The baneful effects of injurious articles of food, such as “highly seasoned meats, with rich gravies,” “rich cake, pies, and puddings,” and the free use of meat were set forth in contrast to the benefits of “a plain, wholesome, and nutritious diet.” And of the free use of drugs, she wrote: SHM 91.4
“I was shown that more deaths are caused by drug-taking than from all other causes combined. ... Generally the persons who suffer pain become impatient. They are not willing to use self-denial and suffer a little from hunger. Neither are they willing to wait the slow process of nature to build up the overtaxed energies of the system. But they are determined to obtain relief at once and take powerful drugs prescribed by physicians. SHM 91.5
“Nature was doing her work well and would have triumphed, but while accomplishing her task, a foreign substance of a poisonous nature was introduced. ... Drugs never cure disease. They only change the form and location. Nature alone is the effectual restorer, and how much better could she perform her task if left to herself.”—Ibid., 134. SHM 92.1