Simply Wild

The Presentation

Link to "Simply Wild Hydrotherapy" powerpoint

The Cast

Download pdf of the letters:

• Letters to Willie White, March 11, 1897 with inclusions (to Semmens March 10,  and Willie, April 9)

• Letter to Dr J.H. Kellogg, August 1, 1897

• Life with my mother-in-law - An interview with Ethel May Lacey White Currow

Principles:

• Start as soon as symptoms appear

• Because you can follow the textbook. The correct treatment for typhoid is cold (heroic)

• Enlist a person of the same gender - men treat men, women, women.

• With hydrotherapy, recovery from a major fever takes 3 days. Sunday-Tuesday. He was well enough to ride out on the Wednesday.

• Treat very weak people with caution. And differently! "Use no ice, but hot applications."

• Use your brain. Don't be "simply wild", use judgement and reason. Don't just follow the text book. Use it as a guide only.

• Prayer is essential. Not necessarily with the patient, but you need prayer cover.

• Consider the condition of your patient. Especially their vitality.

• Late in the disease you may need to use something different to what you started with.

• Nine cases out of ten. The Retention Fever (cold clammy skin) is much more common than the "Production Fever" of typhoid.

• Ask the patient, emotionally, "Do you want me to cook you up and when you're really sweating we will give you a quick cold." If they don't like that, then offer them something cooler.

• Work quickly and thoroughly.

• You need the help of the great Physician. Ask for help.

• You need to counsel with your peers. Ask for help.

• We are human agents for the Lord.

• The very best nurses don't use drugs. Instead they use pure, hygienic principles.

• Recovery is quicker without having to recover from the drugs.

• People must be allowed to give testimonies. This will show that Jesus is present and blesses.

• Hygienic methods are blessed by God. 

• Nothing should be put in the body that leaves a baleful influence behind.

• Sanitariums were established so we could treat the sick by different methods

Letter 189, 1897

White, W. C.

Sunnyside, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

March 11, 1897

Dear Son Willie:

We are thankful to our heavenly Father that we are all in good health. Wednesday February twenty-four, a telegram came that Sister Hurd was released from quarantine. Brother Haskell had been with us over the Sabbath up to that time. There were excellent meetings held in early morning. A goodly number attended the meetings and good was accomplished.

Last Sunday, March seven, Brother and Sister Haskell returned from Summer Hill. They were married in the Health Home without any parade at all. I am glad it is thus, for Brother Haskell needs a wife, and the woman he has married is a sensible, intelligent woman [who] can be a great blessing to him. I believe it is as the Lord would have it. He will be a help here, and if there was ever a place where help is needed, it is right here.

Lawrence and his wife left for New Zealand last Wednesday. There was, for a time, a change in him, but as he did not follow the light, he lost all the good impressions he had received and is the same man he was.

Last Sunday Brother Robert Lamplough was taken very sick with all the symptoms of typhoid fever. Sara visited him in company with your wife May, and they both worked over him faithfully, giving heroic treatment. The fever ran very high. We all thought the poor young man was in for a long siege, but they kept at it. They enlisted Brother Hanson. We provided the food he should eat, and he responded to the treatment and yesterday went out to ride. He is quite weak but feeling well. It was a violent attack, and he received the most thorough treatment. I thank the Lord for his recovery, for it would have been a great tax upon us to have treated a case of typhoid through its period.

We were made very sad to hear of Herbert Lacey’s coming down very sick in Tasmania. He walked one day nine miles to visit his old home and to see where his mother was buried, and then, all in a heated condition, he sat on the doorstep of the house where we visited Brother Lacey and became chilled. He came down to his bed. Christine, Sister Lacey’s eldest daughter, took care of him. I directed a letter at once to Brother and Sister Wilson and told them to look after Herbert and see that everything was done for him that could be done and I would meet the expense. But a telegram came one week ago today on Friday, that he would be in Sydney that day. We hurried Lillian off to meet him. He got off at the same time his wife stepped from the train. He is, they say, in for typhoid fever. Brother Haskell was at the Health Home. Brother Semmens was not willing that he should see him. He said he was very weak, but he ought to have seen him. Brother Baker and Brothers Haskell and Semmens prayed for him. Lillian wrote he was very poor, nothing but skin and bones. He lost twenty pounds in one week in Tasmania.

I think it was a very venturesome move for him to come from Tasmania to Melbourne, then take the excursion train for Sydney. All alone in that crowded car was enough to exhaust a well man. Lillian wrote to Father Lacey that Brother Semmens was using ice on his bowels. But in several cases light had been given me that the ice remedy was not as efficacious as the hot water. I was afraid. His vitality, I learned, was very low and to put ice on head and chest I knew was a mistake. It would tax his vitality. I asked Sara if she would go on that morning train. She refused promptly. I then sent a telegram, “Use no ice, but hot applications,” but I felt so sorry I could not help crying. I asked Sara if she would go. She at first refused, and then consented because I felt so bad in regard to the matter.

While in Sydney, Brother _____ from Dora Creek was his [Brother Semmens’] patient. One day he gave him treatment, strong electricity, which injured him and frightened him terribly. One side of him was as if on fire, the other side was icy cold. He made a mistake here, I know, and there must be no risk run over Herbert’s case. I was not going to be so delicate in regard to the physician as to permit Herbert Lacey’s life to be put out. I will enclose that which I sent to Brother Semmens. Sara went down Wednesday afternoon. Today we shall have a report. I am very anxious. We are praying for the young man. God will hear us. He will answer our prayers. I do believe the Lord will restore him to health.

When Sara advocated the ice treatment I told her it was no use. There might be cases where the ice applications would work well. But books with prescriptions that are followed to the letter in regard to ice applications should have further explanations, that persons with low vitality should use hot in the place of cold, but to go just as the book of Dr. Kellogg shall direct without considering the subject is simply wild.

Hot fomentations in fever will kill the inflammation in nine cases out of ten where ice applications will, according to the light given me, tax the vitality unsafely. Here is where the danger comes in of not using judgment and reason in regard to the subject under treatment. But enough of this.

Your two boys are doing well. We have secured several hundred pounds of Isabella grapes from Whitehead, for two and half penny a pound. They make the richest kind of wine. We had just weighed out my one hundred pounds, and a large pan of them was put on the floor to prepare a place for them and lo, Henry spied them. Sara called me to see the picnic. He had crawled with the greatest speed, and there he was, on his knees, picking the grapes from the clusters and putting them in his mouth, but very particular to put his finger in his mouth and take out the skins and put them back in the tub. He worked at this until he was satisfied. They seem to know fruit as soon as they catch sight of it. I purchased a box of rich yellow peaches of Brother Parcells. These I have kept for the babies, for it is the last we shall have. They will each eat one and a half at a time. I went in yesterday morning and Herbert was eating a peach from his mother’s hand. When I came in he made his arms fly up and down to express his great pleasure. The boys are doing well.

Ella and Mabel are in much better health than when they came to Sunnyside. Both are doing well. May says she feels so much better since she has been here and it is such a relief to have no boarders. The children are good-natured and seldom cry and make trouble. In three weeks they will be one year old. Both are very spry at creeping, something you, their father, never did do.

I have last night obtained the figures for a house plan as you suggested and marked out, but Brother Haskell suggested some improvements. May will tell you about this better than I can. The complete work done on the house, including painting, a bricked-up cellar of ten by twelve, will come to two hundred fifty pounds. I can get the lumber at our mill but, closely inquiring, Brother Haskell says the lumber is figured too high. Brother Hare says he can get a bill of lumber for five shillings per hundred. Someone has offered him a bill of lumber at these figures. He asks seven shillings and then the bill of drawing swells the sum. Last evening Lamplough and Haskell and May and I took all into consideration that if the building we decided [on] could be brought within two hundred pounds we would complete the building. Brother Haskell is looking carefully over these things. Now [that] the bill of building is given in, we can know something of how to do.

We cannot call off the workers on the school building; we do not desire to do this. But the cellar can be dug and the foundation laid and everything like lumber brought on the ground, and then we can have everything preparatory to making a quick job and get your family into the building after it is plastered. Brother Hare advises so, also Elder Haskell, to give the job into Lamplough’s hands for him to employ the workmen, the day laborers. This matter is one that must have attention. Your family cannot, with my consent, remain in the small compass where they are any longer than is positively necessary. In the figuring, we cut ten pounds on roofing. The roof will, if made as this on my house is, save ten pounds, and money is too scare to be used up merely for fancy. May is with me in every move. We consult her in everything. We shall have a piazza eight feet wide on two sides of the house, and I think the house will suit you. We shall have a complete plan by middle of the next week.

Now this is the judgment of the men whose judgment I value of any worth. So we shall go straight ahead, when we can have the workers. Worsnop is working on your land, clearing, cutting down the trees you specified to Connell you wished done.

We shall send your mail by this Vancouver boat next Monday. The boat by way of San Francisco will carry something more, but let Edson see the letters I send you, and then I will not be to the expense of paying postage. I have just seen May. She says the children slept all night, excellently well. I read her these two pages thus far. I will write you again soon, to go out next Monday. Marian is in good spirits in regard to the book on the life of Christ. I am now writing on the foot washing ordinance and on the Lord’s Supper. Will send you the matter. I have decided from henceforth no letters go from me only of such a character as Bible subjects so that if I wish to use them in books I can do so.

We all miss you. We have pitched our large family tent and floored it and fitted it up for Brother and Sister Haskell. They live and sleep in the tent. It is carpeted, and they enjoy it. They have also that room you used as an office. Can sleep in it whenever they choose. They seem sensible and seem to enjoy their home.

In much love,

Mother.

Will send letter to Edson next mail.

Letter 112a, 1897

Semmens, Brother

“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

March 10, 1897

Dear Brother Semmens:

I have just sent you a telegram. In a letter written to Brother Lacey, the father of Herbert Lacey, Sister Lacey was describing, I think, the treatment you were giving Brother Lacey, the ice, etc. used to keep down the fever.

I feel that the ice used is a mistake. The light which has been given me in reference to several critical cases has been represented to me as a sick child I had in charge, and in every case the directions given were, Do not apply ice to the head, <but cool water;> apply hot fomentations <to the bowels, stomach, and liver.> This will quell the fever much sooner even than cold. The reaction after the cold applications raises the fever, in the place of killing it. This direction has been given me again and again. In some cases, the ice applications may be warrantable, but in most cases, they are not advisable. If <the invalid> has any vitality, the system will sent the blood to where the cold is, and very often the system has no power for this taxation. Brother Herbert has low vitality. Some cases may endure this <other> kind of treatment, but I greatly fear for Brother Lacey, if it is continued. Use hot water. In nine cases out of ten it will do a more successful work than the cold ice would do.

I cannot now write out all the cases I have handled under the light given me of God, but every case has worked favorably. I have given these directions to physicians of repute, those not of our faith, and those of our faith, and in every case, even in fevers, they have reported success in treating with hot water in the place of cold water or applications of ice.

My husband and myself were urgently requested to go from Battle Creek to Allegan, in the case of Dr. Lay’s wife, to pray for her, for there was little hope of her life. We went about thirty-five miles. No one had been <in her room> to see the woman but her husband, Dr. Lay, and the physician in that place. We inquired the reason of her prostration. They said it was hemorrhage from the lungs. My husband inquired “What are you doing?” Dr. Lay responded, “Putting on cold compresses.” We then told the doctors that they were doing the worst thing for the woman that they could do. They should keep hot water bags to her feet, and hot water bags to her lungs and stomach. The cold water, or ice water, to the lungs was diverting the blood from limbs and body to meet the cold application, and another hemorrhage would certainly appear soon. “Why,” the doctors said, “this is sensible; why did we not consider, and reason from cause to effect?”

The cold was immediately replaced by hot, and she was much more comfortable. She had been lying for three days. They had not dared to move her for fear of hemorrhage. Her clothing was removed the next day, and she began to feel natural. Dr. Lay said, “You have, by your counsel, saved the life of my wife.” He was the most grateful man I ever saw. She lived for about twenty years after that sickness.

There was another woman, greatly respected in Allegan, who was full of malaria. She came to the sanitarium for treatment. She had been under treatment two weeks, but received no benefit. One night I dreamed that Dr. Lay came to me with much perplexity expressed in his countenance. I said, “What is it, Doctor?” He said, “I am put to my wits end to know what to do in the case of Sister _____. She does not improve at all.” Said I, “Dr. Lay, what influence would it have on cold tallow to put it in cold or tepid water?” “None at all,” he said. “I have no more to say,” I said. “A word to the wise is sufficient.”

The next day Dr. Lay came to our house, and desired an interview with me. He repeated the words in my dream, and I gave the same answer. I said, “Give her as hot [a] treatment as she can bear.” “Why did I not think of this myself?” he said. He acted upon the light given, with perfect success.

We were living on our farm, eighty miles from Battle Creek. The snow had been very deep, the rain had set in and made the water standing in the road a river. Brother Wilson, father of the Brother Wilson now in Tasmania, had been sick, and a telegram was sent for Dr. Lay to come immediately. His father was in a terrible state of erysipelas. The brother of father Wilson came to see me early one morning and presented the case before me. I said, “I cannot go, Brother Wilson;” for Brother King was receiving treatment at our house. He had been kicked by a horse and his skull was broken, and the doctor would not trust him in any one’s hands but my husband’s and myself; for he said, that there was only one chance out of a hundred for his life. The crisis had now come, and we could not leave him.

I said, “Brother Wilson, I had a dream last night. I was taking care of a sick child. Its head was swollen enormously, and the child was unconscious. Some were saying ‘Put cold water on its head.’ One came in and stood by the bed, and said, ‘This is a critical case. Cold water is not the right prescription. Take two flannel sheets, wet them as hot as you can handle them, and wrap him up in the pack, and put a flannel wet in warm water round his head. Keep this in operation until he manifests sensibility to heat. Work, quickly and thoroughly; for you will have no time to lose.’” “Now,” said I to Brother Wilson, “call at your sister’s, get the blankets, and follow directions precisely.” He did this, and <when he> put on the third application, he began to shrink; for he was revealing sensibility. O what rejoicing was in that house. The battle was fought, and the victory gained, before Dr. Lay arrived.

The second or third night I dreamed of having the care of a child that was weak, and seemed unable to rally. I thought the same physician stood by the cradle, and said, Have you any wine in the house? Beat up a raw egg and give it to the child with grape wine three times each day. He will rally. Dr. Lay came the next morning and said he must return to the sanitarium on the <next> morning, that the erysipelas was conquered, but that he was extremely weak. I am perplexed to know what to do. I told him my dream, and he went immediately, and gave him the strengthening potion. He gained strength rapidly. This occurred when Willie was about twelve years old.

I might present case after case of a similar character. When I have taken treatment at the sanitarium, Dr. Kellogg has always told the head nurses to allow Sister White to prescribe her own treatment. They used to give me cold <ice> applications to my head, but it was always an injury to me, and I changed them to warm applications to the spine and head, and to the eyes hot salt water fomentations, but seldom ever cold, I have had inflammation to the eyes, but hot applications were used, and with good success.

I send you at this time pulverized coal [charcoal]. Let him drink the water, after it has stood a while to extract the virtue. This should be cold, when used. When used for fomentations over the bowels, coal should be put into a bag, sewed up, and <dipped in hot water;> it will serve several times. Have two bags, use one, and then the other.

I send this to you by Sara. Let her stand by your side and help you share the responsibility in the most critical period. Herbert Lacey is a man of value, a man the Lord loves. The enemy must not come in and take him away. We are praying for you and for him, that you may be guided aright, and that you may have the help of the great Physician.

Sara is not much pleased to go. Make it as pleasant for her as you can. We shall miss her here, but for a few days I consent for her to go to you. Counsel together, and Sara will help you. She has tried to vindicate cold and ice water treatment, but I differ with her. There is not strength in that frail body now to bear any such heroic treatment. O, how my heart yearns over Herbert Lacey. He is precious in the sight of the Lord, and we must not fail to do everything in our power for him.

I have given you the light God has given me, and I consider that it is light. I sent the telegram, because I did not then expect that Sara would go to Sydney. May the Lord bless you as a family, is my prayer.

In love to you all.

We will make Herbert’s case a special subject of prayer. Tell Brother Baker to pray for him. You and your wife pray that the Lord will raise him up to health.

Letter 190, 1897

White, W. C.

Sunnyside, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

April 9, 1897

Dear Son Willie:

Everything is going forward well on the school grounds. Every available helper is put into service. The cistern is bricked up; next the plastering takes place. Brother Herbert Lacey and his wife and Crissie Hawkins and baby came today. I sent my surrey to bring them up. He is feeling real well and means to engage in the school at its beginning. I am so pleased. Sara and Sister Haskell and Maggie have just come from preparing the room in [the] second building for meeting tomorrow, Sabbath. Next Sabbath it will be in the upper story which will be used as a chapel until we can do better by being able to build one of our own. Elder Haskell may not be able to be here under two weeks. Then he will come, I think. Brother Hare and Sister Haskell will help hold the fort. At present, Elder Daniells and Elder Haskell will keep in Adelaide to see how matters will turn with Hawkins and McCullagh. (But more after the Sabbath.)

April 11

We met in the last new building. What a change for the better! Sister Haskell, Sara, Maggie, and Minnie joined the force and worked to prepare things for the occasion.

May White drove a span of horses before the surrey to meet her dear brother whom the Lord has spared to us, Brother and Sister Herbert Lacey, and Crissie from Tasmania with her boy, a good-looking plump boy, who joined them at Sydney. All went directly to Father Lacey’s. Brother Herbert walked from his father’s to the meeting in the new building. He feels so well and we are so very thankful that the Lord wrought in his behalf, making Brother Semmens His human agent. He carried through the case without drugs. W. C. White, the Lord has opened to me why so many cases are lost who have typhoid fever. They are drugged, and nature has not strength to overcome the drugs given them. Our physicians ought to spend the money invested in drugs to employ the very best class of nurses that will go through the treatment process upon pure, hygienic principles.

Herbert was very low because he was sick one week or more, yet he traveled home. I felt so sad that our people in Melbourne put him all alone in second-class compartment where they were smoking and crowded, and he so sick. But the Lord has been merciful. We prayed for him most earnestly, and he was treated wisely and well and has come up from his sickness, his whole system purified and without a long period of debility to recover from drug medication. He walked from Father Lacey’s to the building, and we thanked the Lord.

The congregation was large, and the blessing of the Lord was upon us. All seemed of excellent courage. Herbert and his wife bore their testimony, and it was full of thankfulness and praise to God. We had the best testimony meeting we have had in Cooranbong. There was an old man present who sleeps out of doors, a tramp, we would call him, who said a few words with the rest. He has not attended a religious meeting for above sixty years, until one week ago last Sabbath he was in the meeting, and last Sabbath. He is eighty years old. Some other strangers were present. There was a wave of thanksgiving to God that He had prospered us to be able to meet in a better situation to worship God. His blessing was in our midst, and we all felt it was a privilege to be there, for we knew that Jesus was present and His blessing was given us, which we appreciate so much.

We have been pressing matters forward as fast as possible. The past week many women and men have given their time, for we had no money to pay them. This week the same work will go forward. The bedsteads were thoroughly cleaned yesterday. Connell has gone over them all with the kind of paint they use for furniture. His pledge is to keep him at the work one week longer. Brother James has given one week, also Brother Worsnop. The girls will do something more after this mail is off.

School will open at the appointed time, the twenty-eighth day of April. Brother Herbert Lacey will be on hand, ready to begin. We hope Brother Haskell may be able to leave Adelaide. He is doing good work. Brother Hare felt so down because he had to leave, but his wife, Sara, and I have tried our best to supply the lack and Brother Hare feels of excellent courage.

I have had much writing to do for Melbourne and Adelaide. I am so sorry I cannot write you for this mail anything in regard to Adelaide since Sabbath and Sunday meetings. I hope Brother Haskell will write you.

Sister Haskell yesterday read the letter to me which she has written to the General Conference Committee and to you. She understands the matter and feels deeply for Brother Haskell’s sake. Let the General Conference carry his case as they have done. He feels every change of this kind, and it hurts him; and when once he gets an unfavorable impression, it sticks in his mind and is hard to remove. Do not make any changes. Let the General Conference take his case for the future and settle his bills as they have done. His help is valuable. And he has the very best woman I know of in the world for him, and she will help him.

We must be very careful, courteous, and tender of the few men who are spared to us who have a long experience in the work of God from its earliest years. Tell them all to deal with Elder Haskell carefully and liberally, for his whole heart and whole being are in the cause of God and its advancement. He has not a selfish thought in his mind. His wife is just the help he needs and is an excellent worker. She is now president of the Sabbath School and a wonderful change has come. She will give Bible readings in the school or anywhere. If he is obliged to be off, as he has been called away, now she can come right in as an instructor.

We are glad that Brother and Sister Hughes are coming. We will welcome them heartily. Brother and Sister Lacey are much pleased that they are coming. We shall begin school without delay at the time appointed. The Lord has means for us somewhere, and He will work with His own power. Satan will make his masterly efforts as he has done, but he will fail, for the Lord can do that which He will for our good and His own name’s glory. I send you letters written for you to do with as you see best.

In reference to Edson White, be sure and meet him and spend enough time with him to find out how he stands. I am of the opinion that the Southern States are not favorable to the health of himself or his wife, but the Lord knows all about this. I merely mention it, that if the health is endangered, they should find places where they can unitedly labor and give all that there is of them without reserve to the Lord. These children lie very near my heart, and all I ask is that they may be just where the Lord would have them in His work. If I never see them in this world, we will meet where there is no separation. If it becomes necessary that they be with or near me, the Lord can bring that about. The will of the Lord be done.

Mother.