The Story of our Health Message

An Interesting Report

It is gratifying also to note that by this time there was among the medical profession generally a perceptible change in their attitude toward the use of hydrotherapy in the treatment of disease. In a report of a meeting of the New York Academy of Sciences, Dr. Kellogg, who was present, said that “the learned president of the society, Dr. Austin Flint, read a paper on the ‘Researches of Currie, and Recent Views Concerning the Medical Use of Cold Water.’” The lecture room was well filled with an interested audience of doctors. After describing certain features of the modern history of hydropathy, Dr. Flint “related some very interesting cases in which water was employed as the chief remedy with the most excellent success.” Ibid., February, 1875. SHM 206.4

Dr. Flint was followed by “the venerable Dr. Richards,” who related “his experience in the use of water in treating disease.” He spoke of using hydrotherapy during an epidemic of typhoid fever with “such remarkable success as to astonish old practitioners.” Another, a Dr. Doyle, “gave an interesting resume of ten years’ experience in the use of water, with uniform success.” SHM 207.1

In concluding his report of this meeting, Dr. Kellogg said: “The sentiment of the audience, which was wholly composed of medical gentlemen, was shown by the hearty applause with which the remarks of each speaker were received. We did not fail to do our part in the cheering, and would warmly commend the good sense, honesty, and evident desire for truth, which led these eminent gentlemen to make so frank an avowal of a truth which, as hygienists, we all entertain.”—Ibid. SHM 207.2

The trend among regular physicians to recognize the value of the rational treatment of disease made possible a much more amicable relation between them and the physicians at the Health Reform Institute. SHM 207.3

After having spent three years in New York, Dr. Kellogg was graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical School in 1875. A prospectus of this institution shows that at that time it was possible for future medical students to take a portion of their education from any well-qualified physician. We find that in harmony with this provision Dr. Kellogg, on his return to Battle Creek, proceeded without delay to conduct classes with other young men as a preparatory part of their medical course, which might be completed at regular institutions. We have a glimpse of the method in which the classwork was conducted, in a letter to W. C. White, under date of May 9, 1875, where E. J. Waggoner reports taking chemistry and anatomy with J. H. Kellogg as tutor, and says: SHM 207.4

“We meet every Saturday evening to recite. We usually ‘spin out’ until nearly twelve o’clock, but last night it was about one, and John made us stay all night, so we did not get away until five A.M. He thinks we are doing well.” SHM 208.1