THE NATURE AND CURE OF DISEASE.
By M. E. Olsen
FEW things are more universally misunderstood than the nature of disease. The idea seems to prevail that after a person has abused the delicate organs of the body and brought on himself sickness, he has only to swallow some bad-tasting medicine, and he will be well again. But this is by no means so. "Be not deceived," says the Bible, "God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." This is true in physical as well as spiritual things. When we indulge in habits injurious to the body, we are sowing for disease, and will surely reap that kind of a harvest. On the other hand, when we reverently and intelligently care for our bodies, realizing that they are the temples of the Holy Ghost, we shall enjoy the blessing of physical health. Most sick people are reaping the harvest of years of sowing for disease. The thing for them to do is to turn square about, and begin patiently to sow for health. This is done by laying aside every injurious habit, and conforming in all things to the just demands of nature. The sick person may also take simple treatments, such as baths, massage, local applications of water, electricity, and the like. They will not cure his malady, but they will assist nature in effecting a cure. But this is not the way health is usually sought. The great majority of people, when sick, think only of the pain they suffer, and not of the dangerous condition of the body which called it forth. They try to get rid of the pain by swallowing bitter medicines, which blunt the nerves so that the suffering is less severe for a time, but the diseased condition is not removed. It is often rendered worse instead. Pain is a blessing, rather than a curse. It is a danger-signal given us by those faithful sentinels, the nerves, warning us that all is not well with the body. The sensible thing to do is to take the warning thankfully, and proceed to correct the abuse. Instead of that, we try to put the sentinel to sleep by harmful drugs. If you would get well, remove the cause of your sickness. God and nature will do the rest. As the Bible has it: "Wash you; make you clean; put away the evil from your midst; cease to do evil, learn to do good." Never seek to smother symptoms by the use of tonics, painkillers, and the like. God can not co-operate with you in this effort to avoid the penalty of your transgression. In this country a large use is made of patent medicines. These vile compounds are either absolutely worthless, or contain in considerable quantity such harmful poisons as alcohol, strychnia, cocaine, opium, and chloral. Many cases are recorded where persons have acquired the drink habit, or have become addicted to morphine from the use of medicines containing these poisons. Yet parents will give them to their children simply because the physicians recommend it, or because the county paper gives a glowing recital of the wonderful cures that have been effected. As long as we are content to remain ignorant of the structure and proper care of our bodies, we will be left at the mercy of drug-using physicians and patent-medicine vendors. But, on the other hand, it is our duty and privilege to study these things for ourselves, and teach them to our children. There is no subject of greater importance, and yet none so much neglected, as how to maintain the health of the body. Let those in every church who feel a burden to study these principles come together frequently for mutual encouragement, and to seek God in earnest prayer that the truths regarding right living may be more widely promulgated, and precious lives saved.