Reading 5714-1

TEXT OF READING 5714-1 F 21

Text

Date: 10/1/1926 Sex: F Age: 21 ReadingID: 14166

This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 115 West 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va., this 1st day of October, 1926, in accordance with request made by her brother, Mr. […] via Miss [295].

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

Time of Reading 11:20 A. M. Eastern Standard Time. …, Oklahoma.

1. GC: You will go over this body carefully, examine it thoroughly, and tell me the conditions you find at the present time. You will diagnose the case thoroughly, giving the cause of the existing conditions, also the treatment for the cure and relief of this body.

2. EC: Yes -

3. Now, we find the physical conditions such in this body that relief may be brought from the suffering, yet little may be done to bring about the full normal condition of the body - UNLESS we reach that place where transfusion might give the rebuilding necessary in the system. Through this means there might be brought - when the body has builded some - that which would bring the better conditions. For, as we find, the greater portion of the whole rebuilding system is involved in these conditions - through the intestinal tract, through the stomach, the liver, spleen, pancreas - all portions of the digestive system being involved in the condition, as is the respiratory system.

4. Those conditions as would be best for the body at the present time would be as these:

5. No water for the body except that carrying elm bark. This may be prepared just when this is given, but let it carry properties of elm bark. This as a coating and a soothing for the system, quenching the thirst, and still at the same time giving to the mucus coating some stability in its reaction, PROVIDED there is taken with this - or from time to time - this may be given two to three times a day - small quantities of Yellow Saffron Tea. This would be prepared by steeping (not boiling) two to three ounces of the Yellow Saffron in twenty to twenty-four ounces of pure water, or rain water, see? The dose would be teaspoonful - two teaspoonsful at the time. Strain this off, see, and let it set aside to keep it cool.

6. Use across the abdomen, and to force the intestines to act in a more normal way and manner, those of flannel cloths wrung out of hot Castor Oil, or just as warm as the body may bear, see? These may be used whenever there is pain across the lower portion of stomach or abdomen. These will assist also, as we see, in the activity of the bowel, see?

7. Massage THOROUGHLY, at least once each day, along the whole cerebro-spinal system - beginning at the neck and running entirely to the end of the spine, see? along each side of the spinal column - with equal parts of Olive Oil and Tincture of Myrrh. Not sufficient to irritate or tire the body, but let the body lie prone, see, on face, and use at least twenty to thirty, to forty, to fifty minutes - or as long as the body can stand the massaging - this of equal parts of Tincture of Myrrh and Olive Oil. This will be food for the body, and we will see it will relieve much of the tension and strain in the whole system.

8. Use as an inhalant for the lungs and for the respiratory system, to bring about a cleansing in the system in blood and through the whole system, these:

To 4 ounces of pure grain alcohol, add:

Eucalyptol…20 minims, Benzosol…10 minims, Canadian Balsam, or Balsam of Fir…5 minims, Rectified Oil of Turp…5 minims, Benzoin…5 minims, Tolu in solution…40 minims.

Keep this in a glass corked container, at least two to three times the size of the quantity - that is, eight to twelve ounce bottle, see? Shake solution and inhale at least three to four times each day, or whenever the body feels it necessary. Inhale THROUGH THE MOUTH, see? placing mouth close over bottle, so that the fumes from the inhalant are taken into the lungs.

9. Do this, and we will bring the relief for the body.

10. Let the diet be junket, arrowroot, and conditions of this nature. Not any MEATS, though the broths may be taken a little later, but these should be of wild game whenever taken. Not any from pork. Beef juices may be given - these will be strengthening to the body.

11. After these have been taken for some time, then we would change those conditions for this body, Mrs. [5714], near …, Oklahoma. We are through for the present.

12. Be persistent with these - be consistent.

13. We are through.

Reports

Reports & Follow-up

R1. 10/16/26 Brother’s letter to EC:

…, Okla.

Mr. Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach, Va.

Dear Mr. Cayce:

We were indeed happy and grateful to receive such a prompt favorable reply from you as the condition of my sister, Mrs. [5714], had become such that we were at our wits end to know what to do. For about a month she was too weak to take nourishment and her bowels were too weak and dead to function. Her stomach and bowels have been badly inflamed for about two years, but she has been suffering from a real case of indigestion and a severe attack of inflammation of the small intestines and at the time the letter was mailed she was unable to take nourishment as the waste matter and gas stubbornly refused to pass from small to large intestines which caused her to have several narrow escapes on account of the pressure smothering heart; the main trouble being in the lower portion of the small intestine through to the caecum where the ulcers and tubercles have formed mostly and broken down and where she has a continual dull aching pain besides all the sharp severe pains and of course the whole ascending and transverse colon have some soggy weak places through them which cause her great trouble. Her bowels often times seem to glue together which also gives her that smothering sensation. Then again her stomach and bowels are very stiffly inflamed and paralyzed-like. So, at the time we received your letter of October 1st she had been using only diluted orange juice for nine days. We began at once to carry out instructions but we will have to let nature take its course when we hope to see a marked improvement in her condition.

Her stomach and bowels continue to be filled with painful smothering gas day and night. The extreme pressure, effecting especially the head, heart and right side, together with the pains and aches over the entire body keeps her quite nervous and miserable. She finds it difficult to start her food in the morning on account of the gas as well as keeping it up during the day but the past few days she has been consuming about six cups of junket a day made with goat milk (four ounces every hour) she seems to find the arrow root (powdered) difficult to digest. We have been making it with water since boiled milk is constipating. Then, too, she has been advised by a doctor and food specialist that cream and milk cannot be properly combined with warm starchy cereals or vegetables for digestion as fermentation takes place at once. What is your idea regarding this? We do not know what articles you might term as “conditions of this nature” (we do not know where to get eatable moss) how about using clabber milk, cheese, eggs, cereals, fruits or vegetables, is she to leave these out of her diet? The diet is very immaterial to her; no matter how distasteful or tasteless the food might be if it’s good for her she can eat it with relish.

She has been avoiding as much as possible proteins and starches or heat producing foods on account of the extremely inflamed organs and her condition in general. She has been using milk almost exclusively since a year ago last May and is very well satisfied with the strict milk diet. She only desires to get her digestive organs in shape to handle food that will nourish and build her up, if possible.

The lymphatic glands from head to toe are also very badly inflamed (with kernels) burning and painful, especially the neck glands and glands on left and right side in pelvic region and legs.

I might also add that in taking about ten doses of oil last winter for her gall bladder trouble she passed over a thousand hardened bile lumps from the size of a match to a quarter, but since her backset in April her bowels have not been in condition for her to take anything for this trouble.

Should she use castor oil internally to move out the mucus that rapidly accumulates and clogs her bowels? She took a dose Tuesday. Otherwise, she has used the flaxseed enema daily, but up until today (Saturday) nothing has passed except a little mucus.

On account of her extreme weakness and the prolapsed condition of her organs bowel movements are very hard on her, and her bowels fail to empty out properly.

We have been using the castor oil packs from one to three hours practically every day.

If you can enlighten us further on what to do for the extreme gassie condition and inflammation of small intestines and whole right bowel we will be glad indeed. If there are any changes we should make don’t hesitate to advise us.

R2. 10/27/26 Brother’s letter to EC:

…, Okla.

Mr. Edgar Cayce Virginia Beach, Va.

Dear Sir:-

In regard to Mrs. [5714], this letter may reach you in time to answer with the other letter (of 16th) I wrote you regarding [5714]; obstinate constipation but it was worse than we anticipated - it was the sixth day before we got her bowels started to moving but it surely looked as though calling the doctor to use instruments was going to be the only hope. We used enemas after enemas (containing oil or flaxseed) besides several cup oil injections, a dose of castor oil plus (self digging) but all of no avail until finally a hot olive oil enema started them. This accumulation and the exertion naturally left her in a very weak upset condition. It seems to effect her gall bladder badly weakened and inflamed her intestines and for several days she was again unable to take nourishment but yesterday she began taking junket (3 1/2 cups) but she certainly is suffering severely with gas and pains all through her body. She has such severe stiff burning pains all through her gall bladder, stomach and intestines - in fact these manifest themselves from head to toe, but especially through her heart and whole left side and arms. (This extreme soreness and pain through the heart region is especially noticeable when she suffers the terrible drawing pains through the illeocecal valve and caecum which is also one big raw irritating sore) since her backset in April she has had to lie mostly on her left side to pass gas and on account of her extremely sore right bowel but now can find no position to get relief; the past three weeks her stools have been (packed) balls; this symptom is very unusual (with her) she also passed clay stools, gritty like real coarse sand.

Her gall bladder and dead liver (and disposition she says) seem to be at the bottom of all her trouble. She suffers severe pains through her gall bladder, stomach and bowels and has that deathly sick nauseated feeling especially (originating at caecum) most of the time. Especially after using enemas she is still so bloated with gas and her bowels are so irritated and sore and has the sensation that her bowels have got to move more in order to keep from smothering and to get relief, and we nearly always have to apply the castor oil packs two hours and over; is there any danger of using the packs too long or often? She suffers about as much or more pain when she gets through the hot-packs as when she started. She has such boiling pains through her head, back, legs and abdomen from gas and poisonous waste matter which her bowels are too weak to expel properly.

We make the saffron tea by bringing the water (distilled) to a boiling point and then pouring it over the leaves and let it simmer for fifteen minutes and let cool after straining tea, is this right?

We keep in a cool place, and yet it sours in about two days in this warm Oklahoma weather. We are having these days, so we have to make it fresh every day or two. [5714] takes this in prescribed doses three times a day in a glass of HOT water containing elm bark in it thinking it might help to relieve gas but it doesn’t seem to have much effect. Can you suggest anything to relieve her when she has the smothering, sinking sensation?

How about putting elm bark in gruel water, and at what intervals would you think best to give junket etc? Should honey be used or left out of her diet?

We truly hope and trust, Mr. Cayce, that your mother’s condition is much improved.

[5714] joins me in sending all best regards, including Miss Davis.

I am, very truly yours, […]

P.S. We will appreciate a prompt reply as [5714] seems to be at a low ebb, physically.

She seems to have more or less trouble with pains and smothering after taking hot Elm bark and saffron tea on account of bowels gluing especially through caecum and bend to transverse colon and inability to expel gas.

Should we expect her bowels to move naturally from using castor oil packs with out using enemas? Even after using enemas and packs, bowels have not moved for two days.

R3. 11/9/26 EC’s letter to [5714]‘s brother re her case:

Dear Mr. […]:

I hope you do not feel that I have neglected writing you, but my mother passed away on the morning of the 26th, and I was with her several days beforehand and have just not been able to do any writing since. But I am in hopes that your sister is better. I am afraid you do not get just all of the suggestions as were given, or apply them in just the manner they are given. I am sure that you will find it very beneficial to her to continue the olive oil enema, for this will prove a food for the body and the intestinal system especially, when possibly she is not able to assimilate it in any other way. Do not give the elm bark water WARM - rather have it with just a little ice in it or cool, and do not give it at the same time the Saffron Tea is used. The Saffron Tea should be made fresh, at least every day. If she prefers THIS warm, alright. I would certainly keep up the hot castor oil applications to the abdomen, until she does get relief, for this will certainly absorb and, with the olive oil enemas, will relieve the condition. It would be well, too, that she take just as much of Usoline as does not cause inconvenience by it becoming rancid in the system or unpleasant to the body. Whenever it is possible, and she is not in too much pain, at least once each day, or morning and evening both would be well, rub the whole length of her spine with equal parts olive oil and tincture of myrrh. Heat the oil, then add the myrrh to same. Massage this well into the body. This will stimulate and strengthen the body as much as anything. The diet will necessarily have to be governed, until she is stronger, by the existent condition - egg or milk cooked in whiskey should be assimilated. If it is not, don’t try to use it, and of course give her very little at a time. Beef JUICE will be strengthening. This is made by taking good clean beef - only the lean taken - cutting it in small cubes, putting in a glass jar, sealed, then place the jar in water and let it boil for at least an hour or hour and a half. Season the juice that comes from same palatable and feed her just a little bit - half a teaspoonful or so - every few minutes. I’m very anxious concerning your sister’s condition, and shall appreciate your letter me hear from you every few days. I assure you it’s my desire to be of help if possible.

Sincerely, EC:GD

R4. 11/27/26 Brother’s letter to EC:

…, Okla.

Mr. Edgar Cayce 115 W. 35th Street, Virginia Beach, Va.

My Dear Sir:

Re: Mrs. [5714]

Your kind letter of November 9th was received last week Wednesday which helped us to more clearly understand and carry out your suggestions and instructions; yet we have a lot of simple…little questions that we would like to have a little more light on. [5714] has had one continual clogging after another since we received the first letter. After the first clogging she went on an orange juice diet (one part orange juice and three parts water) for two days (without elm bark) and this seemed to have toned up the bowels a little while. However we have had a small degree of success with Usoline since we started using it a few days ago. The worst trouble is with mucus not working out of the intestines and allowing the feces to move out of the body satisfactorily, it seems as though taking castor oil internally was all that would loosen the mucus from the walls of intestines and pass out so bowel movements could take place at all satisfactory. The daily castor oil packs (from one to three hours) and olive oil enemas twice a day have failed to move her bowels until we resorted to one or more olive oil injections (four or five oz.) followed about an hour later with oil enemas (twice a day), but now for about two weeks after using these she has had very little bowel movement, mostly undigested particles and clay, course, gritty like stools, and there must be at least a week’s… or more waste retained in her bowels which naturally adds to her suffering, by causing indigestion, neuritis, neuralgia, and so forth to be worse.

When would you consider best for her to use enemas, before or several hours after using packs both the packs and enemas exhaust her exceedingly.

Due to her extreme weakness, prolapsed bowels, and uterus tip back against her back bone. She is usually up and down several hours trying to expel water which her bowels never empty out completely and several times her bowels have absorbed the enema water instead of expelling it.

Since her rectum and anus seem almost too weak to function, would you advise using about a pint (or half pint) of cool water after warm enema (110 F degrees) in her weakened and gassie condition?

Often times the Usoline injection…causes the gas to pain all thru her abdomen until she expels it and she thinks possibly she might have difficulty in expelling it. Should elm bark be used in enema water? Is about a tablespoonful of Usoline a day about the required amount? Is it best to inject this just before or after the enema, and how?

Should she use the gruels mentioned in Miss Davis’ letter, and about how often, and should the elm bark be used in these

• also was it meant for the Dryco milk to be used straight or be made into junket and should this be used in connection with junket made from goat’s milk? Should the beef juice be taken any time during the day? The second and third day she used this she complained of it burning her mouth and causing pains in her stomach.

She still find a teaspoonful of arrowroot a day difficult to digest. She’s been taking from four to six cups of junket a day but naturally will be unable to gain strength until we get her bowels in better shape so that she can digest her food and sleep and rest more.

For about two and a half years she averaged about two to five hours out of twenty-four but lately has increased slightly. Kindly instruct us how to cook eggs and milk in whiskey and how to use same in doses.

An osteopath who attended her the past summer strictly condemned the use of this in her case. He as well as all other doctors who have attended her states that her bowels are very badly torn up (so to state) and thin like tissue paper and she would have to be very careful as to what entered them.

Is it necessary for fresh castor oil to be used each day for packs?

Lately she has been applying dry salt packs to abdomen to help relieve pain and tension, would you advise this?

Any additional information that you may be able to give us concerning the mucus and waste accumulation we will greatly appreciate by return mail as it seems very necessary to get this bowel condition more corrected soon.

Yours truely, […]

R5. 12/7/26 EC’s letter to [5714]‘s brother:

Replying to yours of the 27th, I am certainly sorry that your sister is having so much trouble, but I am glad that my letter explained the instructions some better. I am in hopes though that before this she is on the improve, but I will try and answer your questions to the best of my ability - but if she doesn’t show considerable improvement soon, I believe it would be better for us to take another reading, for I feel very certain, from the last twenty-five years’ experience, that I know a great deal better how to explain a condition to you when I am unconscious, than I do at my normal self.

First, I think the orange juice diet is good, if this agrees with her, but I am sure you will find that she will just have to try first one thing, and then another, for you will find some things will agree with her at one time, and won’t at another.

Now, the Usoline - you understand, I am sure, that Usoline is merely a lubricant, and she can take all of this that she wishes, just so it does not become rancid in her system by remaining in same too long. If the elm bark water is given, this, as you know, should be made fresh each day, and only small sips taken, for this SOON becomes rancid unless assimilated by the system, but it is one of the easiest things for the mucus coating of the stomach and intestines to take up there is. Hence it is healing and beneficial, but this should NOT be given with anything else at all. Never mix with the juices of any fruit, or with anything. The Usoline may be used as injections also, but if you find the olive oil does not pain her, it is much better, for it is a FOOD for the intestines, whether taken internally or whether injected. Use all of this that she can assimilate, externally or injected, and let her swallow as much of it as she can assimilate - for this is the only thing that will ever give life to the deadened condition in the intestinal tract.

The daily Castor Oil packs I would keep up, unless they pain her too much. It will be very much better, I am sure, from the condition as has been described, to NOT give the Castor Oil internally, if you can possibly get the movement from the bowels by using the Usoline and olive oil, for Castor Oil internally is a great irritant, and to already sore and lacerated intestines is certainly very hard an is liable to cause perforation on such thinned walls. But there will be sufficient of this absorbed, with these hot packs or warm packs, to produce assistance to the other properties.

Use the olive oil injections, and if possible get the bowels to move some every day. I would also write at once to the Kellogg Institute, Battle Creek, Michigan, and get some of their charcoal tablets. This, I am sure, will reduce the gas, and will assist this clay like and gritty condition as exists in the stool.

For her bowels to absorb the water instead of expelling it, is not bad, unless this occurs too frequently, for it will assist in cleansing the kidneys and bladder, and not allow inflammation to set up there from so many poisons passing through the system. Hence I would give the injections, if it doesn’t cause too much pain, EXPECTING these organs to eliminate them.

DO NOT use elm bark water in the enemas. This is for the upper intestinal tract and not the lower. The olive oil and Usoline should be used in the injections, or enemas.

The milk - I believe I would get that compounded by The Kellogg Institute at Battle Creek, Michigan, called Yogut. This gives the directions as to how this should be given. This is another ingredient that will assist in correcting the conditions in the lower intestines. You use it by itself - not with the Junket. Yes, make the Junket with goat’s milk, for this will agree with her better than anything else. The beef juice is strengthening, but do not give her this when it burns her stomach, or is disagreeable in any way - but this may be given her ANY time - just a few sips, if she can assimilate that, will be very strengthening, and certainly will not be hard to digest, for the system will almost take it all up. Beef, Iron and Wine may be also given her, provided it does not disagree with her condition. I would insist, however, on having Wyeth’s, only taking a small sip at the time, say half a teaspoonful - but this may be given her as often as she feels like she can assimilate it.

Do not use the arrowroot if it is hard for her to digest.

Egg and milk and whiskey - this is the way that this is prepared, but if you find that by taking this it burns her stomach, or hurts her - then of course leave it off - but what you are trying to do, as you understand, is to find that something that the system will assimilate, and give her strength enough to gain some life in her intestinal tract. You break an egg, mixing the yellow only - drop whiskey on same, stirring it all the time - whiskey is poured just drop by drop, until the egg is cooked thoroughly, which will not require more than a teaspoonful of whiskey. This may be done in a large goblet. After this is thoroughly cooked, then add the goat’s milk, sufficient to fill the glass two-thirds full. Beat the white of the egg to a thick froth, put on top of this, and stir same into the whole ingredients. She may take just little sips of this, and if she can assimilate it, a TEASPOONFUL of this during a whole day, I am sure she will find it strengthening and beneficial. Of course she does not want to take anything in large quantities, but anything that agrees with her, let her take little sips of it every few minutes. The osteopath may have been correct, but if we can get the intestines acting in any manner, even though these enemas are given every day, and I am sure you will not find it as weakening to get a little movement every day, as it is to allow them to run for two or three days before she takes the injections - this will be very beneficial to her - the egg, the milk and the whiskey.

We assure you of our interest, and I am in hopes you will let us hear from you every little while.

Sincerely, EC:GD

R6. 12/14/26 Brother’s letter to EC:

…, Oklahoma

Mr. Edgar Cayce 115 W. 35th Street Virginia Beach, Va.

My Dear Sir:

Re: [5714]

We certainly appreciate your kind letter of December 7 which came in time of need as [5714]‘s condition has been growing worse right along and she was getting weaker from her system being so clogged and poisoned. All abdominal organs seemed almost paralyzed and dead, in fact her entire body felt that way due to the extreme inflammation and naturally more difficulty in handling the junket, and bowels aching and paining more severely.

Owing to the present condition we surely would be grateful for a second reading which we hope we will be able to receive soon, as we feel sure that this will clarify matters more in treating her case. [5714] has a world of confidence in you and your methods of treating - believing that God in His great love is guiding and it is our desire to carry out your every suggestion to the best of our ability and knowledge, but knowing so little about just how to use the simple remedies suggested we have failed to carry several of them out as they were intended and seem to need every thing fully explained to keep on the right track, and then I’m sure we’d get much better results. Is about a glass full of elm bark water about the quantity to be used a day? According to your last two letters she has been using this altogether wrong. [5714] has been very anxious to be able to use olive oil internally, but it was trying to use about two teaspoonsful of this morning and night that seemed to cause the real inflammation and indigestion that set in a few weeks before we first wrote you, and which she has been unable to overcome to this day sufficiently to be nourishment to even hold her own. The oil injections also seem to cause more digestive disturbance - kept her bowels purging for about two days, but even though her bowels ache and pain severely she is keeping up the daily olive oil enemas three (three tablespoonsful full to one and a half to one and three fourths quarts of water - is this too much?) injecting about an ounce of Usoline almost every day after enemas, and the hot castor oil packs which seem to have brought about fairly good results in bowel movements here of late. At times her stools are quite natural, except for a lot of undigested particles, but up to a few days ago, they surely showed signs of real inflammation, and trouble. Do you think it necessary for the mucus (mostly thick, tough, yellowish stringy or brownish matty in nature) to pass off, or will the body take care of this? It always seemed that this clogged her bowels and causes such extreme suffering. The lymphatic glands and nerves through entire body continue to pain her extremely, especially does she suffer excruciating pains through abdomen (and across bladder), the gas in stomach and bowels has been worse, having the same old trouble of gas not being able to pass through. Illeocecal valve and ascending colon and of course weakness of entire bowels and especially of rectum and anus not allowing it to expel properly, but as her bowls are moving better she expects to overcome this trouble somewhat. How much olive oil could she inject and how long could it be retained in bowels without it causing disturbance or possible harm?

The olive oil and tincture of myrrh massage which is given her soon after the enemas (while the room is warm) usually seems to cause her to suffer from tightened gas. The enema is generally given her between 8 and 11 a.m. and the castor oil packs sometimes between 4 and 6 p.m. About how long does it usually take the castor oil to absorb from these packs? Is digestion of food eaten during or soon after these apt to be hindered? She tries to take her junket about every hour or hour and a half and the elm water, saffron or beef juice and etc., about thirty minutes later to fifteen minutes until next junket feeding. For the last ten days we have been using boiled rain water for enemas - would this be any advantage over deep well water? How about using Dr. Terrell’s antiseptic powder in connection with the olive oil enemas - would there be any added benefits you think?

We ordered the charcoal and yogut tablets from Kellogg Institute. Do you advise her to use yogurt buttermilk exclusively and for several weeks - or would it be alright to use beef juice, “beef, iron and wine” and olive oil along during the day and etc, and olive oil. [5714] has probably five or six blind abscess teeth that need to come out, according to one doctor’s advice, she has been too weak to have them removed, which may account for her suffering more from neuritis. Her last doctor claimed her throat was in a very bad shape - congested and ingested - due to the condition of her bowels and irritation from belching continually since a year ago last year. He also claims she has no appendix that it blew out sometime ago, and it’s through the caecum that she suffers most severely from indigestion and etc.

We expect to obtain the whiskey and Wyeth’s beef, iron and wine within the next few days, and we are in hopes we will receive the reading right away clearly indicating whether [5714] shall use these, and also the heat producing foods such as olive oil, egg yolk, beef juice, and gruels prohibited thus far in her case due to the extreme inflammation due to the condition of her gall bladder and bowels. [5714] seems so little conscious of what and how much food her stomach can handle as she has the burning sensation and suffers soreness and cramping pains through her abdomen most all the time even though she takes her food very slowly and mixing it well with saliva, (also cramps after swallowing anything slightly cool) so it makes it hard for her to know just what does agree with her best. We realize too that she needs to find something that can be assimilated to strengthen as she certainly is in a weakened condition. Her heart seems much weaker and for a few days it seemed that she had lost almost all use of her arms and legs - they were so painfully paralyzed like and helpless. She is eighty pounds underweight. Would you recommend cod liver oil for her? or Ovaltine, an ingredient containing milk, egg yolk, winter malted barley, malt sugar, and flavored with cocoa and to be prepared with hot milk or water?

Assuring you that we greatly appreciate your interest and kind favors, and that is persistently and faithfully trying to follow your ever suggestion, knowing that she is bound to improve quite rapidly, if they are carried out properly; and with best regards from us both, to you, Mrs. Cayce and Miss Davis, I am yours, Truly, […]

R7. 1/17/27 Brother’s letter to EC:

…, Okla.

Mr. Edgar Cayce 115 W. 35th Street Virginia Beach, Va.

Dear Sir:

Re: Mrs. [5714]

We would be very glad indeed, if you would kindly rush the reading for my sister as she is suffering more severely right along from indigestion, gas, neuritis, etc., and naturally is quite rapidly growing weaker.

We found out that the Oklahoma law prohibits the sale and use of whiskey even for medical purposes - so we have been unable to secure this for [5714].

Sincerely trusting that we shall receive the reading in a day or two.

I remain, yours very truly, […]

R8. 1/15/27 EC’s letter to [5714]‘s brother:

Dear Mr. […]:

I fear you felt that I had neglected your sister, in not having written you at least, long before this - but I have been hoping, day by day, that I would be able to take her condition up again - but seemingly I get no opportunity. One delay was caused by the illness of myself - which of course suspended all operations for ten days or more. As you know perhaps, I can only make two of these readings in one day, so I am limited to the amount of work I can do - but I’ll try to go over your letter and explain to you, as I see it - but I am in hopes that your sister is on the improve long before this.

To be sure, unless you are able to prevent the clogging in the system, there is bound to be re-infection from poisons thrown out by the feces in the system, and you shouldn’t attempt to continue to feed her, except stimulating foods, until you get the system clear - using whatever means is necessary, and if the junket seems to cause inflammation, discontinue its use entirely, until such a time that the system will handle it.

Yes, about a glass full of the elm water is alright, provided this is made fresh each time you give her any of it to drink - or that the system does not reject it, or does not assimilate it - for, as I have tried to make plain, anything the system will NOT assimilate is detrimental, and you will find that some days it will take one thing, and others it will take another thing. Hence the very close watch on this condition. When she takes olive oil, junket, elm water, or anything in her system, and then in a few hours begins to taste, belch, or feel an unpleasant condition from same - you may know the system is NOT assimilating, and there should not be any more of this ingredient given until the system is cleared. While maybe another day one or the other of these WILL be assimilated. They are all healing, and all have their part in the existent condition. Oh, how I wish our hospital was ready, and we might have her here that she might be looked after!

The daily olive oil enemas are GOOD, provided the system ASSIMILATES them - but, if they cause pain, reduce the quantity, and reduce the number of times these are given - yet I am sure you realize that if she is eating anything at all, for her to ever get in a condition where she may build up, there must be a movement from the bowels at least SOME each day - whatever it takes to move them! for with this inflammation, this deadened condition, to go a longer time than that is to cause disturbances throughout the whole body!

This mucus must be eliminated from the system, and it is best that it be eliminated through its natural channels - for the system to attempt to eliminate it through other channels is what takes up her strength, causes inflammation, indigestion, non-activity of all of the organs in their proper way, and is the SEAT of her trouble.

Olive oil injections are assimilated normally by all portions of the lower intestines, and rarely, if ever, become rancid when injected. Olive oil becomes rancid by the action of the gastric juices of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas and liver secretions. Hence this manner of taking same must be watched and not allowed to be overdone so that it becomes rancid in the system, thus producing an acid which is detrimental to the digestive organs - though, if assimilated, IS food for the whole digestive system. As to the amount that should be used as an injection, as I said before, depending upon how same acts with the body - but you must get those actions through the bowels, or from the bowels, DAILY - if you ever expect her to improve. The oil packs should help. If they cause trouble, then massage the bowels - all over the lower intestines - with equal parts of olive oil and tincture of myrrh. You heat the olive oil, then pour the myrrh into same - only to make sufficient quantity to use each time, massaging this INTO the body as much as possible, but keep the castor oil packs, unless the pain is too severe from same.

I hope you got the charcoal, for that should prevent the gas.

As soon as she is well enough, I would have those teeth looked after.

I think I told you as regarding the use of the whiskey and egg and milk. If the body ASSIMILATES it, give it to her! If it does not, DO NOT give it to her! But if she can only take a FEW DROPS during the whole day, and assimilates it, it will give her strength - and strength and resistance, you know, is what she needs!

Whenever she has those cramping spells, belching, or swelling after eating - you know it’s because she is eating too much, and the system not handling what she is eating. Hence the necessity of taking five drops of something that will be assimilating and strengthening, rather than several meals that the body won’t handle, but has to be gotten rid of through the impact and soreness already in the intestines. I assure you Mr. […], it is not negligence or that we are not interested or desirous of being of help. It has been our inability to get to this reading, but I do hope the suggestions here given may prove beneficial, and we’ll appreciate your letting us hear from you from time to time. Kindest persoal regards to you all,

Sincerely, EC:GD

R9. 4/2/27 Brother’s letter to EC:

…, Okla.

Mr. Edgar Cayce 115 W. 35th St., Virginia Beach, Va.

My dear Sir:

Re: Mrs. [5714]

After delaying this letter writing much longer than we intended we have decided to let you hear from us again in behalf of my sister who had a first reading from you of October 1, last year.

Since that time she has been having one misfortune after another, as we wrote before we did not do this right according to instructions, in every respect for weeks and weeks. Somehow we all had more misfortune than usual in carrying out these instructions through correspondence so much delay on our part in letting you hear from us every little while and consequently we’ve had altogether too little help along during these past months about instructions which we misunderstood (never had much experience with nursing a sick person) and we made a mistake by not getting a person who had experience along this kind of work. We have had a nurse here now (a lady) since the 21st of February excepting about five days the first part of March. We found out (my mother who had been assisting me, and myself) that we were rather green about these different things, that we were making one mistake after another on these different things we had been using (as we thought according to instructions). We may not be capable to handle her as she ought to be handled but will do the best we can, blundering, doing this partly as it is supposed to be done has not profited any of us, perhaps, that we may yet learn from our mistakes. [5714] has continually suffered from day to day and yet she still has a hope of getting relief somehow, and some way probably at least get to where she can recover from her present illness. She weighs twelve to fifteen pounds less now than she did last October. About January 3 this winter a sand storm came up and of course her lungs became worse causing her to cough and suffer much worse, all over next day or two coughing until she lost perhaps about two tablespoonsful of blood. Then about the last of the month when most every one at our house had a bad cold or flu or something she went to coughing and brought up pint after pint of sputum from her lungs and throat during three or four days time. This of course nearly finished her, apparently. Still she’s trying, struggling to keep on. She quit using elm water about a month ago and is now taking one thing that may help to heal, that’s the olive oil in the enemas, and also about two teaspoonsful internally daily - half teaspoon at a time since about March 15th. She has taken about one and a half bottles of Wyeth’s Beef, Iron, and wine. But hasn’t taken any since taking olive oil internally. Since last January with the exception of taking it a few days in February, [5714] could not stand the pains in her body after taking saffron tea, it has been discontinued after trying it three different times. The elm seemed too much for her to assimilate at least that’s what seemed to show up in the stools. The egg whites she uses may or may not have something to do with it. Using three a day, some days two more than that. She seems to taste most every thing, junket, egg white, olive oil, malted nuts (she has taken one 50C jar of malted nuts) or whatever she takes hours after eating it. The charcoal tablets (battle creek) have been used since the first of January with perhaps some help in relieving the gas however she continues to suffer a great deal yet from gas pains. She also tried yogurt made with goat’s milk three different times but two or three days of this would bring worse gas pains every time. We obtained a can of Lacto-Dextrin to change the intestinal flora but this has not been tried. She is at a loss as to trying it as it is claimed that you should eat vegetables and other foods than milk when taking Lacto-Dextrin. (The literature put out by the company explains some of these things about these products.) To supply the sixteen elements required by body is a tough problem with a junket diet very long at a time. She will probably have to try straight goat’s milk sometime and see if she can digest that or some kind of vegetables to get more iron, and mineral salts which the digestive organs must have to do the necessary work and function more satisfactorily. She is thinking of trying to take some kind of fresh vegetables after taking a gruel diet for a few days to put a lining in her stomach and intestines. The beef juice has been used different times and after each time used mucus would show more in the stools also after using canned pineapple juice, fig juice and when using honey in the gruels (white pearl barley), and also tried a few small doses of arrowroot of late. These periods when mucus forms and is expelled always seems more painful in her bowels about this time. The bowels have moved quite regular daily with the exception of two or three days for the last several weeks and a few other times when only small particles and quantities were passed. There seems to be a constipated tendency mostly however. We use the enemas with olive oil (except a few times we just used plain boiled water), every day without fail. Usoline (Petroleum, white) is used occasionally. Often times a bowel movement seems to be there to go but she is too weak to expel, even after Usoline is used at times. This adds to her troublesome pains hours and sometimes days after until we can get a better movement to relieve the at times packed bowels. She seems to need rest worse than anything else, still she craves something to eat each day. We use orange juice diet from one to three days once in a while this seems to cause distress, and discomfort while taking it (hard at times to get oranges that are sweet here) however it seems to benefit her in getting her bowels to move more thoroughly. She developed a bad bed sore on her left hip (side of the bone) and we had several weeks work to get it to heal (a little pus accumulated too) but this is well now.

There were times in the last few months that it was a problem to get her turned from her side to her back or back to her side. Several attempts were made sometimes before she could finally turn and then she had SCREAMING pains for a time especially in the right side about the gall bladder. It would hang on dreadfully and cause her a great deal of suffering. Nothing we could think to do to help relieve her. I would massage her abdomen with tincture of myrrh and olive oil equal parts, and we have quit using the castor oil packs too. They seemed to paralyze rather than help - that is we have to quit their use regularly because they seemed to weaken her and increase her suffering. We only apply castor oil packs occasionally, otherwise we rub or massage with olive oil, and Tincture of Myrrh and olive oil, and olive oil equal parts at times. Her bowels have fared just as well since several weeks ago when we practically discontinued the oil packs. We have used the enemas daily. I tell her, perhaps the castor oil packs would relieve her indigestion and other disturbances, but she has found it tires and exhausts her so that there isn’t enough benefit to justify their use regularly. The experience she had some weeks ago caused her to want to leave them off as much as she can now.

She has been taking the Tincture of Myrrh and olive oil (equal parts) massages once most every day. She does not feel equal to taking them, only when getting through with the enemas as the gas and pain lessens enough to permit the massage (and, I have to hurry and get through) usually try to massage twenty or thirty minutes anyway. (I can’t make it soothing and restful enough, she says)

Sometime ago she was unable to lie on her stomach so I gave them to her on her side. She had to draw up her knees (drawn up all the time) the cramping sharp pains in her abdomen were most unbearable and now the leaders at the knees and hips have drawn her legs up because they are shortening which cause severe pain when trying to straighten them - even making her hurt worse in her body for hours after. (It is impossible to straighten them since November) You stated in your last letter if she tasted or belched the food eaten, it should be left off, or if it caused belching or cramping or bloating she was eating too much and we may state here that these conditions exist always no matter what or how little she takes. Her stomach and bowels have not been free from gas for two years and of course it gradually grew worse until now the pains and bloating from gas day and night are almost unbearable until she can hardly take any food whatever without it causing extreme pains and smothering condition which makes every moment seem her last, the trouble seeming to be caused of course from indigestion and the suffering worse at point of gall bladder and caecum, her bowels clamping shut at caecum so that gas cannot pass through. Her bowels have gotten more painful and weak right along, as well as her whole body, and her bowels seem almost entirely worn out to enemas which have been used so steady for so long. She used the enema daily for a year up until January 1st 1926 when they could be used no more on account of the thinness and weakened condition of her bowels after which time she used the herb tea and castor oil and an occasional enema, until she used the enemas regular again since September. We realize that the enemas are the only proper way to keep the bowels open but when they wear out to these what other method would you advise [5714] to use? Would you advise MILKS EMULSION as a lubricant? Do you suppose she could take cod liver oil or cod liver oil in the emulsion form such as SCOTTS EMULSION? Since olive oil, junket, beef juice, Beef, Iron and Wine, or orange juice is not properly assimilated, and all causes her such distress and pain and since she is about 90 lbs. underweight, and since she has never been able to take more than about a quart of junket a day since your first reading last October and which seems to be causing more gas and trouble right along, she’s wondering if you would recommend the use of fruits and vegetables and an ordinary balanced diet. Everything seems to irritate her bowels badly and causes nauseation and extreme suffering from indigestion but she feels that she needs something to strengthen her bowels and foods that will act as a laxative when her bowels seem to become dead to enemas. How about using Rye bread, canned fruits, cereals, eggs, and the like besides fresh fruits and vegetables? and we certainly like to have your idea about Lacto-Dextrin. She has complained about her mouth and throat being so parched for a drink of cool water, and especially since her lungs have given her more trouble since December and her fever raging around a hundred (96 to 102) and then 96+ at other times. She is very desirous in using the elm but since this does not seem to assimilate, and the saffron causing so much trouble when she tried using it, she’s wondering if you would advise using water, or whether you could give any more light about using the saffron and elm.

As we stated before we were unable to obtain the whiskey and we are wondering whether you would recommend the use of the real fermented grape wine for her and in what quantity. However, so far we have been unable to secure this also.

We are enclosing herewith a check for $20 and hope to be able to send more soon.

Trusting to hear from you by return mail with a second reading, answering all questions possible in our letter written you in January as well as this letter which will give us more light an prove beneficial in [5714]‘s condition.

I remain, Yours Truly, […]

P.S. This is the first letter I’ve attempted to write practically alone, and [5714] says you throw up your hands and scream before you get half through at this 21 page letter, which should have been written in five, but I hope you’ll be able to understand it enough for us to get an answer through the reading that will help us greatly, even though I couldn’t explain things just as they are and come to point that wanted you to see in a few words.

R10. 4/12/27 See 5714-2.

Background

Background

B1. 9/7/26, 9/14/26 and 9/20/26 Letters from friend, Miss [295] indicated Mrs. [5714] was dying of an intestinal trouble, living on goat’s milk [via a bottle] and nothing else for a long time; a mere skeleton; her husband is a T.B. patient and now they think she has it, too.

B2. 9/25/26 Brother wrote requesting a Physical Rdg. for her; he was acting as her nurse, a full time job:

“She is suffering from chronic indigestion, gall bladder disease (catarrhal inflammation of gall ducts), mucous colitis, neuritis, and since last April T.B. of the bowels, with ulcers in lower right bowel, lungs also infected, pleurisy in right lung. Menstruation ceased last Jan. Lining eaten out of stomach and bowels, and the thin and weak condition of her bowels have not permitted her to use enemas very frequently since January, and they are now almost dead to tea as a cathartic, and since June she has been using Castor Oil every 5 to 7 days.

“She is 75 pounds underweight, and she has been using goat milk since the last part of June and at present is taking from 4 to 6 cups a day, but has great difficulty in handling that on account of her extreme gas condition which has prevailed all during her illness and which is her greatest drawback.”

Mentioned Entities

Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Massage Therapy, Beef Juice, Virginia Beach, Glands (Esoteric), Gladys Davis, Cod Liver Oil, Gertrude Cayce, Healing, Osteopathy, Book of Job, Purpose

Source: The Complete Edgar Cayce Readings, A.R.E. CD-ROM (2006). Reading 5714-1, ReadingID 14166.