The Story of our Health Message

As a Means of Helping Others

That it might be the means of helping others, Elder White then printed the entire article from Dr. Jackson, as first published in the Yates County Chronicle. In an introductory statement he said: SHM 74.1

“Diphtheria is making dreadful ravages in our land. It is a much dreaded disease, because physicians so often fail to cure it. If it can be cured by the simple prescription of Dr. Jackson, found in the following article, it is important that the fact should be known.”—The Review and Herald, February 17, 1863. SHM 74.2

This experience seems to have led Elder White to take a greater interest in passing on from time to time to the readers of the Review and Herald, of which he was then editor, a few articles selected from other journals, giving some simple rules for the maintenance of health—such as proper dress, ventilation, diet, and rest. One such article from Dio Lewis, and three from W. W. Hall’s Journal of Health, may be found in the issues for January 20 and in three successive numbers: May 5, 12, and 19. SHM 74.3

An examination of the files of the Review and Herald indicates, however, that aside from material discouraging the use of tobacco, tea, and coffee, and these few quoted articles, the subject of health had little place in the periodical prior to the middle of 1863. SHM 74.4

At that time, as we shall now record, a sudden impetus was given to health education among Seventh-day Adventists. SHM 74.5