The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-15
CASE FOR THE DOCTORS
Psychic Influence Instead of
Medicine Under Discussion.
More of the Peculiar Subject SO
Little Understood.
The Story of Ruth Wells Who Was
Restored to. Perfect Health
Should be More Investi-
cation of These
Matters.

From hopeless invalidism and threat
ened insanity and the possibility of
death at her own hands to a, condition
of absolute health and mental vigor
with the power apparently of healing
others, is the transition experienced
by Ruth Wells, a Topeka girl, through
supposedly that mental force which To-
peka physicians conceded last Monday
night to be dominant over the material
body.
Ruth Wells is well known in Topeka.
She is a daughter of Harrison Wells,
and was born here, and her mother,
who died some years ago, was the first
woman physician in this city. Friends
of the family remember that when
years old Ruth was thrown from
horse and her spine injured, and from
that time on up to her almost mirac-
ulOus restoration to health two years
ago, she was an invalid under the con-
tinuOus care of Topeka physicians.
Now she is a Christian Science believer
and her entire time is given to admin
istering to others.
Attic meeting of the Topeka Academy
of Medicine and Surgery last Monday
night the leading physicians of Topeka
openly declared that they believed the
mind to have the greatest influence
over the body, and that in many cases
1t was superior to any medicine. Here
is an instance for them to study over.
Miss Wells is a large, attractive look
ing young woman, and she tells the
story OF neF lie as an lnVal0, nef
restoration to health and her belief in
the influence of the mind over all things
material in an interesting way.
My childhood after was 8 years of
age was simply a long lapse of suffer
ing" said Miss Wells last night as she
sat in the parlOr of her lodging place
at 913 Madison street, after dismissing
the 18th patient that had called to see
her that day. Il remember the day the
saddle girth broke while 1 was riding
and my fall backward to the ground,
for it practically marks the end of all
pleasure and enjoyment in my life for
u succeeding years. I struck on my
back and they picked me up uncOn-
sciOus, and when a. physician arrived
he said my spine was seriously injur-
ed.
From that time on I don't think I
ever experienced a moments comfort.
1 was in continual pain, and it was not
long until my system weakened, and 1
broke down completely. Although con-
tinuOusly under the care of physicians,
I was never able to get well, and final
~ my brain became affected. 1 was at
tackled with fits of melancholia, and
several times I made up my mind to
take my own life. One day I remem-
Der they found me on the floor in my
room with my fathers revolver pressed
against my temple. That was while
DR. Reid Alexander was living, for 1
also remember of father sending for
him.
Instead of growing any better,
steadily grew worse, in the face of the
fact that II Topeka physicians did all
they could do for me, and something
over two years ago 1 was compelled to
take my bed, which 1 thought at that
time 1 would never again be able to
leave My spinal trouble had by that
time affected my eyes, and the slight
est ray of light caused me such suffer-
ing that the room in which I lay was
kept absolutely dark The physicians
in attendance said that was gradual
ly going insane, and I remember of
feeling day by day that something was
leaving me. I don't believe that any
human being can ever suffer any more
than.I did
From the fact that the doctors gave
me no hope, you may suppose that 1
! had given up all hope in medicine, and
was ready to try anything. Christian
| Science was suggested to me, and al
| though 1 had absolutely no faith in it,
I erasped at it as the last straw. You
| can see what it did for me. Don't look
/ to be in good health?"
Miss Wells is the picture of bodily
| robustness.
yes, I am in perfect health Miss
| Wells continued. when I consented
/ to try Christian Science healing Mrs.