Dietetics in Our Sanitariums

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1912

Dietetics in Our Sanitariums

The question of dietetics is one of the most perplexing subjects with which our sanitariums have to deal. The guests of these institutions for the most part are made up of men and women who have brought upon themselves sickness through disregard of nature’s laws, particularly by excesses in eating and drinking. Many of these desire to get well, but are quite unwilling to pay the price in the way of self-denial. They still demand tea, coffee, flesh foods, condiments, etc. Our sanitariums, however, are the exponents of principles of reform in the matter of healthful living. It is for them to erect and maintain a higher standard than the medical institutions of the world. At a meeting of the medical faculty of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium held recently, an interesting discussion on the subject of dietetics was engaged in by the physicians and nurses. It was felt by all present that the Sanitarium should maintain the position it has ever taken in excluding tea, coffee, and flesh foods from the dietary of the institution, and that there should be maintained before the guests a high standard of reform with reference to the general question of dietetics. This we believe is the only consistent position that any of our sanitariums can take. If our institutions do not maintain a higher standard than is upheld in similar institutions of the world, both in the way of Christian ethics and from a scientific standpoint, then our institutions have no excuse for existence. God has called us to be light-bearers. He has called us to the position of reformers. We should be consistent in the positions we take, and resolute in the pursuit of the purpose in which we are engaged. Our sanitariums and our medical workers, above any other institutions or workers engaged in this movement, should be true to the principles of health and temperance.