A GROUP OF PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AT THE BATTLE CREEK SANITARIUM
It is the constant aim of those in charge to make the Sanitarium indeed a “city that is set on a hill,” from which light and blessing may go out to those living in darkness and distress because of ignorance of physical laws. No effort is spared to make the educational advantages the predominating feature of Sanitarium work; and in this educational work, a class of people is reached which could, perhaps, be reached in no other way. Practically, at all times at the Sanitarium can be found ministers, lawyers, physicians, governors, and United States senators and representatives. Never are persons more readily influenced by righteous principles than at the very time when they are suffering most the consequences of violating natural laws.
The basis of all the instruction is that man is a temple in which God dwells, and hence the importance of a clean body as a fit dwelling for the Holy Ghost. The end and object in the mind at all times is to lead the patient, through a knowledge of natural laws working in the spiritual world, to a full recognition of God, and to a yielding of the body as a temple of God, and all the members as instruments of righteousness.
We will enumerate a few of the special educational opportunities afforded by the Sanitarium:—
Education of Patients.—While the advantages which come to patients healthwise from the treatment and attention which they receive while at the Sanitarium are important, it is regarded as of vastly greater importance that these patients receive a knowledge of the principles which have been violated in bringing them from a state of health to one of invalidism, and that they be instructed in the manner of righteous living which will enable them, after returning home, to obviate the causes that led to their sickness.
The patient's entire program, from the time he rises in the morning until he retires at night, is so arranged that he is really working in a training school. If at the table, he is in his eating carrying out carefully outlined directions given by his attending physician as to the proper combination of foods, food values, and all the fundamental principles of diet. If in the bath room, while receiving the treatment he is at the same time learning the method of applying these treatments, many of which are extremely simple, and of such a character that they may be carried out afterward at home. In the gymnasium he is learning systematic, graduated exercises15for a perfect and symmetrical development of the muscular system.
In addition to these, the almost daily lectures, and the opportunities of personal conversation with the physicians and nurses, who are thoroughly imbued with the importance of the educational work, enable the patient in a comparatively short time to become familiar with the principles which, if followed out, will enable him to reach a point of practical immunity from the host of prevailing diseases.
A School of Health.—Such a school is constantly in operation at the Sanitarium, and is free to all patients. The work consists of daily lectures, demonstration of simple treatments, a cooking school fitted up with all culinary conveniences, where patients may, under a competent instructor, prepare foods in a healthful, tasty, and appetizing manner. Frequently almost the first statement made by patients on their arrival is that they understand that a school of health is conducted to which they may have admittance, and that they desire to avail themselves of this privilege, wishing not only to become well, but to learn how they may regulate their mode of living so as to keep well after leaving the institution.
A Nurses' Training School.—A training school is constantly maintained, into which is received only those young men and women who have a live, Christian experience, and who have decided to devote their lives to medical missionary work in home or in foreign fields. In this school hundreds of young people have received a training that has enabled them to go out and fight valiant battles in the cause of God and humanity.
The training of a medical missionary requires weeks and months of patient effort on the part of both student and teacher. Each day the students are brought in contact with wonderful truths as shown in the various workings of God in man, thus constantly receiving fresh glimpses of the love of God, and inspiration to talk of this love to patients with whom they are in daily association.
Many touching incidents might be enumerated in which patients, with but a feeble hold upon life, have been brought to a saving knowledge of him who said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
After receiving their training, nurses are prepared to go out to do pioneer, self-supporting missionary work, entering, with the principles of the soul- and body-saving truth, homes otherwise practically inaccessible. The experiences of the medical missionary in this country and in foreign fields abundantly prove the truthfulness of this statement.
No greater opportunity for impressing men and women with divine truth is offered than in the case of a person, who, sick and suffering, longs for relief from distress. The constant, loving, faithful attention of a devoted Christian nurse day after day, soon inspires love and confidence in the heart of the patient for the nurse, and rare indeed it is that an unconverted patient fails to respond to the still, small voice, listened to and heeded because of the prayers and heart-to-heart talks of a consecrated nurse.
The Training of Hygienic Cooks.—No less important than the training of nurses is that of hygienic cooks, who are in just as true a sense medical missionaries. The demand for hygienic cooks is constantly increasing. A systematic and thorough course of training is given to this class of students, both at the Sanitarium and in connection with hygienic cafés established in various large cities. The influence of this work is rapidly extending. For example, at the café established by sanitarium workers in connection with the University of Chicago, at the present time five hundred meals are daily served to students, teachers, and professors of the university. The same is true of the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, where three hundred persons in connection with the university are being fed daily at the café. Such cafés have been established in a number of the large cities of the country, and this department of sanitarium educational work is rapidly growing to extensive proportions.
Chautauqua Work.—Omitting to mention the numerous small schools of health conducted in various parts of the country, an important feature of sanitarium work is the sending out during the summer of companies of physicians, nurses, and cooking-school teachers to various large Chautauquas in the different States. For several summers the Sanitarium has conducted quite an extensive work in this way. At these Chautauquas immense audiences of all classes of people congregate, often to the number of eight or ten thousand in daily attendance; and as a regular part of the program, lectures are delivered and demonstrations given on subjects pertaining to scientific cookery, rational treatment, dress reform, and all the leading distinctive features of our work. Because of the opportunities thus afforded, hundreds and thousands are led to live in harmony with the principles of physical righteousness, and thus their hearts are prepared for the greater gospel in its fullness.
Literature.—It is only necessary merely to refer to this part of the educational work. It is well known how extensively circulated have been the thousands of pages of books, periodicals, and pamphlets published in increasing numbers from year to year, since the establishment of the Sanitarium idea. Hundreds and thousands of patients who have visited the Sanitarium, when asked the question as to what led them to come to the institution, have replied that, having read literature setting forth the principles of the institution, they were led to have confidence in the work, and decided to come and take treatment, and learn further of the Battle Creek idea.
Health Foods.—It is also only necessary simply to mention this department of the work. Every package of health foods is a missionary visitor. It helps to indicate the way toward a better life. The same might be said of the health foods as of the health literature in reference to patients visiting the Sanitarium, as testified by a number of patients.
Correspondence.—This is no small part of the educational work of the institution. Hundreds of letters come every week from all parts of the world, containing appeals for suggestions for the relief of all classes of maladies. These letters are from persons who are unable to visit the Sanitarium for treatment. Each of these letters receives careful perusal and a personal response, with definite and simple suggestions as to diet, treatment, exercises, and all matters pertaining to the physical as well as the spiritual man. Not one of these appeals ever passes unnoticed, and the many scores of letters received afterward, expressing gratitude for the help received, give abundant evidence that this department is a help and an encouragement to those who might otherwise be left in suffering and distress because of lack of knowledge.
In this article we have not attempted to outline definitely and specifically all the educational features of sanitarium work, as this would not be possible in the brief space of one article. It must be apparent to all, however, that, with sanitariums established in nearly all parts of the world, from each of which goes out an influence for the uplifting and healing of fallen and suffering humanity, and representing, as they do, a complete gospel having the power to preserve blameless soul, spirit, and body, sanitarium enterprises occupy a unique place in the closing work of the world's history.
