1887年9月写自密歇根州巴特尔克里克疗养院
我收到了各州的来信，问我投资建造疗养院是否智慧，在那里病人可以得到治疗，在那里能发挥一种正确的影响，向患病的心灵指出耶稣，祂是心灵和身体的大医师。这不是一个能用意大利时尚式迅速简单的“是”或“不是”来回答的问题。这个问题有许多方面。{PC 20.2}
我收到了来自俄亥俄州的信。他们在那里建了一个健康机构。我们在俄亥俄州的一些传道人和领袖在建这个机构时起到了显著作用，而今他们发现没有一个人能经营这一机构。我得知有一些有钱人，他们愿意投资数千美元在这个机构却不能被说服投资于我们国内或国外的布道所。我刚从欧洲回来，在那里我曾见到各地的园地敞开在我们面前。人们的心在被软化，在渴望真理。从各国不断有呼吁传来，要求书籍和传道人。能做的一切都做了，但库中空虚，而且缺乏有资格的人，这样的人有经验去做一番善工，以智慧介绍在耶稣里的真理。我参加了我们的帐篷大会，设法将情况摆在我们的人面前，此外，还给好几个人写了信要资金，借出或捐献都行。这些人中有一个回复说他的钱投在俄亥俄州的疗养院了，他不能再做什么了。我们寄了大约十封信，只有一个人响应。爱荷华州芒特普莱森特的斯莫斯弟兄寄来一百美元。{PC 20.3}
建造健康机构这事本身是很好的，只要这事已经过适当考虑，已经虔诚周到地调查过这个问题，创办机构的是眼光敏锐、办事仔细、常常祷告的管理人员，经充分计算成本，才开始建造，知道自己能不能完成所开始的工作。{PC 20.4}
俄亥俄州的弟兄们有没有无私地指望上帝赐予亮光和智慧，以便作聪明的管家，知道如何将主的钱投入到建立祂的圣工和推进祂的国度上呢?他们已经确定自己手中的是主的钱了吗?还是随从了自己的爱好，没有变卖和周济人呢?简言之，就是没有投资在向各族、各方、各民讲解圣经的最重要工作上，而是投资在他们有把握获得尊荣或回报的地方。审判会揭露事情的真相。每一个人的行为都要受主的测试和检验。{PC 20.5}
要是能在一些地方建设小型机构，并有谨慎的男女管理这些机构，我们就要说：建设吧，只要这么做不会以任何方式削弱圣工，使之缺乏资金，不能按照基督赐给门徒的使命派传道士到外国去。门徒们应当从耶路撒冷开始，到各族、各方、各民去，祂赐给他们的应许是：“我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了”(太28:20)。{PC 21.1}
我发现获得资金投入到健康机构不是件容易的事。然而已经证明更困难的是找到有资格管理这种机构的人。从事这项工作需要完全匀称的品格，而不需要虽有优点但在其它方却软弱得像孩子的人。有许多医师拿到文凭以后就自满起来，不作学生了，以为有用的知识他都懂了，他们不懂的都是无用的知识。这种医师很容易获得，却不是我们所需要的。医师开业以后，他越有真正的实际经验，就越感觉到自己缺乏知识。如果他自满起来，就会阅读那些讲论疾病和如何无需大自然帮助就能治病的文章。他就会抓住其中的一些话，不经过认真学习、深入研究和精挑细选就结合到自己的行医中去。他将成为机械性的医师。因为他知识的缺乏，就在人身上试验，造成不少的牺牲品。这是真正的谋杀。他这样做不是出于恶意计划，也不是故意谋杀，乃是出于他的无知，他的知识浅薄，他并没有实践经验可以安全地把人的生命委托给他，所以人的性命就牺牲掉了。当一名医师，要充分学习自己的业务知识，要仔细、深入、认真用心地学习。凡受过充分教育的医师在自己的主张上会十分谦虚。他决不会冒险拿人的性命来试验，唯恐犯了谋杀罪，在天上的册子中把这笔账记在他名下。谨慎而称职的医师几乎从不用药，决不会夸口说大剂量有毒性的药物比少量谨慎服用效果要好得多。确实，药物若不治好人就会治死人;但药物从未治好人。它们虽然改变了困难的次序，却从未治愈它们，从未消除病因。{PC 21.2}
我们深感遗憾，现在并没有很多机构根据卫生原则工作。这些机构不能都建成大型的，投入大量资金。但问题是：他们是会坚持卫生原则呢?还是会使用比较容易的用药方法，以取代不用药物的疗法呢?要是有大量资金和大量有资格管理卫生机构的人，在我们的世界各地就可以有许多卫生机构。聘请的医生不仅有书本知识，而且有实际经验，了解疾病及其原因，会感到必要性，一进入负责岗位，就开始担负必需担负的责任，以便从事极其认真彻底的工作。他们若是与上帝没有密切的联络，就会变得粗心大意，喜欢冒险。医师的首要任务应是教导患病受苦的人怎样做才能预防疾病。我们告诉一切所接触的人预防疾病和痛苦，防止体格衰弱以及夭折的最好办法，就能成就最大的善工。可是那些不肯进行身体和智力方面锻炼的人，却很乐意接受药物治疗。药物治疗给机体留下的祸害，要远远超过它声称所带来的疗效。{PC 21.3}
一个医师，如果具有道德的勇气，甘心冒着丧失名誉的危险，用清楚的事实启发人的思想，说明疾病的性质、防病的方法以及使用药物的危险性，那他是在从事一任艰巨的工作，可是这对他自己和别人却有好处。他不会使用强效药，因为他已从研究书本获得了知识。如果他是一位改革者，就会直言无隐地揭露在饮食、穿着和工作过度以便在给定时间完成大量工作上的不正当的欲念和毁灭性的自我放纵。这种放纵会对人的性情、体力和智力产生毁灭性的影响。知识是需要的。人们往往寄希望于用药物恢复健康，可怜的病人被奎宁、吗啡或某种摧毁健康和生命的烈性药彻底麻醉了，以致自然机能可能永远不会发出充分的抗议，而是放弃了挣扎;病人却可能继续自己的错误习惯，却希望不受惩罚。如果人们聪明而坚持不懈地实行正确的习惯，就能消除病因，不需要用烈性的药物。许多人步步蹈入本性的放纵行为，结果产生了极为反常的症状。{PC 22.1}
茶叶、咖啡、麻醉品、鸦片和烟草的作用给人带来了各种各样的疾病。这些有害的嗜好不应只放弃一个，而应全部放弃，因为它们都是有害的，会摧残人的体力、智力和道德力，从健康的角度讲应予以杜绝。一般人食用死畜的肉也会对身体和精神产生有害的影响。各种病疾，如果追究其原因，往往由肉食造成。不用肉食，加上以精心烹饪的健康食品代替肉食，会有助于许多患者恢复健康，不需用药。可是如果医生鼓励他的病人吃肉，那他就非用药物不可。肌体需要帮助把事情恢复到适当的状况，这种帮助可能来自最简单的疗法，特别是大自然自己所提供的方法——纯洁的空气，以及如何正确呼吸的宝贵知识;清洁的水，以及如何用水的知识;尽量让充足的阳光照在每一个房间里，以及利用阳光能带来什么好处的知识。所有这一切都有良好的效果。凡获得了有关如何合乎健康地饮食和着衣的人，可以过着有安慰、平安和健康的生活，不会被人劝说去服用那些非但不会帮助自然，反而会破坏自然能力的药物，如果患病受苦的人根据自己所学到的知识，坚持不懈地全力实行健康改革的原则，他们十有八九会恢复身体健康。{PC 22.2}
要教育软弱受苦的人必须令上加令，例上加例，这里一点，那里一点，直到他们尊重并且顺从上帝所制订管理人身体的律例为止。那些得罪真光和知识，在使用药物的事上依赖医师技术的人，会不断地失去他们的生命力。药物服用得越少，就越有利于恢复健康。药物非但不能帮助肌体，反而会不断破坏肌体的工作。病人的保健机构乃是最佳的场所，可以教导受苦的人在生活上遵循自然的律法，停止在饮食衣着方面有害健康的错误习惯，因为这些习惯迎合世界的风俗习惯，完全不符合上帝的旨意。他们所做的是开导世人的善工。{PC 22.3}
药物的作用会削弱和摧毁生命的活力，自然机能对此显得无能为力，结果病人死了，倒不是因为他非死不可，而是因为自然机能遭到了伤害。如果不去干扰自然，她就会尽自己的努力去挽救生命和健康。自然机能不需要许多人自称给她的所谓帮助。如果把担子从她身上拿走，不去随从时下风习，你就会看到在许多情况下自然机能会自己进行恢复工作。药物的使用不利于也不符合生命和健康的定律，使用药物是给了自然两付担子，而不是一付，她有了两个困难要克服，而不只是一个。在医疗疾病这方面，现在连医生和改革者，也十分需要下更大的苦功来亲自推进和提高这项工作，并向那些求助于他们医术的人认真讲清他们的病因。他们应当以特殊的方法唤起病人注意上帝所制定的律法，告诉他们违犯律法一定会受到惩罚。他们一般都在考虑病情方面，却没有让病人注意到健康的定律。为了防止疾病，必须恭敬而聪明地遵守这些定律。特別是医生若未曾改正自己的饮食习惯，他自己的食欲若未曾加以约束，而以清淡及有益健康之饮食为限，大量戒除食用已死牲畜之肉——他爱吃肉，教育及培养对不健康食物的口味及食欲，他的思想是狭隘的，他很快就会在应当给病人教授健康改革的纯正原理之时，反而教育及培养他们的口味及食欲，爱吃他所爱吃的食物。他会让病人吃肉。这是一种最坏的食物，只会给人以刺激，并不能给人力量。他们没有查究病人以前的饮食习惯，及特别注意那多年来奠下疾病基础的各种错误习惯。有责任感的医生们，应当好好预备，来教导那些蒙昧无知的病人，也应当聪明谨慎地开处方。要禁止那些他们明知是不良的食物。他们应当坦率地说明他们认为对于健康律法有害的食物，而让病苦的人们，自己谨慎地实行自己能做的事，使自己与生命及健康的定律有正常的关系。当他们根据蒙了启迪的良心指示，尽力实行自己所知道的事来保持身体的健康时，他们就可能凭着信心仰望那一位大医师，祂是人身体和心灵的医师。我们是健康改革者。医师们应当有智慧和经验，成为完全的健康改革者，这样，他们就能言传身教教导病人不用药物。因为他们深知，使用药物可能产生暂时的效果，可是它对身体所带来的影响，可能在以后会造成更大的麻烦，也许一辈子也难以恢复过来。应当有机会让大自然发挥作用。要除去障碍，给她机会运用医治的能力。如果把对她的一切凌辱全都除去，给她一个公平的机会，她一定会起作用。{PC 23.1}
应当教育病人信任上帝所赐自然界大福气的信心。最有效的治疗方法就是清洁的软水，让上帝所赐的美好阳光进入病人的房间，尽可能多的在户外活动，做有益健康的锻炼，食用最合乎健康的方法制作的饮食。采取药物疗程给自然机能加上了极其残忍可怕的负担，可能使他们永远无法复原。有许多人受着慢性病的痛苦。他们会吞下不信主的医生所开的任何药物，何时使他们聪明地认识到他们正在放纵的不自然的食欲乃是他们患病的原因，他们若是基督徒，就会置身于健康改良者的立场。他们就会改变必然导致这种结果的病因。{PC 24.1}
在我们世界上有许许多多的人中了烟草的毒，他们因吸烟而给自己带来了痛苦折磨，可是被请来治疗他们的医生却不指出烟草的害处。这些世俗的医生并不指教病人要放弃这些有毒物品，以便恢复健康;因为这些医生中许多人自己就吸食这些毒物。他们又怎么能言行一致地开导沉湎于烟草这种有毒的麻醉品之人的悟性呢?医师只要不是新手，都能追究到真正的病因。可是他不敢制止别人使用，因为他自己就有烟瘾。有些人会以一种吞吞吐吐，猜疑不定的口气劝抽烟者少吸用这些麻醉品;可是他们没有对患者说：这种习惯正在摧毁你的生命。他们开药治病，结果导致放纵反常的食欲，为了解除一种弊病，竟产生了两种弊病。{PC 24.2}
成千的人需要耐心、仁慈、温柔而坚决地开导。他们的病症十有八九是他们自己的行为所造成的。他们越多将药物引进身体系统，就越肯定地干犯自然律，导致他们想用药物避免的麻烦。要让凡打算建立一个机构的人都仔细考虑他们是要使它成为一个根据健康改良原则管理的机构，还是打算效法我国各地流行的机构。如果一个健康机构根据健康改良的原则来管理，就会需要大量的信心，大量的忍耐，大量的毅力，大量的道德力来管理它，是他们几乎做梦也没有想到的，以便使这样的机构取得成功，获得效益。管理者们要有骨气，也要有上好的教育技能。在这种机构中每天都需要有讲座，讲解关于人们的风俗习惯、疾病及其原因的一些要点，以及预防疾病要采取的惟一正确的方针。我们健康机构的管理人员和工作人员都应该具备最佳的能力，应该有充分的基督徒谦恭，应该实践普遍的基督徒礼貌，应该温柔、慈悲、彬彬有礼。这是绝对必要的，以便在病人心中留下良好的印象。在设法教育他们远离世界的风俗习惯时，许多人会高兴受启迪，许多固执于自己时尚的、摧毁健康的嗜好的人却会被得罪，使那些想让他们受益的人很不愉快。一些人没有道德的勇气以敬畏上帝的心坚持正义。在明知生命和道德健康定律的人中，竟然也有人经常自私地放纵有害于心灵和身体的事。他们的饮食没有节制，一次吃得太多，在烹饪的时候加了许多不利于健康的成分，在胃里发起酵来造成很大的痛苦。可是这些人继续他们的放纵，就为许多的疾病埋下了祸根。如果这些人肯自制，养成自己只吃受了虐待的肠胃能够而且愿意吸收的东西，他们就能节省大笔医药费，避免许多苦楚。{PC 24.3}
有许多人花钱买那不足为食物的——茶、咖啡和大量肉食。这些东西都必然导致痛苦折磨。许多动物在血液处在高热状态、显然因狂躁而沸腾时被宰杀了。吃了这些肉的人便患上炎症和败血症。一些人患有痛苦的肌痉挛，一些人则患上严重的内脏疾病。医师的责任就是用这些知识教育无知的人。要有培训学校训练护士，使他们知道肉食的危险，以及运用技艺精心调制代替肉食的食品的重要性。这种教育最会获得益处。要运用智慧，不要一下子让吃惯肉食的人停止吃肉，而当教育他们看出使用健康食物的重要性。{PC 25.1}
我们在仔细调查场地，看看能不能完成想要从事的工作之前，切不可贸然建立机构。如今存在轻率行动，未经上天许可，建造大楼，占用上帝大量资金的危险;而圣工的其它部门正需要钱以维持为贫穷所困的布道所直接从事救灵工作。投在那项重要工作上的资金可能不会给投资的人带来最大的尊荣或悦耳的赞美，但在天上的记录中，却将每一美元都记在他们的账上，作为积攒起来的财宝，在基督来的时候他们就会拥有。谁也不要自以为建造和管理一个基于健康改良原则的机构是一件容易的工作。经营一个要治疗各类病人的机构不是一件容易的事。每一个这样的机构都应该有圣工中最佳才干的管理人员和工作人员。他们还要有一所培训学校，接受充分的训练和装备，以致能派遣代表到世界各地去将他们的知识传授给无知的人和非常需要的人。应当维持这种训练，直到男男女女预备好作为教育者从事最佳的工作，同时一直作学习者，以便担任上帝的管家，拥有智慧和亮光，将之传授给他们在任何工作部门中所接触的人。{PC 25.2}
在我们所有的机构中，许多人缺乏知识，他们要是充分利用了上帝赐给他们的机会和特权，原能有资格做好得多的工作。这些人会夸耀自己的知识，其实应该了解的知识他们并不了解。他们若是有自知之明，就会意识到自己的无能。他们就不会设法一步登天，而会藉着不懈的努力一级一级攀到这个高度。吹嘘比实行容易得多。在这些机构中，我们有一个非常费解的问题，就是如何使管理人员和工作人员处在和谐一致的工作状态。为病人建立机构需要最好的材料。我们有过最初在巴特尔克里克建立疗养院和在圣赫勒那建立机构的经验，我们觉得有必要说，花了许多光阴，经历大量困惑，耗费了相当多的资金，才使这些机构处在正常运转状态。给出了劝勉和痛苦的责备，发出了极其恳切的劝勉和呼吁。一些工人因没有效率而被解聘了，其他人取代了他们。一步一步地在各处取得了一点进步。关于防止男女之间放浪的行为和不适当的亲密，已经说了很多。这是必须关注、责备和不断提防的。受到指责的人会生气，非但不改正，反而设法报复机构中忠心的工人。我自己因着难以形容的重担而心情沉重，因为我怀着敬畏上帝的心努力尽我对各方和对机构的本分。{PC 26.1}
Sanitarium Battle Creek, Mich.Sept. 1887
I have received letters from different states asking me to answer their inquiries in regard to the wisdom of investing means in building sanitariums, where the sick may be treated, and where there could be a right influence exerted, to point sick souls to Jesus, who is the great Physician of the soul as well as of the body. This is a question that cannot be answered in quick, Italian fashion with “Yes” or “No.” There are many sides to the question.?{PC 20.2}
Letters have come to me from Ohio. They have erected a health institution there. Some of our ministers and leading men in Ohio have acted a prominent part in the building of this institution, and now they find that they have no one that is able to run such an institution. There was monied men, I have been told, who would put thousands into this institution, but could not be induced to invest means in our home or foreign missions. I came fresh from Europe, where I had seen fields open before us on every side. Hearts were being softened, and were longing for the truth. Calls were constantly coming from all countries for books and for preachers. All was done that could be done, but there was an empty treasury, and a want of qualified men who had experience to do a good work in wisdom, presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. I attended camp-meetings. I tried to set the condition of things before the people, and besides that, wrote to several for means, either to loan or to donate. One of these returned answer that his means were invested in the Sanitarium in Ohio, and he could do nothing. Of some ten letters that we sent, only one was responded to. Brother Smouse, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, sent one hundred dollars.?{PC 20.3}
The building of health institutions is in itself well enough, if the matter has been duly considered, if there has been prayerful, thoughtful investigation of the subject, and if those who enter upon the enterprise are discerning, careful, prayerful managers, and they begin to build, fully counting the cost, so they know whether they are able to finish that which they enter upon, or not.?{PC 20.4}
Have these brethren in Ohio unselfishly looked to God for light and wisdom how to invest as wise stewards the Lord’s money for the upbuilding of His cause and the advancement of His kingdom? Have they decided that the Lord’s means was in their hands? Or have they followed their own inclination, and in the place of selling and giving alms, or, in short, investing in the very work that is most essential to open the Word of God to all nations, tongues, and peoples, have they invested their means where they will be sure to get either honor or returns? The judgment will reveal the matter as it is. Every man’s work will be tested and proved by the Lord.?{PC 20.5} If small institutions can be built in some localities, and there are discreet men and women to conduct these institutions, then we will say, Let them be built, if in so doing the cause is not in any way crippled for means to send missionaries to foreign countries, according to the commission Christ gave His disciples. They were to go to all nations, tongues, and peoples, beginning at Jerusalem, and He gave them promise: “Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.”?{PC 21.1}
I have found it no easy matter to secure means to invest in health institutions. But it has proved a still more difficult matter to secure persons who were qualified to conduct such institutions. It requires thoroughly balanced characters to do this work, not men who have some strong traits of character, but who are weak as children in other points. Plenty of physicians can be obtained who ceased to be students when they received their diplomas, who are self-inflated, who feel that they know all that is worth knowing, and what they do not know is not worth knowing. But this class are not the ones we want. When a physician enters upon his work as a practitioner, the more genuine, practical experience he has, the more fully will he feel his want of knowledge. If self-sufficient, he will read articles written in regard to disease and how to treat them without nature’s aid; he will grasp statements and weave them into his practice, and without deep research, without earnest study, without sifting every statement, he will merely become a mechanical worker. Because he knows so little, he will be ready to experiment upon human lives, and sacrifice not a few. This is murder, actual murder. He did not do this work with evil design, he had no malicious purposes; but life was sacrificed on account of his ignorance, because he was a superficial student, because he had not had that practice that would make him a safe man to be entrusted with human lives. It requires care-taking, deep, earnest taxation of the mind to carry the burden a physician should carry in learning his trade thoroughly. Every physician who has received a thorough education will be modest in his claims. It will not do for him to run any risk upon experimenting on human life, lest he be guilty of murder, and this be written against him in the books of heaven. There should be a careful, competent physician who will deal scarcely ever in drugs, and who will not boast that powerful poisons are far more effective than a smaller quantity carefully taken, It is true, it kills, if it does not cure; but drugs never cure. They change the order of difficulties, but never heal them, never remove the cause.?{PC 21.2}
We have deeply regretted that there were not a large number of institutions working from the hygienic principles that are now in existence. All these cannot be prepared upon a large scale, involving large expense; but the question is, will they preserve the principles of hygiene, or will they use the easier method of using drugs, to take the place of treating diseases without resorting to drug medications? There could be many hygienic institutions in all parts of our world, if there were plenty of means and plenty of persons who had the qualifications to manage such institutions. The physicians who shall be employed should not only have a book knowledge, but a practical experience to understand disease and its causes, and will feel the necessity, as soon as they are brought into positions of trust, to commence the work of carrying the burden necessary for them to bear, in order to do the most careful, thorough work. They will, if they are not closely connected with God, become careless and venturesome. The first labors of a physician should be to educate the sick and suffering the very course they should?pursue to prevent disease. The greatest good can be done by our trying to enlighten the minds of all we can obtain access to, as to the best course for them to pursue to prevent sickness and suffering, and broken constitutions, and premature death; but those who do not care to undertake work that taxes their physical and mental powers will be ready to prescribe drug medication, which lays a foundation in the human organism for a two-fold greater evil than that which they claim to have relieved.?{PC 21.3}
A physician who has the moral courage to peril (imperil) his reputation in enlightening the understanding by plain facts, in showing the nature of disease and how to prevent it, and the dangerous practice of resorting to drugs, will have an up-hill business, but he will live and let live. He will not use his powerful drug medication, because of the knowledge he has acquired by studying books. He will, if a reformer, talk plainly in regard to the false appetites and ruinous self-indulgence, in dressing, in eating and drinking, in overtaxing to do a large amount of work in a given time, which has a ruinous influence upon the temper, the physical and mental powers. Knowledge is what is needed. Drugs are too often promised to restore health, and the poor sick are so thoroughly drugged with quinine, morphine, or some strong health-and life-destroying (word illegible), that nature may never make sufficient protest, but give up the struggle; and they may continue their wrong habits with hopeful impunity. Right and correct habits, intelligently and perseveringly practiced will be removing the cause of disease, and the strong drugs need not be resorted to. Many go on from step to step with their natural indulgences, which is bringing in just as unnatural condition of things as possible.?{PC 22.1}
Diseases of every stripe and type have been brought upon human beings by the use of tea and coffee and the narcotics, opium and tobacco. These hurtful indulgences must be given up, not only one, but all; for all are hurtful, and ruinous to the physical, mental, and moral powers, and should be discontinued from a health standpoint. The common use of the flesh of dead animals has had a deteriorating influence upon the morals, as well as the physical constitution. Ill-health in a variety of forms, if effect could be traced to the cause, would reveal the sure result of flesh eating. The disuse of meats, with healthful dishes nicely prepared to take the place of flesh meats, would place a large number of the sick and suffering ones in a fair way of recovering their health, without the use of drugs. But if the physicians encourage a meat-eating diet to his invalid patients, then he will make a necessity for the use of drugs. Nature will want some assistance to bring things to their proper condition, which may be found in the simplest remedies, especially in the use of nature’s own furnished remedies,—pure air, and with a precious knowledge of how to breathe; pure water, with a knowledge of how to apply it; plenty of sunlight in every room, if possible, in the house, and with an intelligent knowledge of what advantages are to be gained by its use. All these are powerful in their efficiency, and the patient who has obtained a knowledge of how to eat and dress healthfully, may live for comfort, for peace, for health; and will not be prevailed upon to put to his lips drugs, which, in the place of helping nature, paralyzes her powers. If the sick and suffering will do only as well as they know in regard to living out the principles of health reform perseveringly, they will, in nine cases out of ten, recover from their ailments.?{PC 22.2}
The feeble and suffering ones must be educated line upon line, precept?upon precept, here a little, and there a little, until they will have respect for, and live in obedience to, the law that God has made to control the human organism. Those who sin against knowledge and light, and resort to the skill of a physician in administering drugs, will be constantly losing their hold on life. The less there is of drug-dosing, the more favorable will be their recovery to health. Drugs, in the place of helping nature, are constantly paralyzing her efforts. The health institutions for the sick will be the best places to educate the suffering ones to live in accordance with nature’s laws and cease their health-destroying practices in wrong habits in diet, in dress, that are in accordance with the world’s habits and customs, which are not at all after God’s order, they are doing a good work to enlighten our world.?{PC 22.3}
Drugs always have a tendency to break down and destroy vital forces, and nature becomes so crippled in her efforts, that the invalid dies, not because he needed to die, but because nature was outraged. If she had been left alone, she would have put forth her highest efforts to save life and health. Nature wants none of such help as so many claim that they have given her. Lift off the burdens placed upon her, after the customs of the fashion of this age, and you will see in many cases nature will right herself. The use of drugs is not favorable or natural to the laws of life and health. The drug medication gives nature two burdens to bear, in the place of one. She has two serious difficulties to overcome, in the place of one. There is now positive need even with physicians, reformers in the line of treatment of disease, that greater painstaking effort be made to carry forward and upward the work for themselves, and to interestedly instruct those who look to them for medical skill to ascertain the cause of their infirmities. They should call their attention in a special manner to the laws which God has established, which can not be violated with impunity. They dwell much on the working of disease, but do not, as a general rule, arouse the attention to the laws which must be sacredly and intelligently obeyed in such to prevent disease. Especially if the physician has not been correct in his dietetic practices, if his own appetite has not been restricted to a plain, wholesome diet, in a large measure discarding the use of the flesh of dead animals,—he loves meat, he has educated and cultivated a taste for unhealthful food. His ideas are narrow, and he will as soon educate and discipline the taste and appetite of his patients to love the things that he loves, as to give them the sound principles of health reform. He will prescribe for sick patients, flesh-meats, when it is the very worst diet that they can have; it stimulates, but does not give strength. They do not inquire into their former habits of eating and drinking, and take special notice of their erroneous habits which have been for many years laying the foundation of disease. Conscientious physicians should be prepared to enlighten those who are ignorant, and should with wisdom make out their prescriptions, prohibiting those things in their diet which he knows to be erroneous. He should plainly state the things which he regards as detrimental to the laws of health, and leave these suffering ones to work conscientiously to do those things for themselves which they can do, and thus place themselves in the right relation to the laws of life and health. When from an enlightened conscience they do the very best they know how to do, to preserve themselves in health, then in faith they may look to the great Physician, who is a healer of the body as well as of the soul. We are?health reformers. Physicians should have wisdom and experience, and be thorough health reformers. Then they will be constantly educating by precept and example their patients from drugs. For they well know that the use of drugs may produce for the time being favorable results, but which will implant in the system that which will cause great difficulties hereafter, which they may never recover from during their lifetime. Nature must have a chance to do her work. Obstructions must be removed, and opportunity given her to exert her healing forces, which she will surely do, if every abuse is removed from her, and she has a fair chance.?{PC 23.1}
The sick should be educated to have confidence in nature’s great blessings which God has provided, and the most effective remedies for disease are pure soft water; the blessed god-given sunshine coming into the rooms of the invalids; living outdoors as much as possible; having healthful exercise; eating and drinking in foods that are prepared in the most healthful manner. To resort to the drugging process lays upon nature a most fearful, merciless burden from which they may never recover. There are many laboring under chronic diseases. They will swallow anything in the line of drugs prescribed by the unbelieving physician, when an intelligent knowledge that they are indulging in unnatural appetites which explains to them the cause of their suffering, if Christians, they would place themselves in a position as health reformers. They would change the cause which produces this sure result.?{PC 24.1}
There are many, many afflicted in our world with tobacco poison, but the physicians who are summoned to treat their patients under painful afflictions brought upon them by tobacco using,—are not instructed by these worldly physicians to let the poisons alone, in order that they may recover health; for many of these physicians use these poisons themselves. How can they, then, consistently enlighten the understanding of those who indulge in the poisonous narcotic, tobacco? The physician, if he is not a novice, can trace the effects back to the true cause, but he dares not forbid its use, because he indulges in it himself. Some will in an undecided, halfway manner advise the tobacco users to take less of this narcotic; but he does not say to them, This habit is killing you. They prescribe drugs to cure a disease which is the result of indulging unnatural appetites, and two evils are produced in the place of removing one.?{PC 24.2}
Thousands need to be educated patiently, kindly, tenderly, but decidedly, that nine-tenths of their complaints are created by their own course of action. The more they introduce drugs into the system, the more certainly do they interfere with the laws of nature and bring about the very difficulties they drug themselves to avoid. Let everyone who contemplates erecting an institution, carefully consider whether they are to make it an institution conducted upon the principles of health reform, or whether they design to copy the popular institutions all through our land. If an institution for health is conducted upon the principles of health reform, it will require for its management a large amount of faith, large amount of patience, a large amount of perseverance, a large amount of moral power, such as they have scarcely dreamed of, to make such an institution a success and to pay its own way. The managers will require moral backbone, as well as superior educated skill. Lectures need to be given in such an institution every day upon some points connected with the custom and habits of the people, of disease and its causes, and the only true course to be taken to prevent disease. All connected with our health institutions as managers and helpers?should possess the very best ability, should have abundance of Christian courtesy, should practise universally Christian politeness, should be tender, pitiful, courteous. This is positively essential in order to leave the right impression upon the minds of sick people. While trying to educate them away from the habits and customs of the world, many will be glad to be enlightened, while many who are wedded to their own fashionable, health-destroying indulgences will be offended, and make it very unpleasant for those who wish to do them good; and some have not the moral courage to keep right on in the fear of the Lord. There is even among those who have intelligence in regard to the laws of life and health, a constant selfish indulgence in those things which are injurious to both soul and body. There is intemperance in eating, and in the many varieties of food taken at one meal. In the preparation of food, there are unhealthful mixtures which ferment in the stomach, and cause great distress. And yet these go on, continuing their indulgence, which lays the foundation for numerous difficulties. If these would have self-control, and educate their taste to eat only those things which the abused stomach can and will assimilate, they would save large expense in doctor bills, and avoid great sufferings.?{PC 24.3}
There are many who spend their money for that which is not bread—for tea, coffee, the large use of flesh meats. All of these produce their sure results in painful affliction. Many animals have been butchered, when their blood was in a high state of fever, apparently boiling with madness. Those who eat of these meats are subject to inflammation and blood-poisoning. Some have distressing spasms, some have great distress of the bowels. It is the work of the physician to educate those who are ignorant in regard to these things. There should be training-schools to educate nurses and prepare the minds to sense the danger and to see the importance of bringing in skill and tact in the preparation of foods which shall be substituted for the meat diet. This kind of education will pay in the end. Wisdom should be used not to remove meat all at once from those who have been in the habit of using it, but educate the mind to see the importance of the use of healthful foods.?{PC 25.1}
We must not go to work in building our institutions, until we shall carefully look the ground over and see whether we can complete that which we have in our mind to undertake. There is danger of making rash moves which will not bear the sanction of heaven, of erecting large buildings, and binding up a large amount of God’s means that is needed at the very time in other branches of the work in sustaining our poverty-stricken missions that are directly engaged in the salvation of souls. This means invested in this important work may not bring the greatest honor and flattering praise to the one who invests it; but in the heavenly records every dollar is placed to their account as treasures laid up that they will come into possession of when Christ shall come. Let none flatter themselves that it is an easy way to erect and conduct an institution upon health reform principles. It is not an easy matter to run an institution where the sick of all classes shall be treated. Every such institution should have as its managers and helpers the very best talents that the world can produce. Then they will have an educating school and be thoroughly disciplined and fitted, that representatives shall be sent out to any part of the world to impart their knowledge to those who are ignorant, and who greatly need it. This drill is to be kept up, until men and women are prepared to do the very best kind of work as educators, as well as all the time to be learning themselves, disciplining their powers to obtain increased knowledge, that they may as stewards of God have wisdom?and light, that they can impart, too, that they are connected with in any branch of the work.?{PC 25.2}
In all our institutions there are many who are deficient in knowledge, who might be fitted to do a much better work, if they made the best use of the opportunities and privileges which God has given them. These will boast of their knowledge, when they are very ignorant of the things which they ought to know. If they knew themselves better, they would have a sense of their inefficiency; they would grasp the higher rounds of the ladder, without climbing with painstaking efforts round after round to reach this elevation. It is much easier to boast than to execute. In these institutions we have it (illegible corrections) a most puzzling question how to keep managers and helpers in harmonious working order. The very best kind of material is needed for the upbuilding of institutions for the sick. We have had an experience from the first establishment of the institution in the city of Battle Creek, and in the institution at St. Helena, and we feel compelled to say that it has cost much time and great amount of perplexity, and quite an amount of money, to get these institutions in working order. There have been counsels and painful reproofs given, most earnest entreaties and appeals made; one set of workmen discharged because inefficient, and others have been placed in their place. Step by step a little has been gained here and there. There has been much said in order to keep out licentious practices and improper familiarity between men and women. This has to be met and reproved, and constantly guarded against, and the ones that are corrected become angry; in the place of reforming, they try to work their revenge upon the faithful workers in the institution. My own soul has been weighed down with burdens that are inexpressible, as I have tried in the fear of God to do my duty to all parties and to the institution. -?{PC 26.1}
1899年11月9日
搜索
