CD 294, 448
(Counsels on Diet and Foods 294, 448)
Serving Tea, Coffee, and Flesh Meat in Patients’ Rooms VC
437. In our sanitariums ... no tea, coffee, or flesh meat is to be served, unless it is in some special case, where the patient particularly desires it, and then, these articles of food should be served to him in his room.—Letter 213, 1902 (CD 294.1) MC VC
Tea, Coffee, and Flesh Meat Not to Be Prescribed VC
438. Physicians are not employed to prescribed a flesh diet for patients, for it is this kind of diet that has made them sick. Seek the Lord. When you find Him, you will be meek and lowly of heart. Individually, you will not subsist upon the flesh of dead animals, neither will you put one morsel in the mouths of your children. You will not prescribe flesh, tea, or coffee for your patients, but will give talks in the parlor showing the necessity of a simple diet. You will cut away injurious things from your bill of fare. (CD 294.2) MC VC
To have the physicians of our institutions educating by precept and example, those under their care to use a meat diet, after years of instruction from the Lord, disqualifies them to be superintendents of our health institutes. The Lord does not give light on health reform that it may be disregarded by those who are in positions of influence and authority. The Lord means just what He says, and He is to be honored in what He says. Light is to be given upon these subjects. It is the diet question that needs close investigation, and prescriptions should be made in accordance with health principles.—Extracts from Unpublished Testimonies in Regard to Flesh Foods, 4, 5, 1896. (CD 294.3) MC VC
[See Progressive Dietetic Reform in Seventh-day Adventists Institutions—720-725] (CD 294) MC VC
Liquor Not to Be Served VC
439. We are not building sanitariums for hotels. Receive into our sanitariums only those who desire to conform to right principles, those who will accept the foods that we can conscientiously place before them. Should we allow patients to have intoxicating liquor in their rooms, or should we serve them with meat, we could not give them the help they should receive in coming to our sanitariums. We must let it be known that from principle we exclude such articles from our sanitariums and hygienic restaurants. Do we not desire to see our fellow beings freed from disease and infirmity, and in the enjoyment of health and strength? Then let us be as true to principle as the needle to the pole.—Testimonies for the Church 7:95, 1902 (CD 294.4) MC VC
Conscientious physicians should be prepared to enlighten those who are ignorant, and should with wisdom make out their prescriptions, prohibiting those things in their diet which they know to be erroneous. They should plainly state the things which they regard as detrimental to the laws of health, and leave these suffering ones to work conscientiously to do those things for themselves which they can do, and thus place themselves in right relation to the laws of life and health.—Manuscript 22, 1887 (CD 448.1) MC VC
[Duty of Physicians and Helpers to Educate Their Own Tastes—720]
[The Physician’s Responsibility to Educate by Pen and Voice in Healthful Cookery—382]
[Patients at Health Retreat to Be Educated away from a Flesh Diet—720]
(CD 448)
MC VC
A Solemn Charge VC
775. When a physician sees that a patient is suffering from an ailment caused by improper eating and drinking, yet neglects to tell him of this, and to point out the need of reform, he is doing a fellow being an injury. Drunkards, maniacs, those who are given over to licentiousness,—all appeal to the physician to declare clearly and distinctly that suffering is the result of sin. We have received great light on health reform. Why, then, are we not more decidedly in earnest in striving to counteract the causes that produce disease? Seeing the continual conflict with pain, laboring constantly to alleviate suffering, how can our physicians hold their peace? Can they refrain from lifting the voice in warning? Are they benevolent and merciful if they do not teach strict temperance as a remedy for disease?—Testimonies for the Church 7:74, 75, 1902 (CD 448.2) MC VC