Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-02-10
Battle Greek SanitariuIn.

Battle Creek! What memories that
name conjures up-memories OF other
days-even the pioneer days. when the
redmen of the northern lake region
bent the bow and smeared their faces
with keal-braided their flowing locks
with feathers OF the porcupine and
wild eagle, that they might appear
more wild. II possible. than before
And as they painted the cheeks ana
braided the hair, the squaw-women
sharpened the flint arrow heads and
shaped new bows. that their lords
might do battle to the death with
other redmen.
And here at Battle Creek, way up
tn Michigan. great battle one DAY
did occur, and when it was over, and
the sun kissed the range to the Tar
west, the tom-toms were mufded and
the squaw-women wrapped their heads
In vari-colored blankets AND wept, for
with the going down of the sun, many
braves passed TO the proveroial happy
hunting grounds.
But that was many, many moons
ago, as the Indians measure time, and
a new era has long since dawned.
True, 1t is Battle Creek" to-day. just
as it was decades ago, but, instead OF
the cry Of the savage, is heard the
hum OF industry; the throb OF life;
the greeting of men and women OF
the Anglo Saxon race--the shouts OF
happy boys and girls, who know OF
Battle Creeks former history only
by tradition. And here on the site
Of the famous battle between the red
men stands now one Of the fairest
cities of the great Northwest; a city
sought out among thousands. for in 1t
dwell, month after month, as the
years come and 60, men and women
who find within the charmed circle
that which they have long sought else
where-health.
When one speaks Of health, the
mind naturally wings itself to Battle
Creek, for up there health is to be
found as at few other places on earth.
Forty years ago there began in Bat
tie Creek return to nature move
ment, with purposes and priciRples IN
many respects similar to those which
led to the famous Brook Farm Exper-
iment" twenty years before and to the
Grahamite movement of that period.
This movement, while religious, was
avowedly non-sectarian, and was In a
broad sense philanthropic, altruistic
and reformatory. The immediate re-
suits were the establishment of a
monthly journal now known as Good
Health and shortly afterwards the
erection of health institution called
1.-THE Health Reform Institute" The
chief features of tha institute at this
early period were diet reform, dress
reform and the use of water as cura
tive agent.
In 1876 the present management
took charge of the institution and with
the consent and cooperation of the
Board Of Directors (the institution
having been incorporated ten years
pefore), a thorough reorganization was
effected. Broader plans were intro
duced, the methods of treatment were
placed u.on substantial and thor
oughly scientific foundation, and the
name was changed to the Battle Greek
| San&tarium. Since this time the
| growth of the institution has been con
slant and rapid.
From year to year accommoda
lions for patients and facilities fol
treatments were enlarged to meet
the increasing patronage until Feb
ruary, 1902, when a great fire swept
away the two principal build
| ings of the establishment. The cree
| ton of a new building was speedily
begun, and the following year, May 81
1903, the present fireproof main build
| 100000, was dedicated. The cost Of
the entire establishment, including
equipment, twenty dormitories, cot
tages and other buildings has amount
cd to more than $1,200,00O.
The Battle Creek Sanitarium as II
stands to-day is recognized the world
over as the most complete and thor
oughly equipped establishment of its
sort and the headquarters for physio
logic therapeutics or natural methods
| Connected with the Sanitarium is q
Training School for Nurses, In which
from two to three hundred nurses are
constantly under training. -.
These principles and methods have
| penetrated to the remotest parts Of
the civilized world, and scores of men
and women who have been trained In
these methods are devoting their lives
to medical missionary work in heather
lands.
The Battle Creek Sanitarium may be
regarded as an epitome of the return
to-nature" idea in practical operation
Its success in the restoration of sick
people to health brings to it annually
many thousands of men and women
many Of whom have been pronounced
incurable, but who, nevertheless, with
rare exceptions, return few months
later to their homes prepared to enter
| again upon the battle of life.
There are many sanitariums in the
world, but few, II any, that are con.
Quoted on the same plane as that at
Battle Creek. This haven OF rest and
health is in no sense a money-mak.
ing scheme, and every cent that is
made from patients who are able to
pay for their accommodations is used
to help those who have nothing but
broken health. All over this country.
and even beyond the seas, branch in.
situations are springing up-creepers
from the mother plant at Battle
Creek. One point in view is down on
State street, in the center of the me.