4/01/44 [
4020]'s letter to EC:
My dear Mr. Cayce
I have just received the copy of the reading you made for me
on March 27th. I am thrilled, pleased and very grateful to
you because you have certainly diagnosed the condition
properly. With such a start, I am certain that the course
of treatment will prove effective and free me of this
affliction which is threatening my livelihood.
As requested, I am sending you a chronological record of the
condition, herein. I will certainly keep you posted on the
efficacy of the treatments as they progress.
About five years ago I became aware of a condition in my
back, which at the times of occurrence, I didn't pay much
heed to. This was a severe backache across the lumbar region
occasioned when I stood in one place for an hour or more.
As a policeman, I covered school crossings several times a
day during the periods that the children were coming and
going. At times I suffered such discomfort from the ache
that I was forced to go into a nearby store, remove my gun
and overcoat and bend forward over a chair-back; arching and
flexing the back for five to ten minutes before I got relief.
I also recall at this time that I would wake up some
mornings during this period with a severe pain in the
shoulder muscles of my left arm. (Your reference, in the
reading, to the dorsal region, brings this strongly in
relief.)
On the morning of February 18, 1942, I awoke to find that
I could barely walk, due to an extremely painful condition
in the region of my left sacro-iliac joint and left hip.
This acute stage, during which I was forced to walk with a
very pronounced limp, lasted for a period of about two weeks.
Then it settled down into a chronic condition. I had to
walk very slowly in order to minimize the limp. If I was on
my feet for more than an hour the condition got worse.
I went to a doctor. Over a two month period he diagnosed my
trouble as the following: 1. Arthritis. 2. Rheumatic
arthritis. 3. Sacro-iliac condition. The backache I
mentioned was explained to me as "sacralization". The bony
spurs on one of the lumbar vertebra was growing to sacral
structure. Medicines were variously prescribed and large
doses of vitamins were given hypodermically and taken orally.
I finally gave this doctor up as I was getting absolutely
no relief.
In October I consulted a neurologist. At his suggestion,
I entered N.Y. Neurological Hospital and stayed there for
four days. During that time numerous X-rays were taken,
complete blood tests were made and reflexes were examined
many times.
This doctor said, that although there were definite
indications of nerve derangement, he felt that the basis
of the trouble was an orthopedic condition and he arranged
for me to see an orthopedic surgeon.
The night I left the hospital I had occasion to bend over
to pick up a light object; when I attempted to straighten
up I got a very acute stabbing pain in the RIGHT sacro-iliac
region that threw me on my hands and knees and took my breath
away. I was unable to rise to my feet for almost five
minutes. When I did rise I found exactly the same condition,
on trying to walk, as I had after the first attack. The
acute stage of this attack only lasted about a week.
The orthopedist's diagnosis was; a chronic lumbosacral
sprain. He prescribed short-wave diathermy over the lumbar
region, coupled with massage of the same, three times a
week. A wide belt was ordered to be worn at all times and
I was told to reduce my weight by 35 pounds. He also gave
me a set of mild exercises to be performed every 2 hours.
I followed his orders religiously for three and a half months
but no results were forthcoming.
In January 1943 I entered N.Y. Orthopedic Hospital where my
doctor performed a spinal tap. The results were negative.
He informed me that, although there was indication of
irritation to the nerve roots, that it wasn't enough to
warrant my condition. He finally admitted that he didn't
know what was wrong with me and said he was baffled. He
suggested that we experiment with treatments and by a process
of elimination we might hit on the right cure.
My financial condition couldn't stand this so I terminated
my visits.
A friend suggested that I try an osteopath. I did. He
explained my condition as follows: The long muscle of the
back, extending from the dorsal region of the spine to the
hip was thrown into a spasm causing pressure on the
ambulatory nerves. He recommended frequent colonic
irrigations and three treatments weekly.
After several of these treatments I found that my condition
seemed much better in walking. But it only lasted about an
hour and I was forced to resume my slow gait.
Finally in August I wrote to the Mayo Clinic asking for an
appointment. As you know, I went there. After days of
re-examining me on my whole clinical history during my life;
again, numerous x-rays and finally a spino-gram. (This is
an X-ray examination in which air is injected into the spinal
cord in order to show pressure points on the cord.)
Their diagnosis was that I had a slipped disk. In this
condition, one of the cartilage cushions between the vertebra
is dislodged and protrudes into the spinal canal causing
pressure on the spinal cord. They told me that they were
certain that this was correct as the spinal fluid analysis
showed definite irritation to the nerve roots. They were
unable to locate the exact place where this condition
existed, (in 25% of these cases they are unable to locate
the exact location), so in view of the seriousness of the
operation involved and the possibility of having to extend
the area of the surgery if the first probe didn't reveal the
condition diagnosed, they advised against an operation at
that time. They told me to return to the Clinic if the
condition got worse and that they would then make one
additional test and then operate.
The final denouement is still in the future. But I have
great faith in your powers and I am sure now that you will
soon be able to record this case as a cure. After the above
history, nobody could deny that your efforts were directly
responsible for any cure.
May God be good to you and keep you with us for many years
to come. We all need you. Sincerely, [
4020]
4/04/44 EC's letter to [
4020]:
Mr. [
4020]
New York, 34, New York
Dear Mr. [
4020]
Thanks very, very much for yours of the 1st.
I am glad indeed to know that you were pleased with the
information that was undertaken for you on March 27th, and
I am thinking if you have every reason to believe the
information was correct, the suggestions for help will be
correct.
If I remember correctly, you were sent to Dr. Reilly in the
R.C.A. Building. Do by all means see Dr. Reilly himself, or
Mr. Egan [Wm. Egan] and show them the reading. They are
quite familiar with the work and have handled quite a number
of people with marvelous results. I am sure if you don't
already know them, you will find them most accommodating and
very, very lovely men to deal with.
Thank you very much for giving us a review of the conditions
that have been troubling you, and I do hope that from time
to time you will let us hear from you. We will be anxious
to check up on your trouble and to see what we can do.
Thanks a lot and hoping for the best for you and yours,
and with every good wish, I remain
Sincerely, Edgar Cayce EC/gm
GD's note: Edgar Cayce died
1/03/45. No doubt, if he had
lived, Patrolman [
4020] might have requested further advice
and followed it longer to get better results of a lasting
nature.
2/12/51 Reply to Questionnaire:
A.R.E., Virginia Beach, Va.
Physical Reading Questionnaire
Name of Patient [
4020] Case 4020-1
Address Sex M. Age 38 yrs.
Date of Reading
3/27/44
Under the Edgar Cayce Foundation which was established in
1948, we are indexing and microfilming all of the 30,000
Edgar Cayce readings, complete with briefed correspondence
preceding and reports following each reading. A case number
instead of the name is used for all individuals who obtained
readings. The case numbers are microfilmed numerically, the
subject index cards show the case numbers, so that each case
- or each subject - can be studied in a complete form and in
its original setting. One of our main purposes is to make
available under subject headings all of the readings on
special diseases. Thus the Association's Advisory Board of
Physicians may be able to test the information and make it
available to clinics or hospitals treating specific diseases.
Were you able to follow the advice given in your Physical
reading? If so, just what results were obtained? Your
cooperation in this matter will enable others suffering from
ailments similar to yours to benefit from the experiences
you have had, through our research making the results
available. Please fill out and return at your earliest
convenience the questionnaire below.
Chief Complaint Severe pain in left hip and down outside
of left leg
Date of Onset Feb. 17, 1942
Duration Still have condition - but not acute
Reoccurrence [No response]
Intensity [No response]
[comments]
My condition was diagnosed by the staff of Mayo Clinic
(1943 - Aug.) as a slipped disc. They could not determine
just the exact location. Advised no operation unless pain
became unbearable or I became deformed due to pressure on
the nerve roots in the spinal cord.
This diagnosis was confirmed in June 1947, in the hospital
for Joint Diseases in N.Y.C. At that time I underwent a
spinal test that included the injection of a dye that showed
opaque on X-ray film showing the point of pressure on the
spinal cord.
By the time, as a result of avoiding any length of standing
on my feet as much as possible, the condition was not so
painful so an operation was again vetoed.
Since 1947 I've suffered two acute attacks - the last one
in April or May 1950 - from which I recovered in about 6
weeks, during which time I slept on the floor with my legs
elevated and stayed off my feet as much as possible.
It looks as if Mr. Cayce, Lord rest his soul, was way off
in my case, but I have no doubt as to his sincerity and the
fact that he HAS helped many others.
With best wishes for your laudable efforts in this
interesting undertaking, I remain
Sincerely [
4020]
P.S. I would certainly be interested in the final findings
so keep my name on the mailing list.
6/14/51 H. J. Reilly's report:
Name of Patient Mr. [
4020] Case No. 4020-1
Address ..., N.Y. 34, N.Y.
Age at date of reading 38 Sex M Date of reading
3/27/44
Chief Complaint Poor Elimination
Physician's Provisional Diagnosis
Physician's Final Diagnosis and Treatment Sh W upper dorsal
& lumbar with Hot [?] & Massage
Reading's Recommendations: (Briefly)
1. Hydrotherapy: including short wave treatment (wkly) one
time on upper dorsal area, next time lumbar-sacral area;
2. mild fume bath followed by thorough massage with special
attention to locomotory centers.
3. COLONICS, when there is fullness.
4. Follow above treatment for three wks. leave off three
wks. and continue to repeat. DIET: Plenty fowl, lamb
occasionally. Jerusalem artichoke twice monthly, leave
off all sweets except occasional nature sweets of fruits
and veg., honey.
Duration of Treatment 12 treat.
Results of Treatment Cured Relief X Failure
At end of 1 year Cured Relief Failure
2 years Cured Relief Failure
3 years Cured Relief Failure
Date
6/14/51 Treat. taken April, May, June, July 1944
Signed [no signature]
(Physician)
In your opinion was the case diagnosed correctly by the
reading? For what period of time were the treatments given?
Any other information having a bearing on this case?
See Source File Key #4020 for
4/10/73 and
12/26/80 Medical
Report Forms obtaining results of treatments recommended in
the Cayce Readings re 4020-1.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation