, and if we are then comes the penalty. All this error arises
from ignorance. So to keep clear of error is to know who he is, how he gets hold
of us, and how we shall know when he is coming.
To make you understand I must come to you in some way in the form of a belief.
So I will tell you a story of some one who died of bronchitis. You listen or eat this
belief or wisdom as you would eat your meals. It sets rather hard upon your
stomach; this disturbs the error or your body, and a cloud appears in the sky.
You cannot see the storm but you can see it looks dark. In this cloud or belief you
prophesy rain or a storm. So in your belief you foresee evils. the elements of the
body of your belief are shaken, the earth is lit up by the fire of your error, the heat
rises, the heaven or mind grows dark, the heat moves like the roaring of thunder,
the lightning or hot flashes shoot to all parts of the solar system of your belief. At
last the winds or chills strike the earth or surface of the body; a cold clammy
sensation passes over you. This changes the heat into a sort of watery
substance which works its way to the channels and pours to the head and
stomach.
Now listen and you will hear a voice in the clouds of error saying, The truth hath
prevailed to open the pores and let nature rid itself of the evil I loaded you down
with in a belief. This is the way God or Wisdom takes to get rid of a false belief.
The belief is made in the heavens or your mind; it then becomes more and more
condensed till it takes the form of matter. Then Wisdom dissolves it and it passes
through the pores, and the effort of coughing is one of Truth's servants, not
error's; error would try to make you look upon it as an enemy. Remember it is for
your good till the storm is over or the error is destroyed. So hoping that you may
soon rid yourself of all worldly opinions and stand firm in the Truth that will set
you free, I remain your friend and protector till the storm is over and the waters of
your belief are still.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 10, 1861
Miss Elizabeth Brackett:
Owing to a press of business, your letter of Jan. 10th has not been answered, but
I have made you a number of calls and find you better, and I shall visit you at
times till you get over your troubles. Sometime I may explain to you how you
became frightened, but as it will not alter the case now, it will need no
explanation. Perhaps you will remember it yourself. I feel as though you would
get well, so let me know how you are getting along. I am getting quite interested
in your case and want to know if I understand it. I believe that if persons believe
in the truth, it will teach them that although they may be absent from one another
in the body, yet they may be present and feel each other's feelings. So if you will
seat yourself in a chair on Thursday eve at nine o'clock, I will sit down by you and
make you feel sleepy, cause the heat to pass down from your face and make you
feel very well. If you experience any sensation, let me know; and if you
remember how you feel at this time 9 o'clock Sunday eve, please name it.
It seems as though you were enjoying yourself, so I will bid you good night.
P_P. Ouimbv
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 14th, 1861
To Mrs. H. Merrill:
Owing to a press of business your letter has remained unanswered, but when I
receive a letter I always feel as though I was with the patient giving them advice.
Sometimes I am in doubt whether I see or know who they are from the fact that
so many come to me when I put myself in communication with the sick.
I make a sort of general visit as I used to when you were all in my office, but if I
feel certain of one, I make that one a text to preach from. So I believe that if you
can make yourself known to me by your faith, I can feel you.
Since I commenced writing, you have come up before me, so that I now recall
you perfectly well and I will give my attention to you. I have often seen you and
used my arguments to convince you of this great truth. When I say this truth, I
mean this light that lighteth everyone that understands it. When I first sat by you,
my desire to see you lights up my mind like a lamp; and as the light expands, my
senses being attached to the light, each particle of light contains all the element
of the whole. So when the light is strong enough to see your light in your
darkness or doubts, then I come in harmony with your light and dissipate your
error and bring your light out of your darkness. Then I try to associate you with
matter as a substance that is separate and apart from your light or senses.
Man of himself is in matter. Science is out of matter. Disease is matter, health is
out of matter so that you, i.e., science, cannot receive matter into your science,
but your science can separate itself from matter.
So do not try to get out of your trouble and believe in the cause, for you cannot
serve God and man or science and error. The opinion is the matter and the
aches and pains are what follows your embracing it. So to say you do not believe
in disease, and yet complain that you have one, is like saying that you do not
believe in ghosts and telling the largest ghost story, declaring it is true.
P.P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, Feb. 23, 1861
To Mrs. Smith:
I was sorry to hear by your letter that your husband was more feeble. There is a
time when all things must fail and it seems as though this would be so in the case
of your husband, but I hope not. I have tried all in my power to carry him through
that place, and if he had sunk when he first came to Portland, I should not have
been surprised. Seeing him so nervous and in so critical a condition kept me in a
very unpleasant situation. To voice my true feelings, he would have failed at
once. So as a last resort, I was obliged to drive from myself all doubts of his not
getting worse and see if I could produce any effect.
As this seemed to take a favorable turn, I never had a time that I dared to think
otherwise than that he would get well. So things went on, doubts and fears on
one side, and a powerful effort on my part to keep him up till I felt it would be best
for him and you that he should return. If his strength was from me, he must fail at
last; but if he could rally of himself then I felt as though, between us both, he
might come up.
It is very unpleasant to be placed in such a situation. Knowing how little of a sea
or swell it takes to upset our bark, I have to sit and paddle along in breathless
silence lest some little billow may upset all my labors. This was the way in your
husband's case. If he had been at home where all things could have been
otherwise, I should not have had so many fears, but we must take the world as
we find it and make the best of it.
Now as I sit here writing, I cannot leave the helm of his mind to even indulge in
the idea of losing him, nor shall I till that enemy of life tears him from my grasp. If
the sets in, I shall have some more hope. I shall visit often and use my best effort
for his recovery. So I cannot say anything different from what I want should take
place. You, as I have always said, can have your own opinion. Hoping next time I
hear I shall receive more favorable accounts, I remain,
Yours, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Feb. 23, 1861
To Mrs. Cole:
Your letter of the 12th was received just as I was leaving for Belfast and upon my
return I was sick, so this is the first time I have had to reply.
What you say about your child must take place, for you remember what I told you
about his chest, how full it was. This fullness was a deposit of heat that forced
itself through the lungs and pores to the surface and affected the muscles around
the chest. This made him nervous and caused the heat to go to his head, as it
did in your case; this heat was the cause of your color and his asthma.
Now when this passes down, it will condense into water and pass off in a
diarrhea. So although it may seem as though your child was worse, it seems to
me that he ought to get well, for he could never recover while this heat went to
his head. Let him drink cold water and I cannot help feeling that a change must
take place before long. You know how it was with you.
To reverse the action is not a very easy task, but if you wait patiently, I can't help
thinking it will take place. I remember the case well, and shall, at intervals, use
my power to correct the error. Hoping you may see some favorable effect soon, I
remain, etc.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
March 3rd, 1861
To Miss G.:
I will now sit down and put on paper what I did at the time I received your letter. I
went to you at that time and have visited you at times ever since. I wish now to
let you know that I am still with you, sitting by you while in your bed, encouraging
you to keep up good spirits and all will go right. If you cough, it is to get rid of the
heat that has gone to your head and when it condenses it runs down into the
throat and you cough it up.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, March 3rd, 1861
To Mrs. L.A. Burns,
I went to your relief on reading your letter and have visited you at intervals ever
since. At this time I am sitting working on your stomach to make the heat pass
down, and if you are affected, you must lay it to me. The pain you have in the
bowels is all right, it shows that there is an action, it will relieve the left side. Your
head I shall give a good rubbing, especially the back part of it. It won't bother you
to comb your hair as it is short. I shall remember you and make you frequent
calls.
P.P. Quimby
_______________________
Portland, March 3rd, 1861
To Mrs. D.:
In answer to your letter I will say that you know I told you that your disease was
in your mind. Now your mind is your opinion, and your opinion is that you have
scrofulous or cancerous humour.
This opinion is something or it is nothing, and as it shows itself in your system, it
must be something. I call it matter. As I change this something or opinion, it must
change the effect. So as the effect is changed, the matter or mind or opinion is
changed. In the change it will produce these feelings because it is in the fluids.
As - this change goes on it must affect your head and also your side, and it ought
to affect your stomach. This will bring on a phenomenon like a cold, and finish
with a diarrhea. This carries off all the false ideas and relieves your system of
that bloat and heat. Keep up your courage. It is all right.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, March 3rd, 1861
To Mr. R.:
When your letter was received, I went to your relief, but I cannot say that I
affected you. But now I will sit down and try to affect your stomach so that you
will not want to smoke. I feel that if you were aware of the evil influence of the
enemy that is prowling around you enticing you to smoke, you would not harbor
him one moment but hurl him from you as you would a viper that would sting you
to the heart. I know that opinions are something and they are our friends or our
enemies. So the opinion you have of smoking is a false one and is an enemy to
you. It is subtle like the serpent that coils around you till you feel its grasp around
your chest, making your heart palpitate and sending the heat to your head. Then
you will struggle to rid yourself of his grasp, till overpowered, you become
paralyzed. He will laugh at your folly when your fear cometh. Remember that
"love casteth out fear," and fear hath torment. Science is love. Fear is disease;
torment is your reward. So watch lest he enter your house while you are asleep
and bind your limbs, and when you awake find yourself bound hand and foot. So
remember what I say to you as a friend.
P.P.Q.
_______________________
Portland, March 3, 1861
To Miss T.:
Your letter of the first was received.... I will now give you a short sitting and
amuse you by my talk. But as you seem to want your head cured I will rub the top
of it, and while doing this, I will tell you what makes it feel so giddy. You know I
have told you, you think too much on religion or what is called religion. This
makes you nervous, for it contains a belief which contains opinions and they are
matter; i.e. they can be changed. If opinions were not anything, they could not be
changed, for there would be nothing to change. All religion is of this world and
must give way to Science or Truth; for truth is eternal and cannot be changed. . .
. So you see according to the religious world I must be an infidel. Suppose I am. I
know that I am talking to you now. Does the Christian believe in this (talking with
the spirit)? No. Here is where we differ.
Eighteen hundred years ago, there was a man called Jesus who, the Christians
say, came from heaven to tell man that if he would conform to certain rules and
regulations he could go to heaven when he died; but if he refused to obey them,
he must go to hell. Now of course the people could not believe it merely because
he said so, so it was necessary to give some proof that he came from God. Now
what proof was required by the religious world? It must be some miracle or
something that the people could not understand. So he cured the lame, made the
dumb speak, etc. The multitude was his judge and if they could not account for
all that he did was proof that he came from God. So after he had cured many
people they decided that he did come from God.
Now does it follow that if I should say that I was the Son of God or even go so far
in my supposition as to believe that I was God himself, that they would make it
so? Or suppose I should say I will give some proof that I am really God and I
should perform a sudden cure which the people really believed, is their belief to
embrace the idea that I am really God or that I really cured the person? You may
answer this.
A phenomenon is one thing and the way in which it is done another.
The spiritualists produce phenomena, but when they say it is from the spirits of
the dead, that is an opinion. Now let me give you my opinion.
There was once a man called Jesus. I have no doubt that he cured, but his cures
were no proof that he came from God any more than mine does, nor did he
believe it.
This man Jesus was endowed with wisdom from the scientific world or God and
not of this world, nor can he be explained by the natural man. His wisdom never
taught any such thing. His God fills all space. His wisdom is eternal life, with no
death about it. He never intended to give any construction to his cures or words.
His cures were for the benefit and happiness of man. Men were religious from
superstition, their religion was made of opinions, and they were the light of the
mind; the opinion or light contained an idea and the idea was in the center of the
light. When the idea is lit up, it throws its ray; and our senses, being in the rays,
are affected by the idea or light.
As their ideas affected the people, they were like burdens grievous to be borne;
so the people murmured.
Jesus knew all this and no man was able to break the seal or unlock the secret to
health. So the people groaned in their trouble and prayed to be delivered from
their evils. Wisdom, hearing the groans of the sick, acted upon this man Jesus
and opened his eyes to the truth. Thus the heavens were opened to him. He saw
this Truth or Science descend, and he understood it. Then came his temptation;
if he would listen to the people and become king, they would all receive him. This
he would not do. But to become a teacher of the poor and sick would be very
unpopular. Here was the temptation. He chose the latter, and went forth teaching
and curing all sorts of diseases in the name of this Wisdom, and calling on all
men everywhere to repent, believe, and be saved from the priests and doctors
who bound burdens on the people.
I should like to write much more but for the want of time must close.
P.P. Quimby
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Portland, March 10th, 1861
To Mrs. W.:
I have not been able to answer your letter until now. But I have often scratched
your head and talked to you. How much you have been aware of it, I cannot say.
But I now see you and your husband sitting looking as easy as possible. I shall
visit you as an angel, not a fallen one, but one of mercy, till you are able to guide
your own bark.
It is true your husband can travel the briny deep, but he has never entered this
ocean of this higher state. Here our senses are attached to our belief and our
belief makes our bodies or barks. The sea is troubled, error is the rocks and
quicksands where we are liable to be driven by the cross-currents while the wind
of error is whistling in our ears; and when your bark is creaking and twisting from
stem to stern, it is liable to go to pieces. Now keep a good lookout and you will
see breakers ahead. So brace up and see that your compass is right. Keep all
snug and fast. Remember what I told you about this place, not to lose control of
yourself, but stand on deck and give your orders, not in a whining way, but bold
and earnest. Then your crew will obey you and you will steer clear of all danger
and land safe in the port of health. Then enjoy yourself with your husband, talking
over your old sea voyage, and I will sit down with you and listen to your story. So
I will leave you and your husband together.
P.P. Quimby
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March 10th, 1861
To Miss S:
In answering your letter I will say that I have used my best efforts to help you,
and I feel as though I had. Now I will once more renew my promise not to forsake
you in your trouble, but to hold you in the influence of this great Truth that is like
the ocean. While your bark is tossed by the breeze or storms of error and
superstition, while the skies are dark with error and you are moved by your cable
or belief, feeling as though you may be blown on to the rocks of death, you may
look to that Truth that is now beating against the errors and breaking them in
pieces, scattering them to the winds and even piercing the hardest flinty hearts,
grinding them into pieces. This Truth shall shine like the sun and burn up all
these errors that affect the human race.
So be of good cheer and keep up your courage, and you shall see me coming on
the water of your belief and saying to the waters or pain, "Be still," soothing you
till the storm is over. Then when the sun or Truth shall shine, and the pure breeze
from heaven spring up, slip your cable and set sail for the port of health, there to
be once more in the bosom of your friends. Then I will shake hands with you and
go exploring for some other bark that is out in the same gale.
P.P. Quimby
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March 10, 1861
Miss Brackett, Boston, Mass.:
Owing to a press of business, I have not had time to answer your letter until now,
but I often see you and talk to you about your health. I feel as though I had
explained to the spiritual or scientific man the cause of your trouble which I may
not have made plain in my letters to the natural man, but it may sometime come
to your senses or you may see me. Then I can tell you what I cannot put on
paper. As for the cause affecting you now, I feel as though I had removed the
cause, and the effect will soon cease and you will be happy and enjoy good
health. I wait to hear that my prophecies have been fulfilled, but I shall keep a
look out for your health till I hear you say that you are well.
P.P.Q.
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Portland, March 28, 1861
To Mr. G. Cleanes:
Your letter of the 25th was received enclosing $2.00 for my advice. It is true that
a person cannot afford to spend his time for nothing, but at the same time to give
the public the idea that the cures can be made by letter opens the door for
deception. For the sick are, of all classes, most easily humbugged since they are
honest and expect others to be the same.
A person well is not a person sick. The well have no charity for the sick, and
when one gets sick, he is like a man in the hands of robbers. If he does not look
out, they will rob him of all he had, for a sick man will give all he has to be saved
from disease. So they are easily deceived, and as I do not intend to open a door
for these robbers to enter and rob the sick, I put myself into the hands of the sick
instead of having the sick at my mercy. In the latter case, I do not know what I
might be led to do. If this way has the effect I think it will, I am satisfied.
If I can get the good will of my patients, I can help them at a distance, but this is a
theory of my own. From what I have done I know that the principle is true, so
upon this principle I am going to try the theory for the benefit of mankind. If I
succeed, I shall establish one thing that I wish to establish, that is, that the sick
shall never run any risk of losing their money by trusting to any person for a cure,
either by medicine or by letter or by spiritual communication or by any other way,
unless the doctor will run the same chance.
It is what every honest person will do for a theory that he has confidence in. I
therefore return your money, leaving it till I have tried my best and accomplished
my object; then if you please to send it to me, I will receive it as a gift, not as a
fee.
I will now sit down by you and take your feelings as they seem to me. The gone
feeling or quivering at the pit of your stomach is caused by the contraction of the
stomach on the left side. This creates a heat, and as the heat spreads in the
stomach, it produces a sort of numbness around the left side, near the heart. At
any excitement, the heat passes on the aorta, causing the heart to flutter and
beat hard. This goes to your head and causes a dull heavy feeling over the eyes,
like a sleepy feeling, and causes your hands to go to sleep as though they were
resting on something.
Now sir, you may not think I have told you all, but perhaps you do not recognize
the feelings I have told you of, but they are so, for I know it. Now sir, disease is
like a thief or robber that enters your house or mind while you are asleep or
ignorant of the cause, and it uses all the means in its power to decoy the person
to death. So it tempts you by your tobacco to give way to your feelings in order
that it may have you in its power. It is subtle, and, it seems like your best friend,
but it is a viper in your stomach lying wait to poison your life while you can't help
yourself.
I feel that it is working on your system by the queer feeling in your mind, so I
know that you are very nervous, and strange feelings pass through your brain
when you rub your head. Sometimes you feel your heart beat, and a suffocating
feeling comes over you as though you wanted more air. Then comes the idea of
heart disease or apoplexy. This is the effect of the tobacco. Then when it passes
out of the stomach it condenses into water, causing you to pass a large quantity
at times, then less. Now sir, if I am right in regard to your case, I think I can cure
you. If you will let me know the effect, I will continue my visits mentally. If you see
fit to show this to any person, I will say that I answer no letters without the person
first showing his confidence in me. Then if I deceive him, he is at liberty to
expose me. I will try to affect you till I hear from you.
P.P.Q.
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