First Book in Physiology and Hygiene

by John Harvey Kellogg

This book is intended for children. The special object which the author has aimed to accomplish in the preparation of this work are: To present in a simple manner such anatomical and physiological facts as shall give the child a good fundamental knowledge of the structure and functions of the human body. To present each topic in such clear and simple language as to enable the child to comprehend the subject matter with little aid from his teacher. A natural and logical order has been observed in the sequence of topics. Technical terms have been used very sparingly, and only in their natural order, and are fully explained. Some of the topics covered include: A General View of the Body Our Foods Unhealthful Foods Our Drinks How We Digest Bad Habits in Eating Why the Heart Beats How to Keep the Heart and the Blood Healthy Why and How We Breathe How to Keep the Lungs Healthy The Skin and What It Does How to Take Care of the Skin The Kidneys and Their Work Our Bones and Their Uses How to Keep the Bones Healthy The Muscles, and How We Use Them How to Keep the Muscles Healthy How We Feel and Think How to Keep the Brain and Nerves Healthy Bad Effects of Alcohol Upon the Brain and Nerves How We Hear, See, Smell, Taste, and Feel

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

John Harvey Kellogg, M.D. was an American medical doctor, nutritionist, inventor, health activist, and businessman. He was the director of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan. The sanitarium was founded by members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It combined aspects of a European spa, a hydrotherapy institution, a hospital and a high-class hotel. Kellogg treated both the rich and famous and the poor who could not go to other hospitals.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Susan Molloy]

🖊️ While some of the points made here are valid, there are some that made no sense to me:

Things which are not foods are often used as foods, such as mustard, pepper, and the various kinds of seasonings. Soda, saleratus, and baking-powders also belong to this class. All of these substances are more or less harmful, particularly mustard, pepper, and hot sauces.

A point is presented about food causing the DT’s:

Delirium Tremens. (De-lir'-i-um Tre'-mens.)—When a man takes strong liquors regularly he very soon injures his brain and nerves so that they do not get quiet, as they should, at night, and he does not sleep well. He has frightful dreams. He sees all sorts of wild animals and horrid shapes in his dreams. Perhaps you have sometimes had such dreams from eating late suppers or indigestible food.

At the end of each chapter, there is a list of questions on what was presented in that chapter.

I read this for what it is – a doctor’s opinion on the human body as doctors knew it back in the late nineteenth century.

📕Published — 1888. In the public domain.
🎨Illustrated.

જ⁀🟢Read e-book version on ρ𝕣ꪮ𝕛ꫀᥴ𝕥 ᧁꪊ𝕥ꫀꪀ᥇ꫀ𝕣ᧁ, which includes the original illustrations.
જ⁀🟣 Kindle version is not illustrated.
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[Leonis]

I am fond of Kellogg's writing style. Of course, readers should keep in mind that his work reflects a particularly zealous turn of the century view of health should not be taken too literally today, particularly since he was later disfellowshipped from the Adventist Church. Nevertheless, I found First Book in Physiology and Hygiene to be a good introductory text for beginners interested in the study of the operations of the body.