Drugs and Disease by M. M. Martinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 26, 1906

Drugs and Disease

By M. M. Martinson

M. M. MARTINSON, M. D.

People are tired, and instead of taking nature's rest, they stimulate, and when the reaction comes, they stimulate again. This course soon ends in a broken-down constitution. You are sick because you have not obeyed nature's law, and now pain has conquered your human breath and turned it into a sigh; but what can medicine do?

If it is a strong hypnotic, it may daze the nerves so that they can not cry out; but can the drug remove the cause, or take away the poisons that cause the nerves to shrink in pain? Should the drug be a stimulant, it may irritate the organ to a greater activity; but does a stimulant supply the cell with food to do the work of cleaning out rubbish that has accumulated? Will it purify the corrupt blood stream?—No.

All your apothecary shops with their compounds will not do what nature can with rest and sunshine. You may travel from north to south and from east to west to find the elixir of life, but as long as you abuse your vital organs, and take no interest in them, you will suffer. The nostrums and all the pills and patent medicines which promise you health and happiness are only deceivers; your tea, coffee, tobacco, spices, and condiments have no food value; they are only stimulants which derange the fine machinery of the body. It may be that you feel no bad effects from them now; but wait till that strong constitution is gone. Some day you will feel the rod of punishment.

It is astonishing how little people realize that it is their own transgression of physical laws that makes them sick. Pain is only to remind each transgressor, “So far hast thou gone; go no farther.” When your nerves despise you, and you dislike them, you begin with yourself and trace your pedigree; somewhere along the line you will find the cause of your trouble.

Neurasthenia, Nervousness, and Indigestion

Nerve force is the electrical energy that keeps all the organs in balance in nature's cure. To save it, to increase it, means health and happiness, while on the other hand the spendthrift uses up his capital, and reaps pain and disease. Most chronic invalids have spent large loans of vitality and lost the reserve fund in drugging.

The neurasthenic and nervous dyspeptic have let business cares, home duties, or an uncontrollable appetite rule them until their reserve force is dissipated.

The badly cooked, greasy, and spicy foods, fast eating, the appetizers so popular of late years, and all noise and worry of business, have tapped your nerve supply; that is to say, you have let out more than you have been able to supply. You are a neurasthenic, a nervous dyspeptic. Your liver will not act, your heart palpitates, you are sick because you have bankrupted your vitality. But where is the “elixir of life” that will cure you? You will not find it in a bottle.

Nature's Remedies Forgotten

People are not apt to distinguish between prevention and cure. They look for books which will instruct them how to cure by drugs, so that they can feel well. They have full confidence in their doctor and his pills or some nice patent medicine. They do like something that will alleviate pain without removing the cause. When the health is ruined by gluttonous habits of overeating, when the body is stupefied with poisons of a multitude of indulgences, when all mental serenity has been lost, and you can stand it no longer, your greatest delight is to find some drug which will give relief, so that nature will not dare to cry out again, and you can go back to your old habits of violating nature's laws. You may plead for relief in this way, but you will not get it, for pain is only the penalty of sin against the body or soul. Nature exacts full requital. The only way is to fall back on nature when drug quackery has destroyed your faith and means:

The Great Physician

God has given us wisdom, and he wants each one to learn that the body is not to be abused just simply for pleasure. Many are looking for health, and they can find it if they will recognize the laws of our being, which are only God's laws. It is sin that is drawing us into the pit of destruction. God is working and will work to heal the wounds which sin has made, and he wants you and me to recognize him as the Great Physician. He wants you to keep close to him by obeying nature's laws, by inhaling her pure, sweet air, deeply, fully, and continuously. Bathe in it; sleep in it; court the sunbeams of heaven as you would a lover.

Eat only delicious, nutritious foods, such as grains, fruits, and nuts, not forgetting to masticate thoroughly. Drink only pure water. Practise cleanliness and purity of habits; cultivate mental serenity and hope, and the truths found in Psalm 103 will be made plain: “He healeth all thy diseases;” and again we find that God has said, “For I am the Lord that healeth thee.” Ex. 15:26.