This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 13th day of October, 1938, in accordance with request made by the self Mr. [391], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., through wife.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mrs. [934] and baby son [1208].

TEXT

1. GC: You will give the physical condition of this body at the present time, with suggestions for further corrective measures; answering the questions he submits, as I ask them:
2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, [391].
3. Now, as we find, conditions are not so good. And these conditions might be well termed, "I told you so."
4. For the effects of alcoholic-reacting influences in the system, with the results or the EFFECT of forces that are of an infectious nature - have, through the LACK of the proper care and attention to diet and eliminations, produced such an effect in the lymph circulation as to have burned much of it up.
5. And an ARTHRITIC-RHEUMATIC effect is the result in the system.
6. They neither should become static, if there are the precautions as we find for the proper eliminations - and then the proper building UP of the body, and the refraining from those things that are the CAUSE - the basic cause of the disturbance.
7. For, too much of anything as of hops or alcohol reaction with same - with the very nature of the disturbance produces in the liver, in the kidneys, the disturbances that DESTROY the effect of that plasm in the blood supply which aids in the eliminations of used energies; and produces toxic forces in the body.
8. These then are conditions to be met; and, as we find:
9. We would begin first with the ELIMINATIONS! Not because there has not been the activity of the alimentary canal, but these should be eliminated by the slow activity of properties that remove from the system those causes or sources of the activities; that, combined with the infectious forces that are latent in the system, may be entirely relieved.
10. Begin then with these:
11. Take Zilatone; one tablet after the morning meal - drink two glasses of water with same - and EAT the morning meal! Then after the evening meal (and eat the evening meal!) take TWO tablets, drinking two glasses of water. Do this EVERY day for three or four days!
12. Then, AFTER that, take - during a whole day - a bottle of Castoria; but take it half a teaspoonful every half hour. This is to be absorbed by the system, as well as acting as a settling for the digestive forces.
13. Where there are the contractions through the muscular forces - as across the back, through the shoulders, the neck, down a portion of the hip - over the hip portion where there are the pains - apply equal portions of the Mutton Suet, Spirits of Turpentine and Spirits of Camphor. And add the HEAT - NOT of the electric pad but of SALT; hot salt! This would be made into a pad sufficiently heavy that it may retain the heat. The electric pad may be placed over THIS if so desired. There is the need of the effect upon the respiratory system of the heat from calcium chloride or salt. The massage with the Mutton Suet compound should be as warm as it can be used to apply, not by a cloth but by rubbing same into the portions - just as hard as the body can stand. This will open the pores more by the rubbing.
14. Then after the rubbing, or even BEFORE the use of the massage, it would be very well if so desired to paint the area with three parts of laudanum to one part aconite.
15. Then as for the diet: Keep away from beer, wines, whiskey, or even drinks that carry carbonated water; or do so - or using same will be - to thine OWN UNDOING!
16. In the diet do not have pork of any nature, nor beef - though beef juices may be taken. Preferably in the PRESENT would be potato soup or vegetable soup or meat soup or broths, if so desired. These are preferable to any of heavy foods, especially while the eliminations that are to be set up are carried on.
17. About a week AFTER the body is able to be about again, begin with the use of Codiron - FOUR tablets each day; two after the morning meal, or WITH the morning meal, and two with the evening meal. Do this for about a month, leave off for about two weeks, and then do it again.
18. Ready for questions.
19. (Q) Can condition be built up so that the back won't give way again?
    (A) This depends upon what the activities of the body are! If there is a disregarding of the digestive forces and of those conditions that exist within, it will give way again! The condition may become static as the body grows a little older - and this would mean almost as a paresis or paralysis, or a muscular contraction - UNLESS the proper precautions are taken!
20. (Q) After the body is relieved of the immediate condition, would it be harmful to go ahead with any kind of manual labor?
    (A) Why should it be - so the strength is there?
    It isn't the labor - it is the ABUSE of the digestive and assimilating system as related to the general conditions which have existed in the body.
21. (Q) Would it be advisable for me to attempt to get a job in a florist business? [See 391-1.] If so, what procedure would you advise?
    (A) This is very well, if that is so desired. We do not find it in keeping with that as is the temperament of the body.
22. (Q) How should I go about to get a job with The Lance Packing Co., whose headquarters are in N.C.?
    (A) Through those regular channels; making application to those channels through which same is to be done - and by having the letters of recommendation, of course, from those who are the users or consumers of same.
23. (Q) What general rules and precautions should I take to keep in a healthy condition?
    (A) As has been indicated. Do not DRINK, but EAT PROPERLY!
    Do not ABUSE the body - either mentally OR physically, but MOST of all by alcohol; and especially hops or the products of same, or even the carbonated waters are harmful for THIS body - and, of course, the STRONG drinks are more harmful!
24. (Q) Any other advice at this time?
    (A) Do these as we find - if the body would function through these experiences in a normal manner.
25. We are through with this reading.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

1. See 391-17 on 7/11/36 for prostatitis, cystitis, etc., with warning to stay away from alcoholic beverages.
2. 9/06/38 He obtained 934-5 for wife who had ptomaine from eating seafood and drinking beer, etc.
3. 10/13/38 Wife said he was down with his back again - lumbago type, couldn't get out of bed.

REPORTS

1. 4/10/39 See wife's reading, 934-6, asking if it would be advisable to join [391] in Fort Worth, Texas.
2. 5/27/40 [934]'s letter: "...Send Atomidine - his old trouble is back..."
3. 6/05/40 See wife's Check-Life reading, 934-7, advising what they have to work out together in this life, their obligations to their son, [1208], their individual weaknesses and strengths, etc.
4. See subsequent notations under 391-1 Life reading Reports.
5. 9/08/44 [391]'s letter from France (after 3 years in army overseas):
   "...Thanks very much for sending me those excerpts from the readings. They pretty well hit the point very definite like, and a few of the true facts keep pounding time after time. The hardest part isn't realizing the value of certain things - it's carrying out what I do know, and it certainly isn't easy... I haven't had anything at all to drink in three months, and before that was only English brown water that they called beer. I had a few drinks of Scotch the first year, but that didn't last long and before we left we couldn't even get beer over there..."
6. 10/07/44 [391]'s letter:
   "...I'm still in pretty good health, all except my back. There seems to be about three different spots now where there only used to be one. That can be expected, though, with the sleeping conditions and the weather to contend with. It's pretty awful, the same thing day after day. When I get home I'll never get enough sunshine again..."
7. 12/07/44 [391]'s letter:
   "...I have been having trouble with my back and just lately it got so bad I couldn't get around any more so I went to the hospital. They seem to think the only thing that will help it is an operation and their opinion is divided about that. At present I don't know what they're going to do - just waiting... I'm still in pretty good health but my back keeps me from being much use to the Army. If it doesn't get better I'll be in an awful fix when I get out of here. They're very slow about doing anything but if they operate it will be in England or U.S. I certainly hope it is over there. After two and one-half years overseas it's time I got home anyway. I've had five and one-half months, with about eighteen days rest, right on the front, so I don't feel as though I was getting out before doing my share..."
8. 12/23/52 [391]'s letter: "...I have been sick with pleurisy in the V.A. Hospital for over a month, but am okay now and back to work..."
9. 9/26/54 He wrote from Castle Point, N.Y., Veterans Administration: tuberculosis sanitarium: "...Spend most of the time in bed. Probably be here about a year or more..."
10. 4/21/55 [391]'s letter: "...I've gained fifteen pounds..."
11. 1/04/56 He wrote that he was leaving for Florida to get a job.
12. 12/13/57 He wrote that he was back in a T.B. hospital again, in California.
13. 3/22/58 [391]'s letter:
    "...My back was x-rayed several times and it seems the 'disc' or cartilage in between the joints is worn out or all mashed up and so far they have done nothing, but I guess they'll give me heat treatments and massage, the same thing they always have done. It feels good and helps while it's being done, but has no lasting effect..."
14. 8/03/58 [391]'s letter: "...I have left the hospital..."
15. 1/11/59 [391]'s letter:
    "...I'm back in the hospital again. It was the only thing I could do. They wouldn't let me get a job of any kind...I feel pretty good and don't think there's anything much wrong. They look at my X-rays and see those old pneumonia scars and right away they are suspicious. Guess I'll have to stay here until they give me a clearance to go to work..."
16. 8/03/63 [391]'s letter: "...I've managed to stay out of the hospital for the last year, but still have to report to the Health Department each month and they furnish the pills..."
17. 1/02/64 [391]'s letter:
    "...I'm back in the hospital again...the doctor here tells me I'm in better shape than I was when I left, in July a year ago, according to my X-rays. He says if I can come up with a few negatives right away he'll let me leave. I seem to feel better than I have in a long time... I've just about stopped drinking. Nothing much at all for the past two years. No special reason just quit of my own accord..."
18. 1/13/65 [391]'s letter:
    "...I'm back in the hospital again... The thing that gives me most of the trouble is my stomach. The X-rays say that I have ULCERS, caused by having to take so many of their drugs, the doctors think. Anyway, the diet I'm on isn't very palatable. But, as food doesn't bother me very much, I manage to eat something every day. I also have emphysema, which makes it pretty hard to breathe sometimes..."
19. 12/65 We heard that he was in a veteran's T.B. hospital in Florida.
20. 3/22/67 His ex-wife [...] phoned to ask if we had heard from him; the Health Department said he had gone AWOL and was still active.
21. 5/11/67 [391]'s letter: "...The last two to three months I haven't been feeling so good, so I went down for a check-up. As it turned out I'm positive again and the doctor at the Clinic says I have two holes or cavities in my lungs the size of a half dollar... This time I guess I'll be in there at least a year or more..."

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation