Reading 2999-1

TEXT OF READING 2999-1 M 1

Text

Date: 5/13/1943 Sex: M Age: 1 ReadingID: 10302

This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 13th day of May, 1943, in accordance with request made by the mother - […], new Associate Member of the Ass”n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc., recommended by the book THERE IS A RIVER.

[Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno.]

Time of Reading 4:00 to 4:15 P. M. Eastern War Time. …, Massachusetts.

1. GC: You will go over this body carefully, examine it thoroughly, and tell me the conditions you find at the present time; giving the cause of the existing conditions, also suggestions for help and relief of this body; answering the questions, as I ask them:

2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, [2999].

3. As we find, the disturbances are the shattering of the nerve plexus in more than one center along the spine.

4. These come, then, from outside forces, and produce the reflex of incoordination between the cerebrospinal and sympathetic systems - causing the voluntary reactions to become involuntary in the ganglia, especially in the lumbar axis and in the area of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cervical. These are the particular areas where there is a flowing of the very tender ganglia there, with the flow of the cerebrospinal reaction.

5. This, we find, has not as yet caused any adhesion or lesion, nor a flow of blood to the brain. Eventually it may do this, unless there are those measures taken to absorb the conditions and to correct those segments along the whole area of the cerebrospinal system.

6. Each evening, then, when preparing the body for bed, we would massage the spine - gently, not deeply but gently - with all the Glyco-Thymoline the body will absorb.

7. Each morning, just after the bath, massage with Cocoa Butter; ALWAYS AWAY FROM THE HEAD, in a gentle circular motion, on either side of the spine; from the base of the brain DOWNWARD to the 9th dorsal, and then from the end of the spine UPWARD to the 9th dorsal, see?

8. Have the body under the observation of a good osteopath, and every three to five days - at least - have an adjustment GENTLY made (osteopathically) in those areas where segments indicate their being pulled either to the right or left side by the contraction of the muscular or nerve forces being gradually readjusted by the shocks to the nervous system.

9. Do that.

10. Ready for questions.

11. (Q) What particular segments need correction? (A) Read what has just been given; lumbar axis, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th cervical, particularly.

12. (Q) What causes the condition with the eye, the convulsions? (A) Those pressures from the nerve centers, see?

13. (Q) Was this caused by the falls when very young? (A) These pressures were produced from the outside influences, as given, and the reactions - of course - are to the reflexes. As indicated, these are not brain lesions as yet. If the corrections are made as we have suggested, they should not become so - but should be adjusted.

Do these things.

14. We are through for the present.

Two copies to Mother (one for the osteopath who observes the case and makes the corrections) Copy to Ass’n File

(We would suggest that you consult Dr. Geo. N. Coulter, 18 East 41st St., N.Y.C., giving him a copy of the Reading, with your history of the case, and let him recommend as osteopath in your vicinity who would be capable of following the treatments indicated. Dr. Coulter has handled many cases that have had Readings, and has gotten remarkable results. We do not know of an osteopath in or near Boston familiar with our work, - that’s why we’d suggest your getting Dr. Coulter to recommend someone. Please let us have the name and address of the one he suggests.)

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. 5/29/43 Mother’s letter to EC: “Thank you very much for the Reading and your kind letter. We have followed your instructions exactly.

“The osteopath Dr. Coulter recommended is: Dr. Kenneth R. Zwicker, 55 Cushing Street, Wollaston, Mass.

“We have taken the baby to him three times and he is doing things exactly as stated in the Reading. I also am massaging the baby as indicated. We think he has improved a little.

“I waited to answer your letter because I wanted something definite to tell you.

“Will certainly keep you advised as to developments.

“Thanking you again for your kind interest, I am”

Sincerely yours, Mrs. […]

“P.S. I asked Dr. Zwicker if he found conditions as stated in the Reading. He said yes, especially regarding the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cervicals. He stated he didn’t quite understand the ‘lumbar axis’ but is however following out the instructions implicitly.”

R2. 6/1/43 Letter from Dr. K. R. Zwicker (Osteopathic Physician) to Dr. Coulter re [2999]:

“Thank you for the reference to the above patient and to Mr. Cayce.

“I have followed out treatment as outlined by Mr. Cayce and to date the child has shown very good results, as: vomiting has ceased, able to raise head, convulsions one or two per day, whereas before treatment three and four per hour.

“My physical findings coincided with Mr. Cayce’s, except in the lumbar region I could not define the lesions, other than to note spasticity and tenderness.

“I will continue as outlined and let you know in a month as to results. Incidentally the child is blind and deaf which I’m afraid will not come back, however we’ll continue.”

R3. 12/43 Letter from mother, […] to EC: “Dr. Z. has requested a reheck on the baby. He would like to know if things are being done properly. We have done things just as indicated in the Rdg., so far as I know.

“The baby has had more convulsions following these treatments and he cries a great deal after them. He also vomits much more than he used to. He has difficulty with his bowel movements, too. However, he seems to have better control of his hands and feet and his body does not seem to tense, except at certain intervals. He has had seven treatments to date. I realize, of course, that the above symptoms may be only temporary - that is, the convulsions, crying, etc., may be just what we may have to contend with for a while until he gets over the shock of the adjustments. He hasn’t lost weight and he looks better than he did previously.

“Dr. Z. says he doesn’t believe the baby can see or hear but says this might be only temporary and might go away when he becomes better. Sometimes the baby can hardly raise his eyes

• it’s as though a heavy weight or pressure were in his head
• and his eyelids become red and swollen.

“Will you please make arrangements for another Rdg. as soon as possible in order that we may find out how things are progressing and if they are being done correctly? Please let us know what the fee is and we shall send the money at once.

“We are very desirous of doing the right thing and not harming the baby, so certainly shall appreciate a Rdg. at your earliest convenience.

R4. 6/14/43 Letter from mother to EC: “I am enclosing a copy of the hospital report (See below) on my son. This has just come to my attention and I thought might prove of interest, especially in view of the second Reading requested by Dr. Z. who is now treating he baby.”

Hospital report on [2999].

4/27/43 “I am enclosing a photostatic copy of the summary of the record of [2999]. Apparently the baby is well now. His trouble was caused by the pneumococcus germ.

“Would you send this summary back to me after you have read it as these records are only for physicians.”

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

2nd Admission

[2999] 7 mos. Service Infants’ Hospital Date: November 27, 1942

DISCHARGE SUMMARY: December 5, 1942

This was the second hospital admission of a seven months’ old male infant who had been discharged nine days previously after an episode during which he had had frequent convulsive attacks and varying degrees of fever. Pneumoencephalography had revealed uniformly dilated ventricles, without localizing signs. At that time, it was thought that little could be done for him therapeutically and he was discharged home on 11/18/42, unimproved.

Following his first discharge from the hospital, he did fairly well until 2 days previous to the second admission, at which time he developed fever and began to have continuous generalized convulsive seizures and anorexia.

Physical Examination: Temp. 104.2 deg. - Pulse Rate 160

• Resp. 48. The patient was having almost continuous generalized seizures; respirations were very labored, stertorous and difficult and there was a moderate amount of frothy mucus in the mouth. The anterior fontanelle was somewhat tense but not gulging. There was minimal injection of the right eardrum; pharynx was diffusely injected. Examination of the lungs showed many fine inspiratory rales in scattered areas.

Lumbar puncture was performed and clear fluid obtained under normal pressure; fluid contained normal cells, sugar and protein and culture was subsequently sterile. The infant was placed on Sulfadiazine and sedated with Numbutal. Under a regime of sedation, seizures gradually became less frequent and finally stopped. Temperature gradually fell to normal levels within a twenty-four hour period and remained there throughout the remainder of his stay in hospital. Blood cultures which were taken on admission yielded Type xxiii pneumococci. After the first twenty-four hours in the hospital, the patient ceased having convulsions, although, for the most part, he tended to remain in a position of semi-opistotonos and was in very poor contact with surroundings. He took feedings quite well but vomited a small amount, on one occasion only. Sulfadiazine was discontinued on the fifth hospital day, with no untoward affects thereafter. A blood culture taken after discontinuance of Sulfaziazine yielded no significant pathogens.

LABORATORY DATA: Urine examinations negative. Flood: Hgb. 70%, RBC 4.28 million. WBC 12,800. WBC subsequently fell to 7,700. Blood Culture: Pneumococci, Type xxiii (11/27/42). Nose Culture: Moderate number pneumococci and moderate number Staph. Aureus. Throat Culture Few Pneumococci and moderate number Staph. aureus. Blood Sulfadiazine level - 18.7 mg%.

X-ray films of the chest showed considerable irregularity of aeration, with an appearance of peribronchia pneumonitis.

DIAGNOSIS: ENCEPHALOPATHY, CHRONIC, CAUSE UNDETERMINED (930-yx91). SEPTICEMIA, DUE TO PNEUMOCOCCUS, TYPE XXIII (013-1010-XXIII) PHARYNGITIS, AC., DUE TO PNEUMOCOCCUS (631-101).

Condition: Improved. Disposition: Discharged home on Dilantin, Gr. ss daily.

William Berenberg, M.D.

R5. 6/14/43 Letter from Dr. K. R. Zwicker, osteopath: “Through the recommendations of Dr. Geo. Coulter I have been treating the above case as per directions given in your readings.

“To date the child has shown improvement, convulsions have decreased in frequency, child cries lustily now, and able to raise its head.

“I was able to feel congested areas where you outlined, the first three cervicals and in the lumbar area, but to be perfectly frank I can’t tell whether the vertebrae is to the right or left due to the child’s age, etc. I have asked the mother to have another reading and hope you will stress whether I am doing the right thing or not.

“Would you tell us whether the child is deaf and blind and will it see or hear again.”

R6. 6/23/43 See 2999-2.

Background

Background

B1. 4/8/43 Father’s letter to EC - written in mother’s handwriting but signed by the father:

“I have a baby boy, [2999] who is now eleven months old and has suffered from convulsions since last September. He was in the Children’s Hospital in Boston for four months. They discharged him and told us there was nothing they could do for him. They took various X-rays and also an air encephalogram which showed the baby had enlarged ventricles and would probably not live to be more than two years old. (I might say that before he was stricken and taken to hospital he was a healthy bright loving child.)

“Now he does not know us and although he is in better physical condition than when he came home from the hospital he is still very sick and suffering.

“I have just finished reading ‘There Is A River.’ That is how I learned of you.

“I would like to know how I might have you give a reading for him. Also how I might pay for it. I think he should have one real soon as the convulsions are rocking his little frame.

“If you would please send me the information in enclosed envelope I would be most thankful.”

Very truly yours, […]

B2. 4/26/43 Information regarding [2999] …, Mass., written by his mother:

[2999] was born at the … Hospital, Brockton, Massachusetts on April 28, 1942 at 5:47 A.M., E.W.T. He weighed only four pounds 15 ounces at birth although he was a full term baby. I am told he was born without the use of instruments. He lost three ounces shortly after birth, but thrived after being put on the breast and after that always showed a gain. He was quite yellow while in the hospital and had what the nurse termed “milk breast’ - both conditions she assured me were quite common.

When we came home at the end of two weeks he weighed five pounds eight ounces. He had extra feedings (breast milk) and on his own accord stopped the 2 A.M. feeding - sleeping through till 6 A.M. He was a good baby although he never slept a great deal during the day, even when he was very young. But he always slept the whole night through and never caused any bother in this respect. At the age of one month I brought him to the hospital for his final examination and, after giving minor instructions, Dr. Fuller said he was all right. When he was two months old he weighed ten pounds.

At a very early age he started to notice things and everybody said how bright he was. If I put a red bow in my hair he would look at it and smile at me. He would lie in his carriage and move his fingers in the sunlight. He had his daily sunbath and his little body got as brown as a berry. He started to eat cereal and strained foods.

When he was only three months old I left him unclothed on my bed (which is quite high) and he fell onto the hardwood floor. He screamed so hard I rushed in and picked him up not noticing just how he fell. Shortly afterwards he was tipped out of his carriage but this time he was fully clothed and fell on the grass. My niece, only two years old, did this. She also hit him with a toy, on the head, one day when he was placed in her crib. At the times these things happened, it did not seem to cause any ill effects. About the same time he got two very bad bites on his face - from insects, I presume. These turned purplish-blue, were hard, and stayed a long time.

About the first week in September, when my sister was visiting (she has three children of her own), while she was holding Baby [2999] she said that his back seemed to bother him and he didn’t seem to like to be held a certain way. He had seemed fussy but I thought he was probably teething. He was eating well and gaining weight. Finally he became so fussy (quite unlike himself) that I brought him to Dr. Thompson in Randolph on September 14. The baby cut up terribly while the doctor examined him. He told me he did not like the way he acted and that I should bring him into the Children’s Hospital in Boston. He thought there was something wrong with his brain. As my cousin at that time worked in the Children’s Hospital she made an appointment for Wednesday, September 16, in the Outpatient Department. I do not recall the name of the doctor who examined the baby but he was an older man who really seemed awfully fond of children. While he was questioning me the baby was talking too and the doctor would stop and answer him just as though he knew what the baby was saying.

The doctor gave the baby a most thorough examination. I told him about the falls and although he said he did not believe any damage had been done, as long as the baby was there they might as well take x-rays and made sure. He said for me to continue as I had been doing and to nurse him until he was seven months old, if I could. He said the baby was “hypertonic” and would do things younger than most children The x-rays were taken and the hospital informed me that they showed the baby to be all right. Of course I was greatly relieved. After that he seemed to be not quite so fussy - in fact was very good. Every day he would do something new. I used to wonder what he would be doing the next day. It was so much fun to watch him.

On Friday, September 25 I developed a bad cold so wore a mask when feeding little [2999]. He ate well but did not seem to notice things, although when he had gone to bed the night before he was smiling and happy. On Saturday I became alarmed because his eyes seemed fixed in one position and he did not respond when spoken to. Before that he was very responsive. If I laughed we would laugh, and if I cried (which wasn’t often) he would too. I told my mother and my husband that I thought something was wrong with the baby but they both said he was all right - he had probably eaten too much. Both Mother and my husband left in the early afternoon. The baby nursed good at 2 o’clock. The rest of the afternoon he just lay there with his eyes wide open not noticing anything. His hands and feet started to shake. I became frightened. I knew that Dr. Thompson had got married that morning and would not be available, so called an old doctor who lives on our street. He did not seem to know much about babies, touched the baby very gingerly and said he had a convulsion and to give him some medicine he made up and the baby would be all right in 48 hours. He also said to give him a warm bath. Instead of reassuring me I felt more desperate. My neighbor, who had been a nurse, was there while the old doctor was examining the baby and felt he was incompetent. The bath did not help the baby and he was still in this strange condition so I called another doctor and my mother. My mother said she thought the baby had pneumonia. When Dr. Cross came he examined the baby and said to rush him into the Children’s Hospital at once. He was very evasive with me but he told the former nurse he thought the baby had spinal meningitis. He told me not to tell the hospital authorities that I had had a doctor examine the baby as that would mean too much red tape and the baby’s condition was too serious to warrant any delay.

We arrived at the hospital about 10:15. All the way in I could feel his little body just burning up and he would throw up his arms as though seeking air. Dr. Latham examined the baby upon arrival with all sorts of instruments, etc. and said that as far as he could tell the baby had a case of pneumonia and if nothing further developed he could be home in two weeks.

When we called the hospital on Sunday and Monday the news was favorable. But when I called Tuesday night, the doctor told me that the baby had had a convulsion at 11 A.M., and they did not know what this meant. After that the news became increasingly worse. They (every?) night I called the doctor would tell me that the baby had had convulsions. When I saw him on visiting day (Saturday) he did not look like my baby. They had tried to find out what was wrong and had shaved the baby’s head in certain places and I also noticed tiny red marks as though they had stuck needles in his head. The doctor said they were doing everything they could but they thought maybe this trouble was caused at birth - or before.

Naturally I was very much upset at this news and rushed up to Brockton to Dr. Fuller. I had the office assistant get out my records as well as the baby’s. Dr. Fuller looked at them and said that nothing had happened before or at the baby’s birth. My pregnancy had been uneventful, I had not fallen and I had tried to follow the doctor’s advice in all ways as this was my first baby and I was 35 years old. I felt better after talking with Dr. Fuller and when I talked with the infants’ doctor at the Children’s Hospital that night I told him what Dr. Fuller had said. He said that both my husband and I could come in to see the baby the next day even though it was not a regular visiting day. We went in the following morning and saw the baby being fed his cereal - he was very intent on being fed and that was all. The doctors told us they did not know what else they could do and put the baby’s name on the danger list - although they told us he was not in immediate danger but did so just so that we could see him when we felt like it.

I went in almost every day to see him but he did not know me. The news became worse. They would take an air encephalogram if the baby grew stronger. By the middle of October they did not know if he would live from day to day. His temperature was high, sometimes he would not eat and they fed him intravenously, and other times he would vomit violently. These bad spells after a while seemed to be in cycles so the doctors said when he had a good spell they would do the air encephalogram with our permission. They said it would do no harm so we consented. They said they hoped to find a tumor on the brain or something that would enable them to operate. But the news they gave us was most discouraging. They said the ventricles of his brain were enlarged and there was nothing more they could do. They advised us to put him in a state hospital where they handled cases of this kind and to have another baby as soon as possible. They said he would not live beyond two years. Then they said they would have a neurologist look at him and see if he advised an operation. But the neurologist said no as they would not know where to operate. On the discharge blank, under Diagnosis was written ENCEPHALOGY.

On November 18 we brought the baby home. His temperature on leaving the hospital was 102 but Dr. Berenberg (the infant’s doctor who discharged him said that we must expect high temperatures and vomiting. He said if the baby got in need of oxygen or should have a lobar (maybe lumbar) puncture to call the hospital and ask for him. The baby had gone down to less than 15 pounds and looked very delicate. The next week was torture. His temperature kept high (he still had the pneumonia) and sometimes it took hours to get him to take a few ounces of milk. When I found his temperature on November 27 to be 105, I called in Dr. Thompson. He told us to bring the baby back to the hospital. Back in the hospital they took x-rays which showed that the pneumonia was spreading. Dr. Berenberg said they were taking him back as much or more for our sake than the baby’s. The next day Dr. Berenberg told me during visiting hours that the pneumonia had entered the bloodstream, which is usually fatal but that Baby [2999] had responded wonderfully to treatment. He asked that the next time the baby had an attack would it be all right just to treat him ordinarily and not give him anything special to keep him alive - implying that he would be better off dead. Both my husband and I told him to do everything to keep him alive - even an operation. The next day, Sunday, November 29 when I visited the nurse told me the baby’s temperature was normal, he was eating well and his bowels were good. On Friday, December 4, Dr. Berenberg asked me if I wanted to bring the baby home the next day. He said the baby would be better off at home, less chance for infection and that he was then in better condition than when we had brought him home before, as now the pneumonia was all gone.

On Saturday, December 5, the baby was discharged the second time by the Children’s Hospital. At that time Dr. Berenberg said that if he got bad again we should bring him in again after calling the hospital first. “If we can make him more comfortable we will take him,” he said. This time he gave me “Dilantin” in 1/2 grain, to be given daily, increasing amount if necessary. The baby’s diet was the same as the first time, namely: Grade A milk, strained fruits, egg yolk, vitamin C, and cod liver oil.

For a month the baby and I stayed at my mother’s home. Several times during this month, we thought the baby would die. Dr. Thompson called the hospital, talked with Dr. Berenberg and handled the case. On December 14, the baby was very, very ill. At 3 P.M. he had a temperature of 106.4. On Christmas Day he was again very ill, but by staying up with him and feeding him by rectum he came through all right. We were obliged to give him a great many enemas so that it was hard for his bowels to move naturally. From an infant on he has always been bothered with a great deal of gas. During this time of course he kept having many convulsions. He would turn blue under the eyes. His eyes would roll, his mouth twitch, his hands and feet shake. This would keep up for a long period of time. The Dilantin at that period seemed to help a lot but at this writing (April 26) it seems to have lost its power. This may be due in part to the fact that it is administered by rectum and he quite often ejects the capsule. Dr. Thompson had me put 4 drops of phenobarbitol in each bottle but didn’t always do this.

By January 6 he seemed improved enough to come here. He cut four teeth very close together and had a great deal of trouble with cutting them. Drooled a lot.

In looking over my records (I keep a record of each day’s happenings) the baby’s temperature did not go much over 101 since coming home. He seemed to improve physically inasmuch as his temperature stayed down for longer periods, he did not vomit so much, and rectal feedings became unnecessary. He has periods when he rolls his head around a great deal as though it bothered him. And sometimes it seems as though his eyes are pulled way back in his head. Dr. Berenberg had said he thought the baby was deaf; however he seems to hear quite a few things and sometimes jumps at sudden noises. He has smiled occasionally but I feel that he has really only given me one “real” smile since he became ill and that was three days ago. Scarcely a day goes by however when he doesn’t have some convulsions.

At a friend’s advice we took the baby to a chiropractor, Dr. H. B. Shields, Quincy, Mass., on four occasions. The baby had breathed very heavily at times (Dr. Thompson said this was due to brain condition) and after two treatments this heavy breathing went away; now only does it occasionally. Dr. Thompson says baby is spastic. He had abscesses in his ears which the doctor said were due to his teething. He always has a good deal of wax in ears and glands are quite enlarged. The last treatment the baby had from the chiropractor was about a month ago. We did not know whether it was wise to continue treatment or not, inasmuch as the baby seemed to have more convulsions immediately after treatment. Maybe he would have had them anyway.

Dr. Cross, the one who advised us to take the baby to the Children’s Hospital, examined him about three weeks ago. He said that physically the baby was all right but that he either had a tumor of the brain or pressure to act the way he did. He still thinks the baby had spinal meningitis back in September. He advised our taking the baby to Dr. Donald Munro, a brain surgeon in Boston.

On April 2, a Boston newspaper ran an article on the wonders of “plastic” and mentioned that a noted New York surgeon had performed miracles with plastic on brain operations. I tried to obtain the name of this surgeon from the American Medical Association but they did not know and referred me to the New York Academy of Medicine which has not answered my letter.

The baby’s condition has changed a great deal since we brought him home. He weighs 22 pounds and is nice and firm. He has a great deal of gas and trouble with his bowels. The convulsions have changed too. Now they are mostly confined to his mouth, tongue and eyes. His diet also is of concern to me. I know that many times he is fussy because he is hungry, but he likes his bottle (we give him raw milk now) and occasionally he will relish some strained fruits. I have been giving him some cereal for bulk but know he should have more substantial things, but he just will not take them.

For the past two weeks he has tried awfully hard to sit up and becomes angry when he cannot or his head bobs around. He also tries to get his right hand in his mouth but usually misses because he doesn’t have coordination. I remember Dr. Berenberg’s telling me that if he got hurt he would cry on a second or two because he had no memory but several times that theory has been proven wrong. He scratched the inside of this (his?) and cried for two or three minutes from this. Such things are small in themselves yet to my mind prove encouraging.

I have a feeling that Dr. Latham and Dr. Berenberg of the Children’s Hospital did not quite believe me when I told them how really bright little [2999] was. They probably put it down to mother pride. But when he was well he was vitally alive every minute and now it is as though there was a cruel spell cast on him and that he tries desperately at times to break it.

B3. GD’s note: See 4/27/43 Report from Children’s Hospital dated 11/27/42, which the mother later found and sent to EC 6/14/43. [See 2999-1, Par. R5.]

Mentioned Entities

Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, New York City, Thomas Sugrue, A.R.E. (Association for Research and Enlightenment), Cod Liver Oil, Gertrude Cayce, Gladys Davis, Glands (Esoteric), Glyco-Thymoline, Miracles of Jesus, Virginia Beach

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 2999-1, ReadingID 10302.