Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-10
Battle Creek Sanitarium.

| uio 1T bdltlC SiOSh "co
not built up in a day-it took years
of toll to reach the perfected state,
and the work has but begun-the great
work is to come from rising genera
lions who are imbibing ideas from the
Battle Creek home, and what it stands
| for.
For Three Decades.
For more than three decades the
present institution las been the
center of wonderful educa.
tional. philanthropic and reform
movement which has finally culmin-
ated in success undreamed Of few
years ago, and in this connection a
brief history is most opportune In
February, 1902, the two main buildings
Of the Sanitarium were destroyed by
fire. For a short time the days were
dark for those who had worked so
hard to build it up. But strong hearts
are not to be awed by misfortune,
and new building sprung from the
ashes upon the old site.
The dedication took place May 81,
and June l, 1903 An elaborate pro-
gram was carried out and many men
Of national reputation made speeches
and highly complimented the managers
and their co-workers on their good
work. Invitations were sent to all
patients, rich and poor, who had ever
been at the Sanitarium. Many re-
sponded in person, and hundreds sent
letters Of regret.
One Of the prettiest sights in con-
nection with the whole event was the
procession of nurses and matrons
which formed on the college grounds,
opposite the new Sanitarium building,
and marched through the audience to
reserved seats at the right and left
of the speakers stand. The matrons
in their usual cream white uniform,
the nurses in blue and white, and the
gentlemen nurses clad in new white
duck suits presented a sight which
moved the audience to one simultan-
eous burst of applause.
Sanitary Ideas.
AS before stated there are many
sanitariums in the world, but none
just like that at Battle Creek, it being
the first Of the kind, so far as known,
where an attempt has been made, and
crowned with success, to bring to-
gether in one place and under one
management all rational healing
agencies, giving special prominence
to those physiological or natural heal
ing agents the scientific knowledge Of
which has been chiefly developed
within the last century, especially
hyprotherapy, electrotherapy, mas
sage, exercise, diet, sunlight, mental
and moral influences, rest, and gen.
eral health culture.
OF course the first thing to be taken
into consideration was the construc.
ton Of the building to be occupied,
for much depended upon that. But
after it had been discussed pro and
con a plan entirely satisfactory was
adopted and the structure to-day plays
no small part in the healing process
that goes on from day to day at
Battle Creek.
A Return to Nature Movement.
The philosophy Of the Battle Creek
Sanitarium may be defined as the re-
turn-to-nature idea. The doctors teach
the use of natural foods, natural life.
the use of natural agents in the treat
ment of disease. A great amount OF
attention is given to dietetics. Fruits.
nuts and nut preparations, cereal foods
and easily digestible vegetables are
the basis for the delicious menus
which are daily served in the great
Sanitarium dining room, at which sit
down hundreds Of intelligent men and
women from all parts Of the United
States and even from foreign coun'
tries. Milk, eggs and other dairy prod
ucts are also freely used. Great care
is taken to provide the very best and
choicest of everything edible, of which
the physicians approve.
During the year which has just
closed a vast amount of these things
were required to provide for the army ,
of patients who visited the sanitarium
for several thousand sufferers housed
there during the twelve months OF
1904. AS to the expense for the past
year it was considerable, amounting tc
a total of 1927, 1899, divided as fol-
lows: Nut foods, so tons, $26,768.S0;
cereal foods, 101 1894 pounds, $9,521.19;
bread, 65,O26 pounds, s2,657.43; canned
goods, $500 cases, $1O,5O6.65; fruit
juices, etc., made on the place, 11,430
gallons, $2,030.90; fresh fruit, 5,7S3
bushels, $1O,20S.46; vegetables, 5,137
bushels, $3,695.2O; sundry grocery
items, 41,55S pounds, $3,3963S; eggs,
25,3O1 dozen, $6,7S9.65; butter, made
on the place, 29,961 pounds, $5,951.59;
cream. 6S,67S quarts, 1O,323.7O; milk,
57,366 quarts, $1,692.45; coal, STA
tons, $2O,O0O.OO; labor, $213,553.59;
total, $327,1S9.99.
The amount Of charity dispensed
during the past ten years at this
amounted to $5S5,610.
To care for the patients an average of
725 men and women were employed
during each wear and an average of