Counsels on Health - Ellen G. White

plague spot and faithfully unfold to his patients the
cause of their sickness. He will fail to urge upon
the young the necessity of overcoming the habit
before it becomes fixed. If he uses the weed
himself, how can he present to the inexperienced
youth its injurious effects, not only upon
themselves, but upon those around them? ...
Of all men in the world, the physician and the
minister should have strictly temperate habits. The
welfare of society demands total abstinence of
them, for their influence is constantly telling for or
against moral reform and the improvement of
society. It is willful sin in them to be ignorant of
the laws of health or indifferent to them, for they
are looked up to as wise above other men. This is
especially true of the physician, who is entrusted
with human life. He is expected to indulge in no
habit that will weaken the life forces....
The question is not, What is the world doing?
but, What are professional men doing in regard to
the widespread and prevailing curse of tobacco
using? Will men to whom God has given
515