Joseph Smith as Scientist: A Contribution to Mormon Philosophy Part 9

The man who is baptized into the kingdom of heavenly bodies by grinding the lenses right, is enabled to learn many new facts concerning the nature and motions of celestial bodies; and thus receives intelligence. He who obediently winds the wire correctly around the iron core, may generate a current of electricity with which many mighty works may be accomplished. Do not these men, as their intelligences are expanded, receive a Gift of the Holy Ghost, as a reward for their obedience to the demands of nature?

It would be possible to carry the comparisons into every scientific action without strengthening the argument. In science, if a person has faith, repentance and is baptized, that is obeys, he will receive added intelligence, which is the equivalent of the Gift of the Holy Ghost as taught in theology. The four fundamental laws for the guidance of the individual are identical in Mormon theology, and in modern science.

Just why the laying on of hands should be necessary to complete the ordinance of baptism is not known, any more than the reasons are known for the results that follow the numberless relations that may be established by mortal man. However, the dogma of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, is logically the fourth step in attaining scientific salvation.

Thus, each of the minor laws of Mormonsim might be investigated, and be shown to have a scientific counterpart. For the purpose of this volume, however, a more extended consideration of the laws governing the actions of the individual, is unnecessary.

Chapter XIII.

THE WORD OF WISDOM.

It has already been remarked that the nature of the mission of Joseph Smith made it unlikely that references to scientific matters, and much less to isolated scientific facts, obtainable by proper methods of experimentation should be found in the writings of the Prophet.

Nevertheless, in a revelation given March 8, 1883, statements are made that can now be connected with facts of science, not generally or not at all known, at the time the revelation was received.

"Inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, it is not good, * * * strong drinks are not for the belly but for the was.h.i.+ng of your bodies."[A]

[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:5, 7.]

[Sidenote: The doctrine that alcohol is injurious to man is scientific.]

At the time this was written, many persons believed that the use of alcoholic drinks was injurious to human health; but more, especially among the uneducated cla.s.ses, held quite the opposite opinion. Since that day, the question concerning the value of alcohol in any form has been greatly agitated, and much new light has been obtained. This is not the place to examine this famous controversy, but a few quotations from authoritative books, which are not controversial in their nature, will show the coincidence between the position of science, and the doctrine of Joseph Smith, in respect to this matter.

The _United States Dispensatory_ (17th ed.) speaks of the medicinal properties of alcohol as follows, "It is irritant even to the skin, and much more so to the delicate organs; hence, the various abdominal inflammations that are so frequent in habitual drunkards. A single dose of it, if large enough, may produce death. The nervous symptoms caused by alcohol show that it has a very powerful and direct influence upon the nerve-centers. The arterial pressure and the pulse-rate are both increased by moderate doses of alcohol, by a direct influence upon the heart itself. * * * Taken habitually in excess, alcohol produces the most deplorable results, and is a very common cause of fatal maladies."[A]

[Footnote A: Page 129, art., Alcohol Ethylic.u.m.]

Dr. W. Gilman Thompson in his authoritative book on _Practical Dietetics,_ speaking of the constant use of alcoholic beverages, says, "The use of alcohol in any shape is wholly unnecessary for the use of the human organism in health. * * * * The lifelong use of alcohol in moderation does not necessarily shorten life or induce disease in some persons, while in others it undoubtedly produces gradual and permanent changes which tend to weaken vital organs so that the resistance of the body to disease is materially impaired. * * * * Many persons should be particularly warned against the use of alcohol. * * * *

Although alcohol is such a strong force-producer and heat-generator, its effect in this direction is very soon counter-balanced by its stronger influence in lowering the general tone of the nervous system and in producing positive degeneration in the tissues."[A]

[Footnote A: Pages 206, 207.]

The recent newspaper statements that alcohol has been shown to be a food are based on a complete misunderstanding. The experiments demonstrated that alcohol is burned within the body--which is the simplest manner in which the body can rid itself of the alcohol.

No more authoritative opinions on this subject can be found than those contained in the two volumes from which quotations have been made--and the strongest opinions are not quoted. In spite of the isolated claims made for alcohol, the fact remains that the knowledge of the world indicates that alcohol is a poison to the human system; that it is not "for the belly." However, the value of the external use of alcohol, for various purposes, has never been denied. On the contrary almost every up to date pract.i.tioner recommends the external use of alcohol, as for instance after baths for lowering the temperature of fever patients. In this matter, then, Joseph Smith was in perfect harmony with the latest results of science. It is strange that he, unlearned as he was, should have stated what is now known as truth, so clearly and simply, yet so emphatically, more than seventy years ago, before the main experiments on the effect of alcohol on the human organsim had been made.

[Sidenote: The doctrine that tobacco is injurious to man is scientific.]

"And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill."[A] Although tobacco has been used for several centuries by civilized man, the real cause of the effect which it has upon the human body was not understood until the early part of the last century. In 1809, a chemist separated from tobacco an active principle, in an impure state, some of the properties of which he observed. In 1822, two other chemists succeeded in isolating the same principle, in a pure condition, and found it to be a colorless, oily liquid, of which two to eight per cent is found in all tobacco.

This substance has been called nicotine; later investigations have shown it to be one of the most active poisons known. Tobacco owes its activity entirely to this poison."[B]

[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:8.]

[Footnote B: Wormley, Micro-chemistry of Poisons, 2nd ed., pp. 434, 435.]

The intensely poisonous nature of nicotine is ill.u.s.trated by a number of cases on record. One drop placed on the tongue of a cat caused immediate prostration, and death in seventy-eight seconds. A smaller drop was placed on the tongue of another cat, which resulted in death after two minutes and a half. A third cat to which a similar quant.i.ty had been administered was dead after seventy-five seconds. A man who was accustomed to smoking took a chew of tobacco, and after a quarter of an hour accidently swallowed the ma.s.s. An hour later he became unconscious and died. In another case, in which an ounce of tobacco had been swallowed, death resulted in seven hours. In still another case, one ounce of tobacco was boiled in water, and the solution drunk as an remedy for constipation. The patient died in three quarters of an hour.[A] These, and numerous other cases, ill.u.s.trate the intensely poisonous nature of tobacco. The evil effects of the repeated use of small amounts of tobacco, in smoking or chewing are also well understood.

[Footnote A: Ibid, pp. 436, 437.]

[Sidenote: Joseph Smith probably did not know the poisonous nature of tobacco in 1833.]

It was in 1828, about five years before Joseph Smith's doctrine with respect to tobacco was given, that nicotine was obtained in a pure state. Many years later the chemists and physiologists learned to understand the dangerous nature of the tobacco poison. It does not seem probable that Joseph Smith had heard of the discovery of nicotine in 1833; the discovery was announced in a German scientific journal, and in those days of few newspapers, scientific news, even of public interest, was not made generally known as quickly as is the case today. In fact, Hyrum Smith, the brother of the Prophet, on May 29, 1842, delivered a sermon upon the Word of Wisdom in which he says, "Tobacco is a nauseous, stinking, abominable thing;"[A] but nothing worse, thus basing his main objection to it on the revealed word of the Lord. Had Joseph and his a.s.sociates been familiar with the isolation of nicotine and its properties, they would undoubtedly have mentioned it in sermons especially directed against the use of tobacco. In any case, at a time when it was but vaguely known that tobacco contained a poisonous principle, it would have been extremely hazardous for the reputation of an impostor to have claimed a revelation from G.o.d, stating distinctly the injurious effects of tobacco.

[Footnote A: The Contributor, vol. iv., p. 13; Improvement Era, Vol.

4. pp. 943-9.]

It should also be noted that Joseph Smith says that when tobacco is used for bruises and all sick cattle, it should be used with judgment and skill, thus impressing caution even in the external application of the herb. This is fully borne out by facts, for it has been found that "the external application of tobacco to abraded surfaces, and even to the healthy skin, has been attended with violent symptoms, and even death."[A]

[Footnote A: Wormley, Micro-chemistry of Poisons, p. 436.]

In the matter of the chemistry and physiological action of tobacco, then, the Prophet, in 1833, was in full accord with the best knowledge of 1908. In the emphasis of his doctrine, he even antic.i.p.ated the world of science.

"And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly."[A]

[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:9.]

[Sidenote: The doctrine that tea and coffee are injurious to man is scientific.]

When this statement was made, in 1833, the meaning of the expression hot drinks was not clearly understood. Many believed that the only meaning of the above statement was that drinks that are hot enough to burn the mouth should not be used. Others, however, claimed for the doctrine a deeper meaning. To settle the difficulty, appeal was made to Joseph Smith who explained that tea, coffee and similar drinks were meant by the expression hot drinks. From that time on, the Church has taught that tea and coffee should not be used by mankind.[A]

[Footnote A: See The Contributor, vol. iv. p. 13; Improvement Era, vol 4, pp. 943-9.]

In the year 1821, several chemists isolated from coffee a bitter principle, of peculiar properties, which was named caffein. In 1827, the same substance was found to occur in tea. Numerous a.n.a.lysis show that there are between one and two per cent of caffein in coffee, and between three and six percent in tea. Later investigations have shown that caffein belongs to the vegetable poisons, and that its poisonous action is very strong.

Among the medical properties of caffein are the following, "in doses of three to five grains, it produces a peculiar wakefulness--after a dose of twelve grains, it produces intense physical restlessness and mental anxiety. Upon the muscles it acts as a powerful poison--it is used in medicines as a brain and heart stimulant."[A] Fatal cases of poisoning are also on record.

[Footnote A: U. S. Dispensatory, 17th ed., pp. 278 and 279.]

Caffein is not in any sense a food, but, as a stimulant, must be cla.s.sed with tobacco, opium and other similar substances. Owing to its action on the heart and circulation, the body becomes heated, and in that sense a solution of caffein is a "hot drink." The use of tea and coffee in health is now generally condemned by the best informed persons in and out of the medical profession. Dr. W. Gilman Thompson says, "The continuance of the practice of drinking coffee to keep awake soon results in forming a coffee or tea habit, in which the individual becomes a slave to the beverage. * * * Muscular tremors are developed, with nervousness, anxiety, dread of impending evil, palpitation, heartburn, dyspepsia and insomnia. * * * It produces great irritability of the whole nervous system and one may even overexcite the mind."[A] While it is true that one cup of coffee or tea does not contain enough caffein to injure the system, yet the continual taking of these small doses results in a weakening of the whole system, that frequently leads to premature death.

[Footnote A: Practical Dietetics, p. 199.]

The U. S. Consular and Trade Report for January, 1906,[A] warns against the use of coffee in the following words, "The important connection between consumption of coffee and epilepsy which deserves to be known everywhere, serves as a warning to be extremely careful with coffee made of beans containing caffein, and at any rate, children should be deprived of it entirely, otherwise their health will be exposed to great danger."

[Footnote A: Page 249.]

Besides caffein, both tea and coffee contain an astringent known as tannic acid. In coffee this substance is present only in small quant.i.ty, but in tea from four to twelve per cent occurs. Tannic acid is the substance found in oak bark, and has the property of making animal tissues hard--that is, makes leather of them. The habitual tea drinker subjects the delicate lining of the stomach and intestines to the action of this powerful drug.

Without going into further details, it is readily seen that the teachings of Joseph Smith, in 1833, in relation to the value of tea and coffee in human drinks, harmonizes with the knowledge of today.

Moreover, he was in advance, in the certainty of his expressions, of the scientists of his day. It is true that caffein had been found in coffee and tea a few years before the revelation of 1833, but the physiological action of the drug was not known until many years afterwards. Besides, as in the case of tobacco, the Church leaders in speaking against the use of tea and coffee did not mention the poisonous principle that had recently been discovered in them; thus revealing their ignorance of the matter.

[Sidenote: The doctrines regarding the values of herbs and fruits harmonize with recent scientific truths.]

"And again, * * * all wholesome herbs G.o.d hath ordained for the const.i.tution, nature, and use of man. Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."[A]

[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants 89:10, 11.]