People believe that certain diseases are contagious, and that any one is liable to have them under certain circumstances. This mental state predisposes one to take that disease, when the circumstances appear that he believes cause such a result. If a man believed as sincerely that health is catching, when he was exposed to contact with healthy people, he would catch that state of feeling quite as surely, and with better effect.

If the people would only believe that good is more contagious than evil, how much less would be the clergy's labor to convert sinners. If only the Pulpit would encourage faith in Mind, as governing the receptivity of the body absolutely, and would teach man as David taught, "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday," the faith of mankind in contagious disease would become beautifully less; and in the same proportion would their faith increase in the power of God, Good, to ward off all evil, until the whole human race should become healthier, happier, and more Christian. A humane, hopeful, calm state of mind is a better preventive of contagion than a drug, or any possible hygienic method and the "perfect love," that "casteth out fear," is a certain defence against disease of every kind.