This book contains Julius A. Dresser's summary of mental science and the ability to heal the sick with mental and spiritual power. As the son of Horatio Dresser - an acquaintance and adherent of Phineas Quimby, the founder of the New Thought movement - Julius felt obliged to carry on his father's legacy by explaining the beliefs he held. Citing both ancient philosophy and religion, Julius begins by saying knowledge of mental healing is neither new nor novel: rather, it has practiced through history. Referring repeatedly to Christianity and Jesus Christ as an example of mental healing in action, Dresser aims to illustrate how P. P. Quimby rediscovered it. His experiences with tuberculosis, where conventional medicine in the form of camomile did more harm than good, are detailed. Quimby would later go on to assert that exciting, uplifting experiences such as riding a horse did far more for his tuberculosis than any other method.