September 12, 1899

Disease and Its Causes

Drugs and Their Effects

EGW

Physicians are censurable, but they are not the only ones at fault. The sick themselves, if they would be patient, diet, and suffer a little, and give nature time to rally, would recover much sooner without the use of any medicine. Nature alone possesses curative powers. Medicines have no power to cure, but generally hinder nature in her efforts. She, after all, must do the work of restoring. The sick are in a hurry to get well, and their friends are impatient. They will have medicine; and if they do not feel the powerful influence upon their systems that their erroneous views lead them to think they should feel, they impatiently send for another physician. The change often increases the evil. They go through a course of medicine equally as dangerous as the first, and more fatal, because the two treatments do not agree, and the system is poisoned beyond remedy.RH September 12, 1899, par. 1

But many have never experienced the beneficial effects of water, and are afraid to use one of Heaven's greatest blessings. Water has been refused to persons suffering with burning fevers, through fear that it would injure them. If, in their fevered state, water had been given them to drink freely, and applications had also been made externally, long days and nights of suffering would have been saved, and many precious lives spared. But thousands have died with raging fevers consuming them, until the fuel which fed the fever was burned up, and the vitals consumed; they have died in the greatest agony, without being permitted to have water to allay their burning thirst. Water, which is allowed a senseless building to put out the raging elements, is not allowed human beings to put out the fire that is consuming the vitals.RH September 12, 1899, par. 2

Multitudes remain in inexcusable ignorance in regard to the laws of their being. They wonder why the race is so feeble, and why so many die prematurely. Is there not a cause? Physicians, who profess to understand the human organism, prescribe for their patients, and even for their own dear children, and their companions, slow poisons to break up disease, or to cure some slight indisposition. Surely they can not realize the evil of these things, or they would not do thus. The effects of the poison may not be immediately perceived, but it is doing its work in the system, undermining the constitution, and crippling nature in her efforts. They are seeking to correct an evil, but produce a far greater one, which is often incurable. Those who are thus dealt with are constantly sick, and constantly dosing. And yet, if you listen to their conversation, you will often hear them praising the drugs they have been using, and recommending their use to others, because, they say, they have been benefited by their use. It would seem that to such as can reason from cause to effect, the sallow countenance, the continual complaints of ailments, and the general prostration of those who claim to be benefited, would be sufficient proofs of the health-destroying influence of drugs. Yet many are so blinded that they do not see that all the drugs they have taken have not cured them, but made them worse. The drug invalid numbers one in the world, but is generally peevish, irritable, always sick, lingering out a miserable existence, and seems to live only to call into constant exercise the patience of others. Poisonous drugs have not killed him outright, for nature is loath to give up her hold on life; she is unwilling to cease her struggles. Yet drug-takers are never well.RH September 12, 1899, par. 3

The endless variety of medicines in the market, the numerous advertisements of new drugs and mixtures, all of which, they say, result in wonderful cures, kill hundreds where they benefit one. Those who are sick are not patient. They will take the various medicines, some of which are very powerful, although they know nothing of the nature of the mixtures. All the medicines they take only make their recovery more hopeless. Yet they keep dosing, and continue to grow worse until they die. Some will have medicine at all events. Then let them take these hurtful mixtures, and the various deadly poisons, upon their own responsibility. God's servants should not administer medicines, which they know will leave behind injurious effects upon the system, even if they do relieve present suffering.RH September 12, 1899, par. 4