The Story of our Health Message

The Effects of Poisonous Drugs

An uncompromising stand was early taken against the use of the common poisonous drugs so freely prescribed at that time by nearly all physicians. In the third number of the series on “How to Live,” Mrs. White’s article gave instruction regarding the effects of the popular drugs. She related how in panoramic views typical cases were presented before her, and gave detailed description of the physical effects of the drugs that were administered by the physicians called for advice and treatment. In the first instance a man whose daughter was sick related to the physician the details of the illness and death of his wife, a son, and a daughter, to whom powerful drugs had been administered by attending physicians. The father made a pitiful appeal in behalf of his only remaining daughter. The attending physician left the sickroom without administering any medicine. SHM 108.2

In the place of a prescription for powerful drugs, a few simple rules calling for freedom from excitement, a cheerful atmosphere, simple diet, an abundance of pure, soft water to be used as a beverage, frequent bathing, light massage, adequate ventilation, and quiet, undisturbed rest were left with the father. SHM 108.3

“Follow my directions,” assured the physician, “and I trust in a few weeks to present her to you in a much better condition of health, if not fully restored.”—How to Live 3:55. SHM 109.1

A patient treated with nux vomica, another with calomel, and a third with opium were next viewed. The scenes were shifted from one case to another, each time revealing the tragic progressive action of the drug taken; and in contrast was shown the steady improvement of the first case, which was treated rationally with no drugs. In the third scene the daughter was seated by the side of her father, with the glow of health upon her countenance, and the doctor said: SHM 109.2

“I present to you your daughter restored to health. I gave her no medicine that I might leave her with an unbroken constitution. Medicine never could have accomplished this. Medicine deranges nature’s fine machinery and breaks down the constitution and kills, but never cures. Nature alone possesses the restorative powers.”—Ibid., 3:57. SHM 109.3

In each issue of the series of pamphlets “How to Live,” Mrs. White’s article on a certain phase of the health reform was buttressed by writings from the pen of other writers on the subject—physicians and reformers. In the second article Mrs. White dealt with the subject of the home, the relations of husband and wife, and proper care of infants and children. It was in this connection that she first counseled against sending the child to school too early. She urged that “during the first six or seven years of a child’s life special attention should be given to its physical training, rather than the intellect. After this period, if the physical constitution is good, the education of both should receive attention. Infancy extends to the age of six or seven years. Up to this period children should be left like little lambs, to roam around the house, and in the yards, in the buoyancy of their spirits, skipping and jumping, free from care and trouble.”—Ibid., 2:44. SHM 109.4