Health Reform by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1873

Health Reform.

By R. F. Cottrell

It is by the providence of God and the sanction of his Spirit that we, as a people, have had our attention called to the subject of health reform. Many of us have been greatly benefited by a change in our habits, resulting from a study of the laws of our being, and of the proper agencies to be used for the preservation of health and life. Many of us are converts to the hygienic system of the treatment of disease, because we have thoroughly examined its foundation principles; but some are not. These are known in case of sickness by their flying to the use of drugs. They should examine the subject for themselves, and act in accordance with enlightened reason.

But there are many who have professedly adopted the reform, who have not so much as reformed their diet. They may have made some changes in the right direction from the force of circumstances and surroundings, but hearing it said, in truth, that it is not best to make the necessary changes too rapidly, they have taken this as their motto, and instead of progress, there is a constant falling back to the indulgence of perverted appetite in the use of those hurtful articles that have been decidedly proscribed by those who believe and know the truth. They have made progress in the wrong direction. Their attention has been called to this backsliding, but without effect. It may seem to them a small thing to disregard the light in so trivial a matter; but it is to be feared that just such things as these will prove their condemnation.

Light disregarded brings condemnation. If there was constant progress toward the right there would be hope; but when there is no more progress, but retrogression, what ground is there for hope? A gradual change to healthful diet may occupy weeks, perhaps months, in making the change. But if the seven or eight years, during which so many of us have had the light beaming upon us are not sufficient to have arrived at true hygienic living, how long will it take to make the gradual change? If I had admitted the truth of the proposition that “drugs never cure disease” seven years ago, I should be ashamed to-day to resort to drugs and alcoholic medication. And if I had been that length of time a convert to the dietetic reform and enjoying all the means of the light, believing such declarations and teachings as these: “The liability to disease is increased tenfold by meat-eating.” “Grains, fruits, and vegetables, prepared in the most simple and natural manner, will nourish the body, and preserve its natural vigor without the use of flesh-meats.” “Meat should not be placed before our children. Its influence is to excite and increase the force of the lower passions, and it has a tendency to deaden the moral or higher powers. Grains and fruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparing for translation to Heaven.” “Mince pies, which should never find a place in any human stomach, and the pickles, which should never have any place there, will give a miserable quality of blood.” “Saleratus in any form should not be introduced into the stomach.” “Cheese should never be introduced into the stomach.” “We bear positive testimony against tobacco, spirituous liquors, snuff, tea, coffee, flesh-meats, butter, spices, rich cakes, mince pies, a large amount of salt, and all exciting substances used as articles of food.” I should not use these proscribed articles, nor place them before others who have the same light, to tempt them to disregard it. Are these things of no importance? “Whoever turns from the light in one instance hardens his heart to disregard the light in other matters.”

R. F. Cottrell.