I contend that the true physician watches the patient, studies his symptoms, and even in cases of malarial and epidemic diseases he does not yield ever to the pressure and clamor of the popular alarm, nor yield his own conscience for the sake of soothing the fears of others.

Every individual must be treated according to his or her peculiar temperament; and I believe also - and this from long study in the application of the art of healing - that there is no difficulty in overcoming the spread of epidemics; and I think the larger proportion is the contagion of fear - that baleful mental poison that theologically has well-nigh stranded the world, and also has stranded men physically. Through fear of death men become cowards, and through fear of disease they lose their mental balance and every force of the system is turned into a negative state. The calm and healthful will, the mind that is unafraid and not affected with fear is a very essential requisite in resisting disease. When it was claimed in the olden time that one would enter a fiery furnace and not be consumed by the flame, it was one instanceof extreme application of spiritual over physical force, showing what the mind might accomplish by resisting disease. He who is a skillful physician and intent upon his errand, rarely contracts a poisonous disease; contagion cannot reach him; he is too fearless, too strong in his prevailing and overpowering influence. The same element applied to you would ward off not only the general diseases, but the actual malaria and the contagion that is in the atmosphere. I consider that the spread of diseases, like diphtheria and others accredited of an animalcuhe or malarial nature, are often the result of fear and a negative condition in the individual system that renders that person susceptible to the disease; a sympathetic or psychological power which will attract that which you fear. Usually, if you have noticed, in a great fatality a man generally dies by that disease which he most fears. The enemy is waiting for him; he is a fit subject. If the fear is in his mind it can attack him. As a strong magnetic eye can conquer the infuriated beast until it will lie fawning at your feet, while the fearful man who flies will be followed by the enraged animal, so disease is lurking for him who fears it. But he who has a strong will and is fearless against it, there can be no contagion for him. He can walk as one fully armed and clad in armor in the midst of the most deadly disease if the mind and body be right.

Every human system has a double set of nerves, and not only the nerves but every atom of the physical body is either polarized towards disease with a positive strength, or if it is negative, I call it depolarized. The physical system must be all the time exactly polarized with reference to the laws of health - to the light, to the atmosphere, to the magnetic forces of the system, and ready to respond at an instant's warning to the will-power of the individual.

If your foot refuses to walk, you know that there is a disorder in the nerves or muscular system; if your hand refuses to do your bidding, you may know that it is depolarized in some direction; but instantly the will-power assumes its s\\ ay, or the vitalizing forces are set in their proper places, the body responds to its natural functions and obeys the will.

The source, therefore, of healing will ultimately be in the perception by the physician of the sources of disease. This is why clairvoyants have been so successful in reaching and examining the cases that have come before them. They penetrate beyond the surface, and discover the real causes of human suffering. But frequently the application of the remedy is faulty, because, while the clairvoyant may perceive disease correctly, there may be no corresponding power of application of medicines or magnetism; while many persons who are very gifted healers have no clairvoyant power at all, that power being reserved for the spirit that controls them, and the medium or healer not being aware of the nature of the disease that is being treated.

In the sphere of spiritual life to which your speaker belongs - the sphere of healing - there is a power and influence that is radiated not only to individual healers of earth, but to large numbers of persons. Whenever a spirit enters spirit life whose physical malady has been such that the mind has been continually oppressed by it, or to more correctly state it, when a spirit enters spiritual life whose body has been a victim to his or her mental disorder, that spirit receives in the sphere of healing the first step towards recovery by being disabused of the idea of possessing disease. There are those who are inclined to nurse their maladies if the result will be pitying, caressing or tender care. I don't wonder, since there is not enough affection in the world unless it is called out by suffering. But I pray you apply your affection in health-giving ways. Do not nurse your diseases, for by that means you become central objects of commiseration, and perhaps of condemnation to others. Let your maladies take the shape - not of suffering, nor physical disability, nor mental disorder - but of departure from you; and let life and health and strength be your one challenge to the admiration and love of your friends. Do not claim the affection because you are weak, but try to claim it because you are strong. Do not claim it because you are afflicted, but try to claim it because you are happy and joyous.

But when affliction is with you; when maladies are upon you; when suffering inevitably comes to you, try to overcome instead of encouraging it; try to wind off and triumph over it, instead of making it welcome and pitying and brooding over the difficulty. I know this sounds harsh and severe, hut it is not so harsh as the surgeon's knife, nor half so severe as the remedies that any physician will apply to you if you send for him.