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A Critique of the Book Prophetess of Health

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    Reform Dress at the Institute

    On page 136 the physicians at the Western Health Reform Institute are said to have “urged incoming patients to dress in the manner revealed by God.” There is no evidence to support this assertion—that is that the reform was imposed at God’s command.CBPH 67.5

    It must be remembered that a reform dress had been adopted at Dansville. The physicians there took the position that it was useless to attempt to treat the diseases of women if they continued to wear attire which made it impossible for them to breathe freely and exercise the body. Dr. Horatio S. Lay, who led out in the opening of the Adventist institution in Battle Creek in September, 1866, had spent several years at Dansville as a member of the staff. It is quite natural, then, that he should include a reform in dress as part of his regimen for the newly established Western Health Reform Institute. As a matter of fact, the other Institute physicians were equally enthusiastic about the dress reform aspect of their program, judging from articles they contributed to the Health Reformer between November, 1866, and January, 1868. During this period Ellen White was in northern Michigan fully occupied in caring for her partially paralyzed husband.CBPH 67.6

    In a retrospective statement in the Health Reformer of March, 1868, J. H. Waggoner gives the history of the adoption of the reform dress at the Institute:CBPH 67.7

    When the Health Reform Institute was established [in August, 1866], the physicians decided a better style of dress for women than the long, dragging skirts was desirable. Many, from the best of motives, opposed a change in this direction. They remembered the “bloomers;” and in some minds it seemed to be associated with spiritualism, free loveism, or anything immodest. But the physicians declared it was not only desirable, but necessary in the treatment of some cases; and that being so, it would be useless and wrong to receive such cases without adopting what they were assured was essential to effect cures.CBPH 67.8

    Again, it seemed to be understood and conceded by all health reformers who had investigated the subject, that a reform dress was necessary, and if it was not adopted at the Institute, a class of patients should surely be driven to other institutions, where something different from the cumbersome, prevailing fashion was adopted. Therefore, to neglect this reform would be to sacrifice the best interests of the Institute and of a certain class who most needed its benefits.CBPH 67.9

    In adopting the dress reform the physicians doubtless knew they would have Ellen White’s approval, but there is no evidence to support the contention that on the basis as a revelation from God they urged their patients to adopt the reform dress.CBPH 67.10

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