Appendix 1

Health & Medical statements found in The Ministry of Healing (M. of H.), 1905 Spiritual Gifts Volume 4 (S. G.), 1864

Comment – The only problem is if there is a drop in body temperature. The symptoms described are not a good description of hypothermia. The reduction in circulation in hypothermia is a survival measure that prevents heat loss.

Score - Unverified

What 10 – Wet Nurse

M. of H. Page 383.2 – “The mother who permits her child to be nourished by another should consider well what the result may be.”

1871, The Health Reformer, Sept 1, par 6 - “A stranger performs the duties of the mother, and gives from her breast the food to sustain life.”

Comment – There are a number of diseases that can be transmitted by breast-feeding. Also the bonding that develops between mother (or wet nurse) and child influences the emotional development of the child. It is unwise for a mother to abrogate this responsibility.

Score - Minor

Why 11 – Wet Nurse (What 10)

M. of H. Page 383 – “To a greater or less degree the nurse imparts her own temper and temperament to the nursing child.”

1871, The Health Reformer, Sept 1, par 7 - “She also imparts her temper and her temperament to the nursing child. The child's life is linked to hers. If the hireling is a coarse type of woman, passionate, and unreasonable; if she is not careful in her morals, the nursling will be, in all probability, of the same, or a similar type. The same coarse quality of blood, coursing in the veins of the hireling nurse, is in that of the child.”

Comment – The reference to a linkage of blood strongly indicates that there is something transmitted in the milk. It is now known that the milk does not transmit personality traits. It is the bonding between mother (or wet nurse) and child that is important. Thus it appears Ellen White modified her view with the passage of time.

Score – Verified (for M. of H. only)

II. PURE AIR

What 11 – Pure air R 21 G 20 A 33 J 24

M. of H. page 262 - “The air, laden with smoke and dust, with poisonous gases, and with germs of disease, is a peril to life.”

Comment – There are no early statements about the need for clean air other than indoors (What 12). Ellen White was writing before the industrial revolution got fully underway and there was little air pollution, as we know it today. By 1905 air pollution of the cities had became a significant health risk.

Score – Significant

What 12 – Ventilation R 7 G 23 A 42 C 14 J 28 K 34

M. of H. page 220 – “Through ignorance of the importance of fresh air, ventilation is sometimes restricted, and the lives of both patient and attendant are often in danger.”

Page 274 – “To live in close, ill-ventilated rooms, where the air is dead and vitiated, weakens the entire system”

Page 220 – “every possible effort should be made to arrange the sickroom so that a current of fresh air can pass through it night and day.”

Appendix 1

Health & Medical statements found in The Ministry of Healing (M. of H.), 1905 Spiritual Gifts Volume 4 (S. G.), 1864

S.G. page 142 – “Many do not realize the necessity of light, and pure air in their houses in order to have health.”

Comment - Building laws at that time had not yet seen the need for proper ventilation. In cold countries the need for warmth caused excessive sealing of the houses. The World Health Organisation considers indoor smoke contributes 3.7% in the loss of health in developing counties with a high mortality.

Score – Significant

Why 12 - Indoor Air Pollution (What 12)

M. of H. page 274 – “They breathe the same air over and over until it becomes laden with poisonous matter thrown off through the lungs and pores, and impurities are thus conveyed back to the blood.”

S. G. page 143 – “They keep their windows and doors closed, ….They breathe the same air over and over, until it becomes impregnated with the poisonous impurities, and waste matter, thrown off from their bodies, through the lungs, and the pores of the skin. … the impurities they have conveyed to their blood, through the inhalations of the lungs. Those who thus abuse their health, must suffer with disease.”

Comment – Both Graham and Kellogg considered that the kidneys had a minor role only in the excretion of the waste matter from the body. The skin was regarded as the major excretory organ. It was considered that the “pores of the skin” passed waste matter from the blood to the air and this in turn polluted the air. Thus these statements are true when considering the lungs, but not the “pores” of the skin.

Score – Unverified

M. of H. page 328 – “It is unpleasant and unhealthful to remain in a railway car or in a room where the atmosphere is laden with the fumes of liquor and tobacco. Though men persist in using these poisons themselves, what right have they to defile the air that others must breathe?”

S. G. page 127 - “(Smokers) foul breath polluting the atmosphere.”

Comment - It was not until the 1980s that the dangers to health from passive smoking were proven. The smell of alcohol is not regarded as a health hazard, just unpleasant.

M. of H. page 240 – “when the weather will permit, exercise in the open air every day, summer or winter.”

S.G. page 145 – “exercise as much as possible in the open air,”

Comment – Even though sunlight and fresh air can be transmitted indoors, I still feel that it is correct and significant to exercise outdoors if possible.

Score – Significant (1960 –Minor)

What 15 – Clean Yard (G 24) (A 60) (J 27) (K 36)

M. of H. page 276 – “No waste vegetables or heaps of fallen leaves should be allowed to remain near the house”

Comment – The main trouble with decaying rubbish about the house is that it attracts diseasecarrying vermin such as flies and rodents. Leaves offer no danger.

Score - Unverified

Appendix 1

Health & Medical statements found in The Ministry of Healing (M. of H.), 1905 Spiritual Gifts Volume 4 (S. G.), 1864

What 15a – Clean Yard G 24 A 60 J 27 K 36

S. G. page 141 – “Many suffer decayed vegetable matter to remain about their premises.” Comment – Spiritual Gifts does not specify leaves and thus I have given it a higher score.

Score – Significant

Why 13 - Outdoor Air Pollution 1 (What 15)

M. of H. page 276 – “No waste vegetables or heaps of fallen leaves should be allowed to remain near the house to decay and poison the air… In towns or cities regarded perfectly healthful, many an epidemic of fever has been traced to decaying matter about the dwelling of some careless householder.”

S. G. page 141 – “There is constantly arising from these decaying substances an effluvia that is poisoning the air. By inhaling the impure air, the blood is poisoned, the lungs become affected, and the whole system is diseased. Disease of almost every description will be caused by inhaling the atmosphere affected by these decaying substances.”

Page 124 – “Swine were useful. In a fruitful country, where there was much to decay upon the ground, which would poison the atmosphere, herds of swine were permitted to run free, and devoured the decaying substances, which was a means of preserving health.”

Comment – The association of the plague and other diseases with rubbish was due to the rats and flies that spread the epidemics. This was not known by mid-19th century. Both Graham and Kellogg believed that decaying matter polluted the atmosphere and breathing this atmosphere caused the disease. Ellen White was mirroring the knowledge of her time.

Score – Unverified

III. SUNLIGHT

What 16 – Sunlight A 61 J 33 K 40

M. of H. page 274 – “In the construction of buildings, whether for public purposes or as dwellings, care should be taken to provide for good ventilation and plenty of sunlight.”

Page 275 - “Dispense with heavy curtains, open the windows and the blinds, allow no vines, however beautiful, to shade the windows, and permit no trees to stand so near the house as to shut out the sunshine. The sunlight may fade the drapery and the carpets, and tarnish the picture frames; but it will bring a healthy glow to the cheeks of the children.”

Page 240 – “when the weather will permit, exercise in the open air every day, summer or winter.” S. G. page 142 – “Many do not realize the necessity of light, and pure air in their houses in order to have health. …. The best rooms are kept dark. The light and air are shut out, lest the light of heaven may injure the rich furniture, fade the carpets, or tarnish the picture frames.”

Comment – In the 1860s there was no known health benefit in sunlight. By the turn of the century, the affects of sunlight on preventing rickets had been known by investigative medicine and they were treating rickets with cod liver oil. Also it was known that sunlight is able to kill bacteria and dust mites. This is all that was known in 1960. Now it is now known that sunlight induces a feeling of well-being and this in turn makes for a strong immune system. Sunlight also is essential in setting the human time clock and this also aids immunity. Sun-baking, which causes skin cancer, is not recommended in Ellen White’s writings.

Score – Significant (1960 – Minor)

IV. ABSTEMIOUSNESS

What 17 - Tea & Coffee R 18 G 29 A 71 C 19 J 38 K 43

M. of H. page 335 – “In relation to tea, coffee, …. the only safe course is to touch not, taste not, handle not.”

Appendix 1

Health & Medical statements found in The Ministry of Healing (M. of H.), 1905 Spiritual Gifts Volume 4 (S. G.), 1864

S. G. page 128 – “Tea and coffee are stimulating. … Those who use these slow poisons.” 1861 Testimonies for the Churches Vol. pages 222-4 – “They should lay aside such hurtful stimulants as tobacco, tea, and coffee.”

Comment – In 1870 James White claimed that tea and coffee were included with tobacco in the 1848 vision or the first vision that Ellen White had on health. – “It was twenty-two years ago the present autumn, that our minds were called to the injurious effects of tobacco, tea, and coffee, through the testimony of Mrs. White” (Selected Messages, Book 3, page 272). However, Ellen White, when writing about this vision made no mention of tea and coffee. - “I have seen in vision that tobacco was a filthy weed, and that it must be laid aside or given up” (Selected Messages, Book 3, page 273). The first reference I could find where Ellen White wrote about tea and coffee was in 1861, which is still before the 1863 vision.

In 1960 the caffeine in tea and coffee was regarded as a harmless, mild stimulant.

It is only now that caffeine is beginning to be regarded as an addictive substance. It is also known to be associated with aggressive behaviour and depression. Also there are a number of possible physical problems that could be related to caffeine, which as yet have not been conclusively proven. This is especially so with the effects on the unborn and young child.

It is also now recognized that tea contains antioxidants, which are beneficial, but there is no evidence as yet that the beneficial effects of tea outweigh the harm of caffeine.

There was another advantage of tea and coffee in the 19th century and that was the sterilizing of the water by the boiling. At the present state of knowledge I feel that the avoidance of tea and coffee is correct, but not a significant factor in health.

Why 14 – Caffeine (Tea & Coffee) (What 17)

M. of H. page 326 – “When the influence of the stimulant is gone, the unnatural force abates, and the result is a corresponding degree of languor and debility.”

Page 326 - “The continued use of these nerve irritants is followed by headache, wakefulness, palpitation of the heart, indigestion, trembling, and many other evils; for they wear away the life forces. …. When her forces are goaded on by the use of stimulants, more will be accomplished for a time; but, as the system becomes debilitated by their constant use, it gradually becomes more difficult to rouse the energies to the desired point.”

Page 335 – “Those who attempt to leave off these stimulants will for a time feel a loss and will suffer without them.”

S. G. page 128 – “Tea and coffee are stimulating. .… Those who use these slow poisons, .… think they cannot live without them, because they feel so very badly when they do not have these idols. …. And to just that degree that the nervous system is excited by false stimulants, will be the prostration which will follow after the influence of the exciting cause has abated.”

Comment – These symptoms can be produced, but there is as yet no evidence of wearing out the life forces.

Score – Verified

Why 15 – Physiology of Caffeine (What 17)

M. of H. page 326 - “The nerves of the stomach are excited; these convey irritation to the brain, and this in turn is aroused to impart increased action to the heart and short-lived energy to the entire system….. Their effect is produced before there has been time for digestion and assimilation,” 1868, Testimonies for the Churches Vol 2, page 65.1 – “The relief obtained from them (tea & coffee) is sudden, before the stomach has time to digest them. This shows that what the users of these stimulants call strength is only received by exciting the nerves of the stomach, which convey