TEXT OF READING 25-3 M 18
Text
Date: 1/27/1926 Sex: M Age: 18 ReadingID: 85
This psychic reading given voluntarily by Edgar Cayce at his office, 115 West 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va., this 27th day of January, 1926, without an appointment having been made and without GC”s suggestion, immediately following Dream Reading 288-14.
[Edgar Cayce; Mrs. Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.]
Time of Reading 10:45 A. M. Eastern Standard Time. …, Florida. [GD’s note: No Check Physical suggestion was given for 25-3. It was volunteered immediately following three short Check Dream interpretation readings - 137-57, 538-2O, and 288-14.]
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EC: Now, we have those conditions, as we see, in the body of [25] …, Florida; that as, especially, regarding the condition in the limbs of the body. These should not be bound in the manner as to cause so much stress on the mental forces, as to necessitate deadening of same. These should not be drawn off (the pus or fluid from same), for this would bring the hardening of the tissue and prevent the use of the limbs later. This is not, as yet, that of a tubercular nature; rather that of the system’s inability to cope with that condition in the blood that is carried to these extremities, and the eliminations being cut off by these conditions in system, as have been applied, bring the concentrated condition in these lower portions. Rather would we apply THIS to this body; removing these casts, or bandage, we would apply this:
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First, using saturated solution of Epsom Salts, and bind this about the knee and limb, for thirty to sixty, to seventy-five, minutes - have this warm, see? Then, bathe off in tepid water, and bind about this a warm solution (thick) of Antiphlogistine Balm, and let this remain for hour to two hours. Then bathe off, and massage gently into the affected portions equal parts of Olive Oil and of Tincture of Myrrh.
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Then, after this has been left for an hour to two hours, repeat with Salts, then with the Balm, until this condition is reduced.
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In the meantime, taking into the system these properties:
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To the mixture of the 6 ounces of dried Garden Sage, added to 16 ounces of distilled water, simmered, NOT BOILED, but reduced to 8 ounces, and strain. This as the base, see? Add:
Tincture Valerian…1 ounce, Extract Stillingia…1 ounce, Tincture Polk Root…20 minims, Fluid Extract Wild Cherry…2 ounces, Syrup of Sarsaparilla…1 ounce, Extract Calisaya Bark…1 ounce.
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Shake the solution well together, see. Then add 4 ounces grain alcohol, with 2 drams Balsam of Tolu cut in it. Then add this to the solution. Shake this well together each time before dose is taken, which would be two teaspoonsful four times each day, and this we find will bring about the condition necessary to relieve this body, [25].
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Do that.
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We are through with this reading.
Reports
Reports & Follow-up
R1. 3/16/26 Mother’s letter to EC: ”…You asked me to tell you about my son. The swelling has gone from knees, the pain not so bad, but he cannot move them. The doctor wants to stiffen them, but we do not want to cripple him hopelessly; also he says his right lung is bad. Did you find it so? Please help us… Will send money as I can…”
R2. 3/20/26 Letter from EC to [25]‘s mother: ”…I can’t understand exactly, from the information that we have gotten in the readings, as to why the doctor would want to do a thing of this kind. Have you been able to carry out the suggestions as were given; both application for the limbs and the medicinal properties to be taken internally? Both of these should have helped any condition that may have been classed as tubercular, either in limb or lung. However, I will add this suggestion at this time: Get this prescription filled and let your son inhale, just inhale the fumes three or four times each day. Shake the solution up well, keep it in a glass bottle with a glass stopper:
Grain Alcohol…4 ounces, Tincture Eucalyptol…20 minims, Canadian Balsam…5 minims, Rectified Oil of Turp…5 minims, Tincture of Tolu in solution…30 minims, Creosote, with 1/60th grain Heroin dissolved in same…3 minims.
“This is to be inhaled through the mouth into the lungs, just as he draws his breath. This will help clarify the blood, as well as the other prescription. Please let me know if you got the other prescription filled and if he has been taking it…”
R3. 3/23/26 Letter from [25]‘s mother: ”…Thank you for advice. After the swelling and pain were reduced, I did not use salts solution and plaster. Should I have kept it up? I used the other drugs, but got out and am sending away for it to be refilled; also the one to inhale. It hurts us all so much that he cannot move his knees. Friends have prayed and prayed… I try to leave it all with God, but how glad and thankful I would be to see him walk again…”
R4. 3/30/26 EC’s letter to [25]‘s mother: ”…My suggestion would be that you should keep up the salt solution and the plaster, alternated, as was given at the time, using the medicine; also the inhalant for this should bring relief for the body…”
R5. 4/12/26 Letter from [25]‘s mother: ”…I did not hear from you regarding the treatment by electricity, after using the salts and antiphlogistine several days. A friend who was cured of same trouble here, begged us to try it. Am keeping up the inhaling and blood medicine…”
R6. 4/15/26 EC’s letter to [25]‘s mother: ”…I am of the opinion that the electrical treatments might be very effective, but I should think that the reading would have suggested something of the kind, had that been the best at this time. I do not blame you for taking Dr. Yates’ suggestion, if he says he can cure him with this treatment. Having the sanitorium and being able to keep an hourly record of the condition, he should be able to arrive at something that would be worth-while. No, I do not think that his lung is involved, rather the system attempting to throw off the extra amount of impurities from the system…”
R7. 5/5/26 Letter from [25]‘s mother: ”…Yours received…both medicines and applications being used. Will you please let me know if the electrical treatment will help straighten his knees? Dr. Yates of Madison, Florida says he can cure him. He has a sanitorium and years of practice. You did not say if his right lung was involved. He now raises sputum and I am badly worried. Pray for us. I often think of your saying ‘God is not far from any of us’…”
R8. 5/25/26 Letter from [25]‘s mother: ”…I am still giving my son the medicine for lungs. As soon as you can, please let me know his condition, and if there is anything I can do to hurry up the straightening and using of knee… Pray for my husband and my son. We are having dark days…”
R9. 7/16/26 Letter from [25]‘s mother: ”…My son’s shoulder has been paining him (right one) a good while. His knee is bent and cannot walk without crutches; there seems a place on inside of knee that hurts and won’t straighten out; his voice is husky and has dark circles under eyes. I give the medicine for lungs and limbs. If only I knew what to do for his knee, so he could walk…”
R10. 8/3/26 25-4 was given.
R11. 1/18/97 JT’s note: Latin and scientific names for prescription ingredients shown in paragraph 5 and 6.
Tincture Valerain Valeriana officinalis Extract Stillingia Stillingia sylvatica Tincture Polk Root Phytolacca americana Fluid Extract Wild Cherry Prunus serotina Syrup of Sarsaparilla Smilax officinalis Extract Calisaya Bark Chinchona Calisaya Grain alcohol Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol Balsam of Tolu Toluifera Balsamum from the Myroxylon toluiferum tree from the Magdalena River area in Columbia, South America
Background
Background
B1. Previous readings 25-1 and 25-2 were given by request of the mother for the young man’s condition.
B2. 1/14/26 Mother’s letter: ”…I thank you for the interest shown in regard to my troubles. Am asking you to give a reading just as soon as possible for my son. He has to stay home from school as his knees are swollen so badly he cannot walk, very painful and worse than they have ever been. One doctor said it was not rheumatism or his treatment would have cured him. They did not improve under the chiropractor but the man may not have understood the case - the one treating him now thought he could draw the discharge out with needle but could not. He says it may be of tubercular origin. Please let me know what you find, also as to blood pressure and cause of thinness and spiritual and mental condition. This is his year to finish high school. Please help him do so. I will send you $6.00 on the 18th of this month. Your letter helped so much and I believe things are improving… Please pray for my boy…”
Generated research index
Index (LLM-extracted)
Summary
Edgar Cayce gives a physical reading for an 18-year-old male with swollen, painful knees, recommending topical applications and an internal herbal tonic, with follow-up correspondence about lung concerns and treatment progress.
Conditions: swollen knees, pain in limbs, inability to move knees, tubercular nature (ruled out), lung involvement (questioned), sputum, husky voice, dark circles under eyes, shoulder pain
Remedies: epsom salts solution warm compress, antiphlogistine balm, olive oil and tincture of myrrh massage, herbal tonic (garden sage, valerian, stillingia, polk root, wild cherry, sarsaparilla, calisaya bark, grain alcohol, balsam of tolu), inhalant (grain alcohol, eucalyptol, canadian balsam, oil of turpentine, tincture of tolu, creosote with heroin), electrical treatments (mentioned as suggested by doctor)
People: Dr. Yates
Places: Virginia Beach, Florida
Concepts: Healing, Prayer, faith, divine guidance
Referenced readings: 288-14, 137-57, 538-2O, 25-1, 25-2, 25-4
Mentioned Entities
Florida, Dreams, Chiropractic, Epsom Salts, Gertrude Cayce, Gladys Davis, Massage Therapy, Olive Oil, South America, Virginia Beach
Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 25-3, ReadingID 85.