This is a fascinating window into the practice of medicine (bad as well as good) nearly 150 years ago. Dr. Kellogg decries the then common practice of prescribing a variety of poisonous substances-mercury, arsenic, e.g.-as well even as bloodletting, to "relieve" the patient's response to their illness. In replacement, he promotes lifestyle changes and simple remedies in harmony with the laws of nature. This is a universal must read. Merritt Gardner Kellogg (1832-1922). Physician, Missionary. He was an elder brother of John Harvey Kellogg M. D. of Battle Creek fame. In 1859 he moved to California (perhaps its first Seventh-day Adventist) where he was involved in developing the early Church work. In 1861 he took a short medical course at Troll's Hygieo-Therapeutic College and then added health lectures and medical work to his ministry.In 1870, when he and J. N. Loughborough were holding meetings, an epidemic of smallpox broke out. Using water treatments and diet, Dr. Kellogg lost only one patient, an infant, out of 11 cases. Another doctor using drugs lost four out of five. Soon after, he wrote and published this present volume. In 1877 and 1878 he helped to establish the Rural Health Retreat, later St. Helena Sanitarium, near St. Helena, California. In 1893, he sailed on the mission ship Pitcairn to help develop the work in the South Sea islands. Later, in Australia, he designed and supervised the building of the Sydney Sanitarium. In 1903 he returned to the United States, spending his final years in Healdsburg, California.Since doctor Kellogg's day much has been learned in regards to the laws of nature such as normal and abnormal responses of the human body in health and in disease. His book describes the classic response of cycles of chills and fever resulting from the infection of the malarial parasite but the causative parasite was not discovered until 1897. Thus, the information in this book should be closely filtered through up-to-date sources of information on anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, treatment, etc. In regards to the lifestyle and simple remedies it promotes, it would be well to measure it by the writings of Ellen G. White. Two convenient publications are "The Ministry of Healing" and "All About Herbs, Charcoal, Medications, and Drugs: A Spirit of Prophecy Compilation," available through http: //vsdigitalinspiration.com.Readers of this volume will find much to benefit from. The areas of proper lifestyle in the prevention and treatment of disease are very important. Also, the description of the various forms of hydrotherapy are very instructive. The book is divided into four parts: Part I: HEALTH AND HYGIENIC AGENTS.PART II. DISEASE AND DRUGSPART III. THE BATH: ITS USE AND APPLICATION.PART IV. DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. In the Preface, the author states the following: "Were we fully acquainted with the laws of life and health, there can be no doubt that, by conforming to those laws to the extent of our power, we might escape many of the ills to which flesh is supposed to be heir, yet even then we should still be liable to sickness and death, because of circumstances over which we have no control. But all are not acquainted with the laws of health. In fact, there are very few that have any just conception of what is necessary to the continuation of health, therefore, all are more or less liable to be prostrated with disease. This being the case, it is highly important that every person should acquaint himself with the laws of his being, and learn just the conditions requisite to health, and the proper method of treatment to pursue to restore those conditions should any of them ever become wanting, as in disease.""Says Prof. Parker: 'As we place more confidence in nature, and less in preparations of the apothecary, mortality diminishes.' Again: 'Hygiene is of far more value in the treatment of disease than drugs.'" page {10