The Story of our Health Message

The Whites at Dansville

Elder and Mrs. White and Elder Loughborough remained at Dansville for about three months. While there as patients they had a better opportunity than before to make observations regarding the efficacy of the treatments given, and to learn more of the principles of the institution. They found much to commend, yet some of the principles that were advocated there they regarded as contrary to the teachings of Christ. In fact, medical advice was given there that might well have proved fatal in the case of Elder White. In a manuscript giving many details of the affliction of her husband, Mrs. White wrote regarding the sojourn at Our Home: SHM 135.2

“We did not feel that the three months passed at this institution was in vain. We did not receive all the ideas and sentiments and suggestions advanced, but we did gather many things of value from those who had obtained an experience in health reform. We did not feel that there was any necessity of gathering the chaff with the wheat.”—E. G. White Manuscript 1, 1867. SHM 135.3

What some of these matters of disagreement were can be ascertained from Mrs. White’s writings. One pertained to the use of salt. Dr. Jackson’s rule enforcing the absence of this seasoning from the tables was very strict. However, it soon became obvious that Mrs. White’s digestion was impaired when she discontinued it entirely. Rather than to make her case a public exception, he requested her not to come to the dining room for her meals and arranged to have them sent to her own room, saying: “A moderate use of salt is necessary to you; without it you will become a dyspeptic.”—E. G. White Letter 19a, 1891.¹ SHM 135.4