--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - John A. Widtsoe collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 7 number: 7 published: 1904-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'John A. Widtsoe, "Joseph Smith as Scientist. VII," *Improvement Era* 7, no. 7 (May 1904): 501–508.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0707unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0707unse start_page: 501 end_page: 508 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0707unse publication_year: 1904 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1904, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Joseph Smith as Scientist. VII JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST. BY DR. JOHN A. WIDTSOE, DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, LOGAN, UTAH. VII.— SOME FACTS OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. It has been remarked in an earlier paper of this series that the nature of the mission of Joseph Smith made it unlikely that references to scientific matters, and much less to isolated scien- tific facts, obtainable by man by the proper methods of experi- ment, should be found in the writings of the Prophet. Neverthe- less, in a revelation given March 8, 1833, 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 washing of your bodies."* 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 classes, 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 medici- * Doctrine and Covenants, 89: 5, 7. nal 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 nerv- ous 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 habit- ually in excess, alcohol produces the most deplorable results, and is a very common cause of fatal maladies."* Dr. W. Gilman Thompson in his authoritative book on Practi- cal 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 mate- rially 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."! The recent newspaper statements that alcohol has been shown to be a food are based on a complete misunderstanding. The experi- ments 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 *Page 129, art., Alcohol Ethylicum. t Pages 206, 207. JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST. 503 value of the external use of alcohol, for various purposes, has never been denied. In this matter, then, Joseph Smith is 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, simply yet emphatically, more than seventy years ago, before the main experiments on the effect of alcohol on the human organism had been made. "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."* Although tobacco has been used for several centuries by civil- ized 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 1828, 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 it activity entirely to this poison.f The intensely poisonous nature of nicotine is illustrated 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 quantity 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 acciden- tally swallowed the mass. 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 a remedy for constipation. The patient died in three quarters of an hour.J These, and numerous other cases, illustrate the intensely * Doctrine and Covenants, 89:8. f Wormley, Micro-chemistry of Poisons, 2nd ed., pp. 434, 435. %[bid, pp. 436, 437. poisonous nature of tobacco. The evil effects of the repeated use of small amounts of tobacco, in smoking or chewing, are also well understood. It was in 1828, about five years before Joseph Smith's doc- trine with respect to tobacco was given, that nicotine was obtained in a pure state, and many years later that chemists and physiolo- gists 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 newspa- pers, scientific news, even of public interest, were not made gen- erally 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 oi Wisdom in which he says, "Tobacco is a nauseous, stinking abominable thing;"* but nothing worse, thus - basing his main objection to it on the revealed word of the Lord. Had Joseph and his associates 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 con- tained a poisonous principle, it would have been extremely hazard- ous for the reputation of an impostor to have claimed a revelation from God, stating distinctly the injurious effects of tobacco. It should also be noted that Joseph Smith says, that when to- bacco 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 vio- lent symptoms, and even death."f In the matter of the chemistry and physiological action of to- bacco, then, the Prophet, in 1833, was in full accord with the best knowledge of 1903. In the emphasis of his doctrine, he even antici- pated the world of science. "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly."! * The Contributor, vol. iv., p. 13; Improvement Era, Vol.4, pp. 943-9. f Wormley, Micro-chemistry of Poisons, p. 436. J Doctrine and Covenants, 89: 9. JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST. 505 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 bum the mouth should not be used. Others, however, claimed for the doctrine a deeper meaning. To settle the difficulty, appealwas 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.* In the year 1821, several chemists isolated from coffee a bit- ter principle, of peculiar properties, which was named caffein. In 1827, the same substance was found to occur in tea. Numer- ous analyses 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 wakeful- ness — after a dose of twelve grains, it produced intense physical restlessness and mental anxiety. Upon the muscles it acts as a powerful poison — it is used in medicine as a brain and heart stim- ulant."! Fatal cases of poisoning are also on record. Caffein is not in any sense a food, but, as a stimulant, must be classed with tobacco, opium and other similar substances. Ow- ing to its action on the heart and the 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 in- somnia. * * * It produces great irritability of the whole nerv- * See The Contributor, vol. iv, p. 13; Improvement Era, vol. 4, pp. 943-9. f U. S. Dispensatory, 17th ed., pp. 278 and 279. ous system, and may even overexcite the mind."* 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. Besides caffein, both tea and coffee contain an astringent known as tannic acid. In coffee this substance is present only in - small quantity, but in tea from four to twelve per cent occurs. Tannic acid is the substance found in oak bark, and has the prop- erty of making animal tissues hard — that is,makes leather of them. The habitual tea drinker subjects the delicate lining of the stom- ach 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 to- day. Moreover, he was in advance, in the certainty of his expres- sions,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 un- til 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 dis- covered in them; thus revealing their ignorance of the matter. "And again, * * * all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, 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."f This doctrine, which seems self-evident now, also evidences the divine inspiration of the Prophet Joseph. At the time this revelation was given, food chemistry was not understood; and, in fact, it was not until about 1860, that the basis upon which rests our knowledge of food chemistry, was firmly established. We now know that every plant contains four great classes of compounds: mineral substances, fats, sugars and starches, and protein, or the flesh-forming elements. We further know that no plant can live * Practical Dietetics, p. 199. t Doctrine and Covenants 89: 10, 11. JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST. 507 and grow without containing these groups of nutrients. It is also well understood that these substances are necessary for the food of the animal body, and that animal tissues are, themselves, com- posed of these groups, though in different proportions. In short, it has long been an established fact of science that any plant that does not contain a poisonous principle, may by proper cooking be used as a food for man. When Joseph Smith wrote, this was a daring suggestion to make, for there was absolutely no facts aside from popular exper- ience, upon which to base the conclusion. The qualifying phrase, "all wholesome herbs," undoubtedly refers to classes of plants like coffee, tea, tobacco, etc., which contain some special principle in- jurious to the health. "Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; never- theless they are to be used sparingly; and it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used only in times of winter, or of cold, or of famine."* The breadth of this doctrine lies in the fact that it is not ab- solutely forbidden to eat meat, as in all probability a fanatic, guided by his own wisdom, might have done; yet it must be ob- served, the implication is clear that it is possible for man to live without meat. Vegetarianism had been taught and practiced long before the days of Joseph Smith; but there had been no direct, positive proof that plants contain all the substances necessary for the sustenance of life. As stated above, it is now known that every class of nutritive substance found in meat is also found in plants; and this is harmony with the implied meaning of in full Joseph Smith in the statement regarding the abstaining from meat. "All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life. * * * All grain is good for the food of man, as also the fruit of the vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground. Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain."f * Doctrine and Covenants, 89: 12, 13. f Ibid, 89: 14, 16 and 17. The first part of this teaching, that all grain can be used by- man and beast, corresponds to the earlier statement that all wholesome plants may be used by man. The latter part respect- ing the best grain for certain classes of animals, is of a different nature and merits special consideration. As already mentioned, all plants and plant parts contain four great groups of nutritive substances. The relative proportions of these grains are different in different plants or plant parts. For instance, wheat contains 71.9 per cent of starch and sugar; corn, 70.2 per cent; oats, 59.7 per cent; rye, 72.5 per cent; and barley, 69.8 per cent. Wheat contains 11.9 per cent of protein or the flesh-forming elements; corn, 11.4 per cent; oats, 11.8 per cent; rye,10.6 per cent; and barley 12.4 per cent.* It has further been demonstrated that a man or beast doing heavy work, requires a larger proportion of starch and sugar in his dietary than does one which has less work to do. Likewise, different classes of animals require different proportions of the various nutrients, not only through life but at the various periods of their lives. This principle has been recognized so fully that during the last thirty-five or forty years the attention of ex- perimenters has been directed toward the elucidation of laws which would make known the best combinations of foods for the various classes of farm animals, as well as for man. It must also be remarked that recent discoveries in science are showing more deep-seated differences in the composition of grains, than those here mentioned, as also corresponding differences in various classes of animals. Science will soon throw more light on this subject, and in all probability will confirm the views of Joseph Smith, with respect to the grain best adapted to certain animals. A thoughtful reading of the above quotation clearly shows that Joseph Smith recognized the fundamental truth of food chemistry; namely, that while all plants contain the elements nec- essary for animal growth, yet the proportions of these elements are so different as to make some plants better adapted than others to a certain class of animals. That the "Mormon" prophet -should have enunciated this principle from twenty to thirty years * The Feeding of Animals, Jordan, p. 424.