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paired sight, are to be seen almost every where. They are victims of
poisonous preparations, which have been, in many cases, administered
to cure some slight indisposition, which after a day or two of fasting
would have disappeared without medicine. But poisonous mixtures,
administered by physicians, have proved their ruin.
The endless variety of medicines in the market, the numerous
advertisements of new drugs and mixtures, all of which, as they say,
do wonderful cures, kill hundreds where they benefit one. Those who
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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 weaker,
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.
Every poisonous preparation in the vegetable and mineral king-
doms, taken into the system, will leave its wretched influence, affecting
the liver and lungs, and deranging the system generally. Nor does the
evil end here. Diseased, feeble infants are brought into the world to
share this misery, transmitted to them from their parents.
I have been shown that a great amount of suffering might be saved
if all would labor to prevent disease, by strictly obeying the laws of
health. Strict habits of cleanliness should be observed. Many, while
well, will not take the trouble to keep in a healthy condition. They
neglect personal cleanliness, and are not careful to keep their clothing
pure. Impurities are constantly and imperceptibly passing from the
body, through the pores of the skin, and if the surface of the skin is
not kept in a healthy condition, the system is burdened with impure
matter. If the clothing worn is not often washed, and frequently aired,
it becomes filthy with impurities which are thrown off from the body
by sensible and insensible perspiration. And if the garments worn
are not frequently cleansed from these impurities, the pores of the
skin absorb again the waste matter thrown off. The impurities of the
body, if not allowed to escape, are taken back into the blood, and
forced upon the internal organs. Nature, to relieve herself of poisonous
impurities, makes an effort to free the system, which effort produces
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