This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach Va., this 15th day of August, 1938, in accordance with request made by the self - Mr. [1658], new Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by Mr. [1646].

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.

TEXT

1. GC: You will go over this body carefully, examine it thoroughly, and tell me the conditions you find at the present time - with special reference to lung condition. Also you will give the cause of the existing conditions, with suggestions for help and relief for this body. You will answer the questions that may be asked, as I ask them.
2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, Mr. [1658].
3. Now as we find, while conditions are very disturbing - and there is little resistance - if there is the ability to begin soon enough for resistance to be builded, by and through the applications of influences which we will give - there may be help, and the possible resuscitation for quite an active experience yet for this body, now.
4. The lung forces, of course, we find are VERY much honeycombed. There is little to build upon - or the abilities of the system to be reoxidized, or the blood supply for the body.
5. If there is the ability, though, to keep these poisons from reacting upon the liver and the kidneys, or the poisons reverting to same, we may as we find be able to build a resistance that will be most helpful.
6. We would then, in the beginning, begin with these:
7. Prepare an oak keg, charred inside - about a two gallon keg, from which there may be inhaled the fumes from Pure Apple Brandy. Put an opening in same, and another small opening. In the larger opening put a tube, or cane, through which there may be inhaled the gases from the Brandy. In the two gallon container put at least a gallon of Pure Apple Brandy. Best that the openings be put in the END, and the bung closed tight. Remove the peg from the small opening when there is the attempt to inhale. Do not inhale too deeply in the beginning. Only the fumes from the Brandy are to be taken, to be sure, and this two or three times each day. Begin with only one or two whiffs, when inhaling. Keep the keg where it will cause evaporation, and the gas is that alone to be inhaled.
8. Also we would take Calcidin as a reaction to be had from the calcium as well as the iodine in same. So, dissolve at least three grains in an ounce of distilled water and keep this warm - not hot, not boiling but just warm, see, and covered. And during the day take sips from same, about every three hours taking just a sip - or not more than half a teaspoonful; taking the whole quantity in two or three days, see?
9. If there is indication of hemorrhage, take - under the direction of a physician¹ - about once or twice a week, if there is the spitting of blood or the indication of hemorrhage - three minims of Compound Tincture of Benzoin dissolved with - or dissolve in same one-sixtieth of a grain of Codeine. Dissolve one-sixtieth of a grain of Codeine in three minims of Compound Tincture of Benzoin, see?
10. We would keep the diets of strengthening foods. Prepare Beef Juice. Take lean meat - beef - fresh, see? dice in about half inch squares. Put in a glass jar - at least a pound of same - no fat whatsoever - no water in the jar. Have the top on the jar but not real tight. Put the jar in a container of cold water, with a cloth in the bottom to prevent jar from cracking. Allow to boil for about two and a half to three hours. Strain off the juice. Take this in sips - half a teaspoonful about every thirty minutes, or until the appetite is satisfied. This may be kept up so long as it agrees with the body - and it will agree if the fat is not allowed to be in same. It may be kept cool and heated as desired or needed, but do not keep the same quantity - even in the ice
    "If there is the indication of hemorrhage, take - under the direction of a physician - a compound prepared in this manner:

    Oil of Eucalyptus..................1 minim,
Oil of Turp......................1/2 minim,
Compound Tincture of Benzoin.......1 minim.

    ("No, leave this off - we would take it rather in this form: Dissolve one-sixtieth grain of Codeine in three minims of Compound Tincture of Benzoin, and take this about once or twice a week if there is spitting of blood or the indication of hemorrhage. Leave off the Eucalyptus and the other ingredients as just indicated, see; for the stomach won't carry this, but it will carry the Compound Tincture of Benzoin with the Codeine in same.")] box - OVER two days, but make fresh, see?
11. Also we would use Calcios, a small quantity - about the size of a quarter, about a quarter of an inch thick - or as much as may be taken on the end of a case knife - spread on a Graham or Whole Wheat Cracker or wafer. This would be taken with the meal, once or twice daily, depending upon the ability of assimilation.
12. Keep quiet.
13. Keep cool.
14. And bathe off the body with a little grain alcohol; not wood alcohol nor other characters but GRAIN alcohol in the water when the body is sponged off. This will also strengthen the body.
15. Do these for three weeks, as we find; and then we would give further instructions.
16. Ready for questions - Mr. [1658]
17. We are through for the present.

    Copy to Self - Special Delivery
    Copy to Mr. [1646]
    Copy to Ass'n file
    (See sketch [which was enclosed] illustrating the manner in which the charred oak keg should be prepared for use.
    Calcios is manufactured by The Colloidal Health Products Corp., Greenvale, Long Island, N.Y. It comes in a syrupy paste and sells for $2.50 a jar.)

BACKGROUND

1. 8/06/38 [1646]'s letter to EC:
   Mr. Edgar Cayce, Virginia Beach, Va.
   Dear Mr. Cayce:
   The enclosed correspondence speaks for itself. As indicated this friend, addressed at Box ..., Mass., ([1658] by name) is ill with tuberculosis. Would it be possible to send him the course of treatment prescribed for your wife or would you deem it more wise to have a special reading for him? He is poor and I think without any family connections, tho of this I am not altogether sure. You will know what is right to do for him. In his letter to [...] he speaks of their giving him morphine to stop the paroxysms of coughing, so I fear he is pretty well advanced in the disease so action should be immediate. He is only about 36 years of age, too early to go. I hope you can do something for him tho I know the demands upon you are infinite. I am most grateful to you for your having given me so much of your time and for Hugh's having done so also. I am glad my lifelong friends the [1662]'s are going down to see you. With every good wish and prayers for your continued well being, believe me,
   Faithfully [1646]
   Kindly return my correspondence with Mr. [1658] for I want it for my files.
2. 8/12/38 [1658]'s letter to EC:
   Dear Mr. Cayce:-
   I am enclosing blank for Associate Membership and asking for physical reading, at [1646]'s insistance [Mr. [1646] was Mr. [1658]'s Quaker-Spiritualist friend]. I have made the decision to ask for this after some hesitation, as I must admit I have always been much of a skeptic in these psychic powers and cures, not that they are possible (because with God all things are possible), but that they actually do take place. But [1646]'s great faith has increased mine, and possibly now I have sufficient to have the reading be of use. I certainly believe strongly it is the power of God to produce all cures and do all things when it is His will. I would be happy to pass on to the greater and better Life if it is His will, but I would also be very happy if He cared to let me serve Him longer in this world, and as I feel I have important work to do here it is worth making the attempt; though the doctors don't expect me to live over a few days or weeks, and I am panting like an exhausted race horse to get the necessary air from the pieces of lungs that still function. I will be very appreciative, if thru Him, you are able to do anything.
   Sincerely, [1658]
3. 8/15/38 Extract from Mr. [1658]'s letter to Mr. [1646]:
   "I have not been well for 17 years. Before 1925 I suffered terribly from pernicious malaria. That disappeared, and then that year I had double pneumonia and pleurisy with adhesions (at Ithaca, N.Y.). That left me with a fungus infection of the chest which has always kept me on the verge of being an invalid, and made me very susceptible to influenza, etc. Then in Oct. 1937 I came down with another attack of pneumonia. I was not expected to scrape thru, but did, thanks to the loving administrations of my adopted family. But it left me with this trouble, at first not very active, but becoming violently so about the latter part of April. I tell thee all this before receiving the Reading, to see how any of it may check with anything in the Reading, in case any of these points are mentioned.
   "After all that I have been through I would really be overwhelmed with joy if the Master should summon me to the better life and deliver me from these manifold troubles, but I don't want to be a coward, and if there is more work for me to do in this world I want to do it, and in case I could be relieved of some of these troubles I would go ahead really joyously with it. I am praying that some indication may appear to show God's will in the matter. Maybe the results of the Reading will help."

REPORTS

1. 8/17/38 [1646]'s letter to [1658]:
   Dear Mr. [1658]:
   I am very glad to learn more of thy experiences and so to have a clearer understanding of thy situation. Evidently the evil forces have been working for some time to overthrow thee. As Paul says "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in the heavenly places." These evil forces will do anything and everything to overthrow us. Keep in much prayer that thy Puerto Rican boy may remain with thee and help thee to win the battle. Cayce's revelation would indicate that thee still has work to do on this earth. Yes, it is a severe testing time but with God's help thee can win the battle. Fulfill to the letter Cayce's instructions and in three weeks thee can have another reading to see what is to be done next. I had a most interesting conversation with George Fox yesterday and he said he had to undergo persecution and even imprisonment for his advancing of new truths; we would not be imprisoned, just suffer in minor ways. My Mother also spoke to me, my niece and Uncle and best of all my Guardian Angel, queen Esther of the Old Testament.
   Thy caretakers will probably feel that Cayce's recommendations are all foolish and useless; they will take this attitude due to unbelief, but continue in faith to do what he says and so show thy implicit obedience to the Higher Powers and I am sure thee will WIN out and six months hence be a living demonstration of the power of God to overcome evil. I am always glad to hear from thee but suggest thee be wise in conserving all thy strength for the battle. Please feel free to write to me as much and as often as thee desires.
   Faithfully thine, [1646]
2. 8/20/38 [1658]'s letter to EC:
   Government of Puerto Rico UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts Mayaguez, P.R.
   Box ..., ..., Mass.
   Dear Mr. Cayce:-
   Your good letter of the 16th arrived yesterday. To be frank, the reading raised in me principally a fear that if the instructions were carried out they would just prolong my days of torture in this world. And when I say torture I mean, to some extent, physical torture, but to a much greater extent mental and soul torture, for ever since my third attack of pneumonia (last Oct.) which brought on this T.B., just one torture after another (mostly only very indirectly connected with the illness) have been brought upon me. I would have ended this physical existence long ago if it had not occurred to me that maybe all this was either some sort of a punishment of God or a test of His to try me out. I may yet find that necessary, as now in some of the more recent tortures other dear ones are beginning to be involved as well. As long as they concern me alone I could grin and bear, but I can't stand it to see my dear ones suffer on my account (relatives and adopted family).
   You perhaps realized in the reading something of the length of this illness. I have not been well since 1922. Then I got pernicious malaria, which caused most diverse symptoms and was most difficult to cure. Then I just got over that when in Jan., 1925 I came down with my 2nd attack of pneumonia (double pneumonia, accompanied by pleurisy with effusions, which left adhesions). Ever since then I have run fevers, with some mysterious, apparently fungus infection, in the chest, and probably incipient t.b. as well. But all that kept getting gradually better, and I was able to do more and more work (though always very subject to violent grippy colds and influenza), until in October, 1937 I came down with a violent attack of influenza, which developed into pneumonia the 2nd day, and the t.b. developed after that, although not particularly active until late April, when it suddenly flared into the open and raced ahead in two weeks as much as it usually does in many months. Since June my decline has been quite slow, due to the great inherent resistance to disease which our family (and particularly I) possess. I have had some 7 or 8 illnesses which would have killed almost anyone else, and scores of more ordinary ones. (Once I lost 5 quarts of blood in hemorrhage from tonsil operation, in 1929 after chest trouble had started). But since this last attack of pneumonia I have felt I could never be well again. I don't believe I want to be cured unless it can be really cured, as really I am tired, very tired, of these illnesses and other tortures, and it would seem pretty good to go [to] the place He has prepared for us. It must be a wonderful place.
   Nevertheless, I am following your instructions for awhile, believing that they MAY offer a real cure. But as yet, I have not been able to put them fully into effect, as we have not been able despite exhaustive search in Worcester [?] and Boston, to obtain the Keg yet. [...], a Puerto Rican boy, the one of my adopted family who is with me now, and the only person here in whom I can have complete confidence, due to the old-fashioned ideas and non-understanding characters of my own relatives, has spent days in its quest, and has finally been promised one of slightly larger than 2-gallon size for Monday. Perhaps with increased contents it will be all right. Possibly until then the sips of pure cane rum prescribed by my Boston specialist will partly take it's place, but I intend to do all you say as soon as I can. Also, the Calcios has not arrived from Long Island yet. In case of hemorrhage (which I have not had so far) in case my doctor doesn't want to cooperate, I could make up your prescriptions myself, as I always have quite a bit of codeine on hand, prescribed in pure form by the Dr. for reducing cough paroxysms, and I believe the other ingredients would not be difficult to obtain.
   Well, all I want is for His will to be done, and I can't help but feeling that out of all this mess it will.
   Please pardon for troubling with all these details.
   With best wishes,
   Sincerely yours, [1658]
3. 8/22/38 EC's letter to [1658]:
   Dear Mr. [1658]:
   Thank you for taking the time and for writing as fully as you did on the 20th - am happy to hear from you and appreciate it - but please know do not wish you to use up too much of your strength in doing so - yes sir can fully appreciate your feelings about the care and trouble for your family and loved ones - but do hope you will give the suggestion the opportunity for activity as well and as fully as possible - there is a brand of the Brandy known as Old Mr. Boston - should be easy for you to get - feel sure you will find help - know we are all praying with and for you and that His will be done in and through you just now.
   Take a care - and feel you will come through with HIS LOVE and STRENGTH SUSTAINING you - you cannot fail.
   May His blessings attend you all the way.
   Sincerely, [signed] Edgar Cayce
4. 10/07/38 Mr. [1646]'s letter to EC: "A letter from [1658] leads me to think he'll go over in the next few days. The 'will to die' is too strong in that household."
5. 11/18/38 Mr. [1646]'s letter [see under 1755-1, Par. B2], indicated Mr. [1658] had given up the reading treatment and was expecting to die soon.
6. 12/01/38 Mr. [1646]'s letter said Mr. [1658] died 11/25/38 and his faith to the end was wonderful.
7. 1/29/39 & 2/01/39 Mr. [1646]'s letters indicated communications from Mr. [1658] had said he was sorry he had not followed the reading.

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