Dr. Isaac Jennings (1788-1874) was a medical doctor in Oberlin, Ohio in the early 1800s. In 1822, after twenty years of practicing regular medicine, he gave up the medical pills and powders and relied upon the curative powers of two systems; working with nature and satisfying his patient’s faith in him by using bread pills, colored water and starch powders. For twenty years he dispensed placebos but did not tell his patients. He decided upon his duel health approach largely based upon two cases he attended.
The first case was in 1815, “while visiting a family, and making out prescription for them to a considerable extent, Mr. J.P., from a neighboring ranch, came to me and requested I tell him what ailed him. On examination, I discovered that he had the characteristic symptoms of the prevailing fever, fully developed, and accordingly I opened my large saddle-bag again – for I had finished with the family – in order to provide him with the requisite means for breaking up his fever, or moderating its violence. But, against my strong remonstrance, he objected to talking and medicine at that time, and said, if he grew worse, and needed medicine he would let me know.”
“A number of days elapsed without my seeing or hearing anything of Mr. J.P. Upon passing his house, I saw him in a lot nearby at work. Jumping from my horse, I went to him to ascertain what became of his fever. To my surprise, I found that he had recovered entirely. I asked him what he did. All he had done was to keep quiet, refrain from eating while his appetite was lacking, and drinking freely of cold water as long as his febrile thirst called for it. Up to that time I had attended a large number of cases of fever in that district that season, and in no instance had one recovered in so short a time with the symptoms he had…this case was indeed a severe rebuke to my professional greatness, but I felt unwilling to lose the benefit which the lesson was calculated to teach.” As a result of this case, Jennings formulated his ‘Let Alone Plan’, which was a greater understanding of the human condition and working with nature. His medicines, “were the proper utilization of air, warmth, food, water and sleep… ‘On this broad and solid foundation I settled, and ever rested with unwavering confidence…on the rock of truth.’”
Several years later, Jennings stated in his book, “…within the compass of a few weeks, nine cases of Typhus Fever occurred in the family of Mrs. Wm. J. French. Mr. French and three of his sons had been hard sick of number of days, when Mrs. F. failed and was bed-ridden. A great variety of means, internal and external, mild and severe were used to ally the irritability of the stomach, but they seemed rather to aggravate than mitigate the difficulty; the symptoms on the whole body becoming more distressing and alarming. Very distressed, I took a walk into a neighboring secluded field, that I might better command my thoughts. I returned to the house and inquired of the nurse what if anything for her stomach, agreed with Mrs. F.? ‘Very little,’ the nurse replied, ‘only water that she takes from her well, it stays on her stomach, and nothing else does.’ My mind was soon made up on a prescription for the day.”
“Returning to the neighboring field, where there was a spring of pure soft water, I took a vial from my pocket, filled it with spring water, returned to the house, and called for a clean vial, into which I poured some of the aqua fonana pura. I directed four drops to be given once in four hours in a teaspoon of water directly from Mrs. F.’s well. This case gave me no further trouble. The drops, with a little placebo medicine, finished the cure, as far as medicine was concerned.”
Dr. Jennings utilized his two-pronged health approach for virtually EVERY medical difficulty for the duration of his medical practice. Eventually after twenty years he came out with his health and medical theory; doctors and patients become a partner with nature and a doctor’s use of placebos when possible. He also became a sworn enemy of all drug medicine. His book, titled, “The Philosophy of Human Life,” was written in 1852.
Everything and anything has been used as a catalyst in the movement of thought toward health or dis-ease. The ultimate movement within us, is not in the ‘thing,’ but our conception of that ‘thing.’ What is the extent of our possibilities? Sometimes the simple is the most profound. To inspire and empower.
“A number of days elapsed without my seeing or hearing anything of Mr. J.P. Upon passing his house, I saw him in a lot nearby at work. Jumping from my horse, I went to him to ascertain what became of his fever. To my surprise, I found that he had recovered entirely. I asked him what he did. All he had done was to keep quiet, refrain from eating while his appetite was lacking, and drinking freely of cold water as long as his febrile thirst called for it. Up to that time I had attended a large number of cases of fever in that district that season, and in no instance had one recovered in so short a time with the symptoms he had…this case was indeed a severe rebuke to my professional greatness, but I felt unwilling to lose the benefit which the lesson was calculated to teach.” As a result of this case, Jennings formulated his ‘Let Alone Plan’, which was a greater understanding of the human condition and working with nature. His medicines, “were the proper utilization of air, warmth, food, water and sleep… ‘On this broad and solid foundation I settled, and ever rested with unwavering confidence…on the rock of truth.’”
Several years later, Jennings stated in his book, “…within the compass of a few weeks, nine cases of Typhus Fever occurred in the family of Mrs. Wm. J. French. Mr. French and three of his sons had been hard sick of number of days, when Mrs. F. failed and was bed-ridden. A great variety of means, internal and external, mild and severe were used to ally the irritability of the stomach, but they seemed rather to aggravate than mitigate the difficulty; the symptoms on the whole body becoming more distressing and alarming. Very distressed, I took a walk into a neighboring secluded field, that I might better command my thoughts. I returned to the house and inquired of the nurse what if anything for her stomach, agreed with Mrs. F.? ‘Very little,’ the nurse replied, ‘only water that she takes from her well, it stays on her stomach, and nothing else does.’ My mind was soon made up on a prescription for the day.”
“Returning to the neighboring field, where there was a spring of pure soft water, I took a vial from my pocket, filled it with spring water, returned to the house, and called for a clean vial, into which I poured some of the aqua fonana pura. I directed four drops to be given once in four hours in a teaspoon of water directly from Mrs. F.’s well. This case gave me no further trouble. The drops, with a little placebo medicine, finished the cure, as far as medicine was concerned.”
Dr. Jennings utilized his two-pronged health approach for virtually EVERY medical difficulty for the duration of his medical practice. Eventually after twenty years he came out with his health and medical theory; doctors and patients become a partner with nature and a doctor’s use of placebos when possible. He also became a sworn enemy of all drug medicine. His book, titled, “The Philosophy of Human Life,” was written in 1852.
Everything and anything has been used as a catalyst in the movement of thought toward health or dis-ease. The ultimate movement within us, is not in the ‘thing,’ but our conception of that ‘thing.’ What is the extent of our possibilities? Sometimes the simple is the most profound. To inspire and empower.
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