ACUTE DISEASES AND THEIR REMEDY by J. E. Homans

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, February 5, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 6

ACUTE DISEASES AND THEIR REMEDY.

By J. E. Homans

THE following article from the Christian Weekly, republished in the Advance (Chicago) is very interesting, as it shows the view, not of the unthinking class, that are swayed with every gust of public opinion, but of those who read, observe, calmly compare, and think. Their opinions are entitled to weight. The papers in which the article appears are among the leading ones of our country, and no one accuses them, or the able writer of the article, Rev. J. E. Homans, of fanaticism. Neither is this an isolated article; plenty more of the same sort are published in the leading journals. Why is there an undertone of such deep concern? Is it not because we are living in the times when our Saviour said the hearts of men should fail them for fear, and for looking after those things that shall come upon the earth?

An old New York physician calling upon Dr. Harris, the distinguished statistician, some months ago, was led to the following line of remark. Observing the pigeon-holes all around the office filled with reports of sanitary matters from all parts of the world, he said,—

“How remarkable it is, Dr. Harris, that from every quarter there comes the same story of the prevalence and fatal character of acute diseases.”

“Yes,” was the reply, “we have the same report from lands civilized and uncivilized, from Africa and Asia, as well as Europe and this country. Such diseases as pneumonia and diphtheria are everywhere increasing, and increasingly fatal.”

“Well, how do you account for the fact that they yield so much less easily to medical treatment?”

“You know that we physicians have been compelled during the past twenty years to change our entire course of administration. It has not been change of theory merely, but compulsory change of practice. Twenty years ago, if a man had an attack of pneumonia, we bled him and took away his strength, and in most cases, even after this process of depletion, he would rally and recover. But now, we, from the outset of the attack, must stimulate and build up his strength, and still in most cases, if at all severe, he gives way and dies. Now what has brought about this great change? If the altered state of things were confined to civilized lands alone, we might look for some cause in the changed habits of this generation, or the use of gases and furnaces, or other enfeebling luxuries of domestic living; but the same facts existing in savage and uncivilized countries, show that the

cause lies outside of these influences. Now for a universal evil there must be a universal cause. My opinion is that some cause has been in operation affecting the whole world, and the constitution of the race. Whether it be atmospheric or planetary, or whatever the source, there has been some agency which has gradually but surely been lowering the tone of the human system, and making it more difficult to rally it from the attacks of violent disease. This, the testimony of all medical men everywhere will most surely corroborate.”

These remarks, which were in substance related to me by the able physician who made them, are not only suggestive of thought, in connection with the physical condition of men in general, they point to an analogous state of things in the spiritual world as well. It cannot be denied that in the moral and religious tone of society at large all the world over, there has been a deterioration and a failure to respond to former remedies, of increasing and notable character. The average Christian conscience has lost much of its tenderness, and does not hesitate to act upon principles which even a generation since would have been accepted with great hesitation. The lines of Christian conformity to the maxims of amusements of the world, are much more loosely drawn. The participation in theatrical and operatic exhibitions, the mingling in dances, the Sabbath indulgences of reading and riding and neglect of the service of God, were very differently regarded then by most professors of religion. And as the evil has extended, the old remedies of religious warning and instruction have greatly failed of their former effects. There is less closet study and reading of the word, less private prayer, less exaltation of self-denial, and of strict integrity in all the relations of life. And this relaxation and moral feebleness appear to be of universal prevalence and obstinacy.

Is there, then, some general cause which is affecting the world morally and spiritually, as well as physically? Are we drawing nigh to the “last days,” when “perilous times shall come”? “For men shall,” then the apostle tells us, “be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Truly these are acute diseases of the soul. And what is the remedy? Must we stimulate with the exhilarating tonics which many sensational preachers and teachers now adopt? Must we substitute entertainments for gospel simplicity and earnest truths? Some seem to think so. But will it be found in the end, that these human devices will result, as in the corresponding medical treatment, in failure and death in most cases so treated? In any event, let us recognize the facts as they exist, and use the means which God has always blessed, and which alone can meet the acute diseases of sin as manifested in the age in which we live.