Health
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free, invigorating air of heaven, the blood becomes impure, the vital
organs are weakened, and general debility is the result. By unduly
exciting the sensitive nerves connected with the spinal column, by this
poisonous drug, they lose their tone and vitality, and weakness of the
back and limbs follows. The sight and hearing are often affected, and
in many cases the patient becomes helpless.
I was shown that the innocent, modest-looking, white poppy yields
a dangerous drug. Opium is a slow poison, when taken in small
quantities. In large doses it produces lethargy and death. Its effects
upon the nervous system are ruinous. When patients use this drug until
it becomes habit, it is almost impossible to discontinue it, because
they feel so prostrated and nervous without it. They are in a worse
condition when deprived of it than the rum-drinker without his rum,
or the tobacco-user deprived of his tobacco. The opium slave is in a
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pitiful condition. Unless his nervous system is continually intoxicated
with the poisonous drug, he is miserable. It benumbs the sensibilities,
stupefies the brain, and unfits the mind for the service of God. True
Christians cannot persist in the use of this slow poison, when they
know its influence upon them.
Those who use opium cannot render to God any more acceptable
service than can the drunkard, or the tobacco-user. Those who break
off the use of this nerve and brain-destroying practice will have to
possess fortitude, and suffer, as will the drunkard, and the tobacco
slave, when deprived of their body and mind-destroying indulgences.
God is displeased that his followers should become slaves to habits
which ruin body and mind. Nux vomica, or strychnine, and opium
have killed their millions, and have left thousands upon the earth to
linger out a wretched, suffering existence, a burden to themselves, and
those around them.
Mercury, calomel, and quinine have brought their amount of
wretchedness, which the day of God alone will fully reveal. Prepara-
tions of mercury and calomel taken into the system ever retain their
poisonous strength as long as there is a particle of it left in the system.
These poisonous preparations have destroyed their millions, and left
sufferers upon the earth to linger out a miserable existence. All are
better off without these dangerous mixtures. Miserable sufferers, with
disease in almost every form, mis-shapen by suffering, with dreadful
ulcers, and pains in the bones, loss of teeth, loss of memory, and im-