Signs of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 35. (9/7/1915)

Signs of the Times

Sep 7, 1915

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 7, 1915

An Instructive War Experience

By David Paulson

Conquered, but Not by Cannon or Submarines — Lived on the Fat of the Land, and Went Down

By DAVID PAULSON, M.D.

Medical Superintendent Hinsdale Sanitarium, Hinsdale, Illinois

Of all the terrible things that have happened in this European war, there is one experience that is wonderfully illuminating and instructive.

Last August, the German cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm started out on her campaign to destroy her enemies’ ships. During the two hundred fifty-five days that she was on the ocean, she sank fourteen vessels. Each time, she helped herself to the best meat, the canned vegetables, the richest food, the sweet cakes, and other “goodies” that were on board these ships. It must have seemed a pity to those German sailors, accustomed to comparatively simple rations, to let all this “good food” go to the bottom of the ocean, when they might just as well have it.

LIVED ON THE FAT OF THE LAND

As a consequence, the five hundred men on the Kronprinz Wilhelm “lived on the fat of the land” as they never had before. They took on board enough meat supplies to furnish each man three full pounds every day, to say nothing of all the “rich food.” They certainly had what too many people yet consider a “strengthening diet.”

Dr. Gray, discussing this incident, in connection with the theory that well-fed men make alert and hard-fighting men, has suggested that these men were well fed continuously. Yet what was the consequence? — Ere long, this German cruiser, carrying what had been some of the most magnificent specimens of physical manhood, was compelled to put in at an American port, not because of cannon or submarines, but for the same reason many people who live in a similar way on land have to “put in” at some hospital .

Beriberi, a disease that never occurs except when the diet is all wrong, broke out among them, and one hundred and ten soon contracted the malady. Dr. Gray said: “Some of her crew began to complain of swollen ankles; some fancied insects were crawling over their skin, or they experienced peculiar fibrillar twitchings of certain muscles; some had pains in the nerves of the legs; and still others had very curious disturbances of vision, hearing, taste, smell, and memory.” In short, they were suffering from too much acid in the blood, and it was beginning to eat up their nerves and destroy their health generally.

And the same cause is destroying the health of many on land, but there it is considered “a dispensation of Providence.” Dr. Gray, speaking of this, says: “It is this same unbalanced ration that is working havoc in our American homes. . . . For every case among the five hundred men on that ship, there are thousands of individuals in the same condition in every state in the Union. Why should there not be when the dietetic conditions are practically identical?”

The kind of food that those German sailors gorged themselves with, is precisely the diet that is used by people who are “living high” to-day, and more and more people are aspiring to live in such style.

SEEING THE EXPERIMENT REPEATED

While attending the great International Congress of Hygiene in Washington, D. C., a friend of mine invited me to dine with him at the splendid New Willard Hotel in that city. At the tables all around me were brilliant men and women who ranked high in society and in the affairs of the nation.

I observed the waiters bringing to these diners enormous trays of food, of the same kind that so promptly proved the undoing of those five hundred husky, substantial German sailors. I saw men whose work was chiefly if not altogether mental, eating pieces of meat larger than my two fists. In addition, there were lobsters, oysters, bacon, and sausage. In fact, the meal consisted largely of protein, with little or no vegetables, fruit, and such other things as would have furnished alkali to offset the acid that was bound to result from all this high proteid diet.

Then I understood the significance of Senator Tillman’s words, spoken in the Senate chamber, when he pleaded to have the smoking of tobacco discontinued because of the discomfort it brought to him. He said that since he was elected to his high office, twenty-four senators and one vice president of the United States had died; that they had killed themselves by the way they had lived. These men in Washington broke down for the same reason the German sailors did.

It is just such habits that make most of the doctors’ business—that bring on the ever-increasing flood of Bright’s disease, heart disease, apoplexy, neurasthenia, and cancer. The patients expect the doctors to cure them without reforming them; but it cannot be done so long as the Bible declares, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6: 7.

DIETETIC FASHIONS

Dr. Lusk, the eminent physiologist of Cornell University, says: “There is little doubt that excessive consumption of meat constitutes a grave and unnecessary economic waste. It is a part of the spirit that demands the motor car, the luxuries of life, as well as its necessities.” For the same reason that the poor man covets the rich man’s automobile, he also wants the rich man’s diet, and consequently the rich man’s diseases are on the increase.

I heard Max Rubner, perhaps the world’s greatest dietetic authority, say, at the International Congress of Hygiene, that they were facing a great crisis in Germany, because the sturdy country people who had always been compelled to live on a diet that was largely vegetarian, and had been satisfied to do so, were no longer content to live as their forefathers did. They were adopting the dietetic habits of the city people; and as a consequence, the health of the German peasantry was deteriorating. Because of similar dietetic habits, chronic diseases are increasing by leaps and bounds in this country.

HOW WE SPOIL GOOD FOOD

In order to produce the superfine flour out of which we make our beautiful white bread, the miller robs every bushel of wheat of fifteen pounds of absolutely essential mineral matter. The young wheat sprout requires everything that God has put in the kernel of wheat. So do we. And we sacrifice health for looks in our diet, just as many are doing in the way they dress, in order to be in style.

The covering of grains contains not only valuable mineral matter, but those mysterious “vitamines” which the body must secure from some portions of the food, or ill health is as certain to develop, as night follows day.

Tibbles, the English dietetic authority, suggests that when a man is fed a long time on rice, corn, white bread, pickled meat, and canned foods, certain diseases develop. That is because these grains are robbed of their coverings, which contain the vitamins. In the canned foods, they have been destroyed by high temperatures; and no amount of “drops” that any doctor can administer, can replace them in the human system.

Who has not seen a child in perfect health when it left its mother’s breast, become pale and anæmic, develop rickets, and then perhaps introduced to a long and persistent course of worse than useless drugging after living a year or more on fine flour preparations, rich pastry, meats, canned foods, and condensed milk, when it should have had whole flour preparations, unpolished rice, some simple fruits and vegetables, and, if possible, plenty of good, clean, unsterilized milk?

Dr. Woodruff has suggested what many of us are beginning to believe,—that a diet deficient in vitamins may render us more susceptible to all infectious diseases; and evidence is accumulating that children who are fed on a natural, wholesome diet are much less liable to contract the so-called children’s diseases.

Dr. Evans, formerly health commissioner of the city of Chicago, mentions the following dietetic indiscretions as among the leading causes for pellagra: too much corn bread, too much “sow belly,” too much molasses too much plum pie, too little fresh vegetables, fruit, and milk.

Lard is a deficient fat. Recent experiments made by Professor Mendel of Yale University, show that while lard can keep rats alive, they cannot grow on it, but they resume their growth promptly when furnished either butter fat or the fat in eggs. So lard cannot take the place of butter.

WOULD WE RENEW OUR HEALTH?

It is becoming increasingly evident that if we want to renew our health, we must reform our diet — return to the simple products that God originally provided for Adam. Gen. 1: 29. And we should eat these in moderation, with a clear conscience and a heart thankful to God for His abundant blessings. We should each day, if possible, use some articles of food that have not been subjected to either baking or cooking heat, such as raw fruits and green garden stuff, so that we may not fail to secure the necessary vitamins that these always contain.

These foods, on account of their bulk, also serve a valuable purpose in stimulating the activity of the sluggish alimentary canal, thus helping to prevent auto-intoxication, which is the cause of so many of our ills. We should also use more freely such cooked vegetables as potatoes, carrots, and their like, because they provide our blood with important mineral salts, which Nature uses to neutralize the natural acid poisons that are constantly manufactured within us.

We should also help to develop a more general demand for grain preparations that have not been partially robbed of their most essential elements by modern milling processes, such as genuine, old-fashioned graham flour and unpolished rice.

And then, last but not least, we should more heartily accept as a part of our daily program that brand of Christianity which will lead us to eat and drink to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10: 31.

GENERAL WOOD
BUSINESS MEN IN MILITARY CAMP AT PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK
© Underwood & Underwood
CAPT. HALSTEAD DOREY — GENERAL WOOD BUSINESS MEN IN MILITARY CAMP AT PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK © Underwood & Underwood CAPT. HALSTEAD DOREY

JOSEF W. HALL

By Josef W. Hall

MANY people become soured pessimists because, seeing so many ways of wickedness open in the world, they are sure that there must be people who follow them all. Others become optimists because they see so many noble people who do not follow these same ways of wickedness always open near them.

JOSEF W. HALL

Polished and Sweetened Through Trials

By Ellen G. White

The Effects That Should Come from Life’s Storms—How to Develop Under Faultfinding and Criticism

By the late MRS. E. G. WHITE

(Republished)

EVERY association calls for the exercise of self-control, forbearance, and sympathy. We differ so widely in disposition, habits, education, that our ways of looking at things vary. We judge differently. Our understanding of truth, our ideas in regard to the conduct of life, are not in all respects the same. There are no two whose experience is alike in every particular. The trials of one are not the trials of another. The duties that one finds light, are to another most difficult and perplexing. So frail, so ignorant, so liable to misconception is human nature, that each should be careful in the estimate he places upon another. We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others.

What we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when, could our eyes be opened, we should see that upon it depended the most important results for good or for evil.

If we have a sense of the long-suffering of God toward us, we shall not be found judging or accusing others. When Christ was living on the earth, how surprised His associates would have been, if, after becoming acquainted with Him, they had heard Him speak one word of accusation, of fault-finding, or of impatience! Let us never forget that those who love Him are to represent Him in character.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” Rom. 12: 10; 1 Peter 3: 9.

THE MOST PRECIOUS VICTORY

We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed wrong done to ourselves. Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more harmful effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self.

We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save souls. As we become interested in the salvation of souls, we cease to mind the little differences that so often arise in our association with one another. Whatever others may think of us or do to us, it need not disturb our oneness with Christ, the fellowship of the Spirit. “What glory is it, if, when ye be afflicted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” 1 Peter 2: 20.

RETALIATION AND THE POWER OF SILENCE

Do not retaliate. So far as you can do so, remove all cause for misapprehension. Avoid the appearance of evil. Do all that lies in your power, without the sacrifice of principle, to conciliate others. “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matt. 5: 23, 24.

If impatient words are spoken to you, never reply in the same spirit. Remember that “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” Prov. 15: 1. And there is wonderful power in silence. Words spoken in reply to one who is angry sometimes serve only to exasperate. But anger met with silence, in a tender, forbearing spirit, quickly dies away.

Under a storm of stinging, fault-finding words, keep the mind stayed upon the word of God. Let mind and heart be stored with God’s promises. If you are ill-treated or wrongfully accused, instead of returning an angry answer, repeat to yourself the precious promises.

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom. 12: 21.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Ps. 37: 5, 6.

“There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” Matt. 10: 26.

“Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” Ps. 66: 12.

MEN PERMITTED TO FAIL US

We are prone to look to our fellow men for sympathy and uplifting, instead of looking to Jesus. In His mercy and faithfulness, God often permits those in whom we place confidence to fail us, in order that we may learn the folly of trusting in man, and making flesh our arm. Let us trust fully, humbly, unselfishly in God. He knows the sorrows that we feel to the depths of our being, but which we cannot express. When all things seem dark and unexplainable, remember the words of Christ, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” John 13: 7.

Study the history of Joseph and of Daniel. The Lord did not prevent the plottings of men who sought to do them harm; but He caused all these devices to work for good to His servants who amidst trial and conflict preserved their faith and loyalty.

THE PLAN OF OUR SUCCESS

So long as we are in the world, we shall meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If Christ dwells in us, we shall be patient, kind, and forbearing, cheerful amid frets and irritations

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Day by day and year by year we shall conquer self, and grow into a noble heroism. This is our allotted task; but it cannot be accomplished without help from Jesus, resolute decision, unwavering purpose, continual watchfulness, and unceasing prayer. Each one has a personal battle to fight. Not even God can make our characters noble or our lives useful unless we become coworkers with Him. Those who decline the struggle lose the strength and joy of victory.

We need not keep our own record of trials and difficulties, griefs and sorrows. All these things are written in the books, and heaven will take care of them. While we are counting up the disagreeable things, many things that are pleasant to reflect upon are passing from memory; such as the merciful kindness of God surrounding us every moment, and the love over which angels marvel, that God gave His Son to die for us. If as workers for Christ you feel that you have had greater cares and trials than have fallen to the lot of others, remember that for you there is a peace unknown to those who shun these burdens. There is comfort and joy in the service of Christ. Let the world see that life with Him is no failure.

“He Giveth More Grace”

By Vida V. Young

JAMES 4:6

By VIDA V. YOUNG

While all our days are busy days, And we would have them so,— Filled full the hours from morn till night draws on,— Yet some stand out above the rest so full That when the work accomplished is at eve, We breathe one long and deep thanksgiving sigh.

Thus was the day when I awoke, My body racked with pain, And thought, with nervous dread, of work piled high. Could not some other one these tasks perform? Full well I knew an unaccustomed hand Might mar the work intrusted to my care.

The open Word before me lay, And as I dressed in haste, My eye fell on these words, “More grace He giveth”— A calm, sweet answer to my fretful cry: “O Lord, I am unfitted for this day! I shrink at thought of work that must be done.”

A strange, sweet peace came o’er my soul, The pain was all forgot; And as the day wore on, each task was done, For e’en abundantly He gave His grace, And made the tasks which otherwise were hard Seem strangely easy when “more grace” He gave.

When, some tired morn, our work looms big, Do we not weakly try To measure out our strength for tasks to-day By that which yesterday to us was given, When fewer were the tasks, and lighter far? No grace He grants unless it used would be.

Ah, this the secret of our strength: Each day He giveth grace; But for those busy, overburdened days When weak souls shrink, more grace He giveth, yea, Until we whisper, when night’s curtain falls, “Dear Lord, it was sufficient, after all.”

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