Dr. J.H. KELLOGG

Dr. J.H. Kellogg was born in Battle Creek in 1852 and was one of 16 children of John Preston Kellogg. His family became interested in new medical ideas after regular doctors failed to treat various health issues. They subscribed to the Water Cure Journal and embraced these new views. Kellogg didn't have formal schooling until he was 9, and by 11, he was working in his father's broom-making business.

He was very bright and active. At 16, he began editing a newspaper after learning printing at a local plant. In 1866, Battle Creek opened a hydrotherapy center called the Adventist Western Reform Health Institute, which used water treatments on patients, but they weren't very effective, highlighting the need for educated doctors. Because of his intelligence, J.H. Kellogg was chosen to pursue formal medical education. He studied at the State Normal School, the University of Michigan Medical School, and finally graduated from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City in 1875.

Instead of going back to Battle Creek Hospital, Kellogg chose to go to Pelanore, which was the main place for water treatments. In 1876, Dr. Kellogg became the medical superintendent at the Battle Creek Reform Health Institute. He expanded it into a large facility in the 1900s and created a health food called Grand, which was made from grains that were partially digested through heat. He also invented the first breakfast food, cornflakes, and later came up with wheatflakes. 

Dr. J.H. Kellogg made hydrotherapy more scientific by studying it through experiments and clinical observations. Along with hydrotherapy, he promoted electrotherapy, massage, medical gymnastics, and physical exercise, all while emphasizing the importance of healthy food for treatment. He was skilled in surgery and developed several stitches for abdominal procedures. He founded the Battle Creek Sanatorium, Battle Creek College, and played a significant role in the breakfast food industry and the Race Betterment Foundation.

He invented many health devices and stressed the importance of colon health, believing that a clean colon was essential for good health. He is recognized as a pioneer of naturopathy in North America, discovered the sinusoidal current and electric light baths, and established several schools, including a training school for nurses in various naturopathy fields like massage, hydrotherapy, light therapy, and electrotherapy. He also set up schools for dieticians and naturopathy technicians and teachers, promoting the idea of living a natural lifestyle.

The Western Reform Health Institute of Adventism started operating in Battle Creek in September 1866, led by Dr. Lay, despite not having the approval of the American Medical Association. They used a strong water treatment method on patients, and some experienced improvements. However, by the 1870s, the treatment was struggling. Dr. J. H. Ginley took over from Lay but soon left, and various other leaders came and went. The Institute failed to effectively showcase Adventist principles, leaving wealthy patients dissatisfied with the care they received. The Whites recognized the need for qualified doctors; while naturopathy and Indian-club exercises were fine for regular folks, the Institute needed a respected leader with knowledge in chemistry, physiology, anatomy, and materia medica to attract affluent patients.

He was among the early advocates of holistic medicine, calling his approach Health Biologic Living. He promoted a vegetarian diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, regular exercise, drinking eight to ten glasses of water daily, getting fresh air and sunlight, maintaining good posture, and dressing sensibly. At his sanitarium, he encouraged breathing exercises, chewing food thoroughly, taking post-meal walks for better digestion, phototherapy (artificial sunlight treatment), hydrotherapy (with 46 types of water baths), foot massages, vibrating chairs, and colonic irrigators for enemas. Through his presentations, Dr. Kellogg demonstrated the advantages of biologic living, emphasizing health, comfort, efficiency, and longevity. While he was implementing the dietary program at the sanitarium, his brother Will Keith Kellogg was busy creating new grain-based foods, and in 1894, they accidentally invented flaked cereals.

The sanitarium gained fame for its wheat and corn flakes, making Kellogg's cereals a well-known breakfast choice worldwide. Dr. Kellogg also created a method for producing peanut butter and introduced healthy Granose biscuits, which became popular too. He invented various tools and devices, earning about 30 patents, including the electric blanket, electric light bath, and universal dynamometer for muscle testing. Many of his inventions were even used on the RMS Titanic. He established the American Medical Missionary College and Battle Creek College, and he was known for always wearing a full white outfit. In his 1876 book, The Uses of Water in Health & Disease, Kellogg discussed the different uses of water, highlighting its chemical and physical properties. 

He noted that hydrogen and oxygen are colorless, transparent, and tasteless gases that can be explosive when combined. Kellogg believed that water has healing properties due to its vital resistance and physical characteristics. He claimed that water is the best way to lower body temperature, stating that no drug can reduce body heat as effectively as water. Additionally, water can act as a gentle sedative without the harmful side effects associated with other substances, and it can also serve as a tonic, boosting circulation and body temperature.

Kellogg believes that this method can often provide relief when other medications have failed. He thought that no other treatment could work as effectively as an antispasmodic, especially in reducing infant convulsions and cramps, like water does. Water can also act as a strong astringent, stopping bleeding when used cold. Additionally, it can help with bowel movements. One of Kellogg's favorite things about water is that it acts as a 'perfect eliminator,' helping to clear waste and impurities from the blood. 

Because of these benefits, Kellogg felt that 'a good doctor should aim to do the most good for their patient while using the least energy, and in many cases, water is the best way to achieve that.' On top of that, he raised 42 children, wrote almost 50 books, edited a major magazine, performed over 22,000 surgeries, donated most of his money to charity, and lived a healthy life until he was 91.