Kellogg continues, using a lot of extreme terms for the causes of masturbation, such as ‘wicked’, ‘evil’, ‘danger’, ‘corruption’ and ‘devastating’. He was convinced that the disease of self-abuse could lead to anything ranging from bladder stones and epilepsy to children emerging with sexual excitement from spanking or whipping.
This is all so very disconcerting, but fear not… it is easy for parents to control this danger in their children, according to Dr Kellogg. There are a grand total of thirty-nine suspicious warning signs to watch out for. In a final testament to the extent of Kellogg’s pre-occupation with sex, please enjoy the following list. A warning to you the reader, these range from the contrary to the absurd and are taken directly from Dr Kellogg’s own writing:
General debility, coming upon a previously healthy child, marked by emaciation, weakness, an unnatural paleness, colorless lips and gums, and the general symptoms of exhaustion, when it cannot be traced to any other legitimate cause, as internal disease, worms, grief, overwork, poor air, or poor food, and when it is not speedily removed by change of air or appropriate remedial measures, may be safely attributed to solitary vice, no matter how far above natural suspicion the individual may be. Mistakes will be rare indeed when such a judgment is pronounced under the circumstances named. Premature and defective development is a symptom closely allied to the two preceding. When it cannot be traced to such natural causes as overstudy, overwork, lack of exercise, and other influences of a similar nature, it should be charged to self-abuse. The early exercise of the genital organs hastens the attainment of puberty in many cases, especially when the habit is acquired early; but at the same time it saps the vital energies so that the system is unable to manifest that increased energy in growth and development which usually occurs at this period. In consequence, the body remains small, or does not attain that development which it otherwise would. The mind is dwarfed as well as the body. Sometimes the mind suffers more than the body in lack of development, and sometimes the reverse is true. This defective development is shown in the physical organization of males, in the failure of the voice to increase in volume and depth of tone as it should, in deficient growth of the beard, and in failure of the chest to become full and the shoulders broad. The mind and character show the dwarfing influence by failure to develop those qualities which especially distinguish a noble manhood. In the female, defective development is shown by menstrual derangements, by defective growth either in stature, or as shown in unnatural slimness, and in a failure to develop the graces and pleasing character which should distinguish early womanhood. Such signs deserve careful investigation; for they can only result from some powerfully blighting influence.
Sudden change in disposition is a sign which may well arouse suspicion. If a boy who has previously been cheerful, pleasant, dutiful, and gentle, suddenly becomes morose, cross, peevish, irritable, and disobedient, be sure that some foul influence is at work with him. When a girl, naturally joyous, happy, confiding, and amiable, becomes unaccountably gloomy, sad, fretful, dissatisfied, and unconfiding, be certain that a blight of no insignificant character is resting upon her. Make a careful study of the habits of such children; and if there is no sudden illness to account for the change in their character, it need not require long deliberation to arrive at the true cause; for it will rarely be found to be anything other than solitary indulgence.
Failure of mental capacity without apparent cause, should occasion suspicion of evil practices. When a child who has previously learned readily, mastered his lessons easily, and possessed a retentive memory, shows a manifest decline in these directions, fails to get his lessons, becomes stupid, forgetful, and inattentive, he has probably become the victim of a terrible vice, and is on the road to speedy mental as well as physical ruin. Watch him. Untrustworthiness appearing in a child should attract attention to his habits. If he has suddenly become heedless, listless, and forgetful, so that he cannot be depended upon, though previously not so, lay the blame upon solitary indulgence. This vice has a wonderful influence in developing untruthfulness. A child previously honest, will soon become an inveterate liar under its baneful influence.
Mock piety -- or perhaps we should more properly designate it as mistaken piety -- is another peculiar manifestation of the effects of this vicious practice. The victim is observed to become transformed, by degrees, from a romping, laughing child, full of hilarity and frolic, to a sober and very sedate little Christian, the friends think, and they are highly gratified with the piety of the child. Little do they suspect the real cause of the solemn face; not the slightest suspicion have they of the foul orgies practised by the little sinner. By the aid of friends, he may soon add hypocrisy to his other crimes, and find in assumed devotion a ready pretence for seeking solitude. Parents will do well to investigate the origin of this kind of religion in their children.
Boys in whom the habit has become well developed, sometimes manifest a decided aversion to the society of girls; but this is not nearly so often the case as some authors seem to indicate. It would rather appear that the opposite is more often true. Girls usually show an increasing fondness for the society of boys, and are very prone to exhibit marked evidences of real wantonness.
Lack of development of the breasts in females, after puberty, is a common result of self-pollution. Still it would be entirely unsafe to say that every female with small mammary glands had been addicted to this vice, especially at the present time, when a fair natural development is often destroyed by the constant pressure and heat of “pads.” But this sign may well be given a due bearing.
Biting the fingernails is a practice very common in girls addicted to this vice. In such persons there will also be found, not infrequently, slight soreness or ulceration at the roots of the nails, and warts, one or more, upon one or both the first two fingers of the hand, usually the right.
The eyes often betray much. If, in addition to want of lustre and natural brilliancy, they are sunken, present red edges, are somewhat sore, perhaps, and are surrounded by a dark ring, the patient, especially if a child, should be suspected and carefully watched. It should be observed, however, that dyspepsia, debility from any cause, and especially loss of sleep, will produce some or all of these signs, and no one should be accused of the vice upon the evidence of these indications alone; neither could he be justly suspected so long as his symptoms could be accounted for by legitimate causes.
These are, of course, only a few of the thirty-nine examples that Dr Kellogg provides. Upon reading the entire list it becomes clear that almost everything is a sign of self-abuse to Kellogg. It encompasses everything from round shoulders and paleness to acne and tobacco use. The list even contradicts itself at times by listing both boldness and bashfulness as potential signs. We know, of course, that symptoms like acne are brought on by puberty and hormones. It’s hard to imagine how one man’s preoccupation with self-abuse could change the world, but this path would leave Dr Kellogg in search of a remedy to help those that he felt were in dire need of assistance.
The creation of the Corn Flake
In 1877 Kellogg created the Sanitarium Health Food Company to develop and sell his vegetarian products. He and his brother William spent countless hours creating various foods and trying out ideas, such as Protose, a meat substitute that consisted mostly of peanuts and wheat gluten. One included NutButter, an early form of peanut butter, in which he would boil the nuts instead of roasting them. Kellogg was granted a patent specifically for the ‘Process of Producing Alimentary Products’ in 1898.
The need to deal with the unclean acts of sexuality and masturbation was a great weight on the mind of Dr Kellogg, so he and his younger brother went to work to create a special food that would satisfy the hunger of their patients, while dulling their sexual appetites. One food that the Kellogg brothers tried on the patients of The San was a form of shredded wheat. The concept of shredded wheat cereal was actually invented in 1890 down in Denver, Colorado, by a man named Henry Perky. Perky s
old his dry, pillow-like biscuits to vegetarian restaurants and eventually expanded into distribution and production on the east coast of the United States by 1892. Kellogg was a purchaser of shredded wheat as an option for his patrons at The San, but the reception from the patients was unfavourable, judging it far too bland, so he never purchased the patent from Perky. William Keith would later purchase the patent when he split from his brother to create the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company.
The Kellogg brothers were determined to develop a flake cereal that offered significantly more taste, but was conducive to John Harvey’s biologic living philosophy. It was hard for the brothers to get their flake-style cereal to take shape. In 1894, Corn Flakes were finally created and it was very much by accident. William had left for a few days to deal with his creative frustrations and think; when he returned, the batter they were using was mouldy, so he gave the crank a turn and out came the flakes. It turned out that the mould had given the batter the rise that it needed to form properly. The first flakes were made from wheat, but the concept would also work on rice, oats, and corn. William Keith stumbled upon the process, but John Harvey would claim the idea, insisting that it had come to him in a dream. The toasted flakes were to be sold exclusively to The San patients, and subscribers to their wellness magazine. The Kellogg brothers filed for a patent on 31 May 1895. The patent for ‘Flaked Cereals and Process of Preparing Same’ was granted on 14 April 1896.
It was quite clear early on that William Keith had aspirations to market their Corn Flakes product on a wider scale, but John Harvey was adamantly against the idea and forbade it. This was a divide that would change the relationship of the Kellogg brothers. The business sense of William Keith was in direct contradiction with the passion and dedication that John Harvey had to his beliefs.
Fate is a funny thing, to be sure. It turns out that Charles W. Post, the man who started the still prolific Post Cereal Company, was a regular at the Sanitarium. Starting in 1891 Post lived for extended periods at The San off and on for many years. It was while he was there that he saw the immense potential in the products being offered to patients. Prior to his ventures into cereal, Post was largely unsuccessful as a businessman. He created his own product called Postum, a coffee substitute, after observing the experiments and creations at The San. Kellogg didn’t mind Post coming there and poaching their ideas, because he was far too concerned with his mission. Post would soon market Grape Nuts, which became a commercial success; he had made his first million by 1901 and his wild success became an annoyance to Dr Kellogg. Post had exceeded any expectations that Kellogg had had of him, and John Harvey would call Post an imitator of his ideas.
I could have accumulated a fortune, but what is money for except to make the whole world better, to help people have a better life?
— John Harvey Kellogg
William Keith became increasingly frustrated watching others outside of The San find success with their health products, while he and his brother had a winning idea waiting in the wings. Battle Creek quickly became the breakfast cereal capital of the world. People came from all around to copy The San’s methods. In fact, over one hundred new cereal companies had opened in Battle Creek by the year 1912. The competition would come and go over the years, as many of the companies were unsuccessful and their product was often of poor quality compared to the big names like Kellogg and Post.
William Keith reached a point where he was fed up with his brother and was finally going to strike out on his own, but the tragic events of 1902 put his plans on hold. The main building of The San burned to the ground. William couldn’t leave his brother in his time of need and Dr Kellogg quickly made plans to rebuild his beloved Battle Creek Sanitarium, bigger and better than before. William Keith stayed on during the reconstruction to be of assistance. He remained at The San for a while, but eventually put his plans into motion and went into business for himself, leaving John Harvey to his obsessions.
In 1906, William Keith made his move and finally added sugar to the breakfast flakes to help improve the taste and appeal of the product. This move was seen as a terrible sin in the eyes of John Harvey. It was the same year that William Keith founded the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, while John Harvey continued to sell the cereal strictly through the Sanitarium. John Harvey was very upset about what he saw as the commercialisation of their good family name and a product that had been intended only as a vital part of his life’s work. William Keith was quickly becoming the head of a million dollar a year business and John Harvey’s mood towards his little brother continued to darken over the next few years, as their relationship grew sour.
In 1910 John Harvey decided to change the name of his own company at The San to the Kellogg Food Company. William Keith saw this as a move of aggression and fired back by re-naming his company the Kellogg Toasted Corn Flake Company. William began to include his signature on every box of cereal, along with the slogan ‘Beware of imitations, none genuine without this signature.’
The familial disagreement officially went to court in 1910 when William Keith sued John Harvey; John Harvey fought back by suing William Keith over the use of the family name. Dr Kellogg felt that he himself had made the Kellogg’s brand name a household icon with a fine reputation, which only he could be entrusted with. The Michigan Supreme Court finally granted William Keith Kellogg the right to use his own name in his business ventures in 1920. William was a progressive businessman who ran his cereal plant on four six-hour shifts, which provided more jobs for the local economy in Detroit.
William Keith also took a page out of Post’s book and would eventually start getting serious about developing more innovative ways to promote his product. Advertisements for Kellogg’s would become a prevalent part of magazines, newspapers and billboards throughout the next few decades. There were a variety of marketing campaigns, such as the one for Kellogg’s Bran advertisement that touted that it ‘Will sweep Constipation out of your system Permanently’. Yet another example was a giant 50ft billboard in New York City’s Times Square that read simply: ‘I want Kellogg’s’.
One of the more genius marketing campaigns that Kellogg’s Cereal would offer was the ‘Give your grocer a wink and see what you get’ promotion. The adverts would advise shoppers to wink at their grocer and they would subsequently be given a free sample of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes! The promotion went to great lengths to boost the visibility and popularity of the brand at the time.
Later in Life
The controversial doctor would continue his curious proclivities later in life. In 1906, long before the trend became infamous in Hitler’s Nazi Germany, John Harvey Kellogg was an ardent eugenicist. The complicated, but disturbing, trend of eugenics in the early twentieth century often involved blatant bigotry and racism. John Harvey co-established and helped to fund the ‘Race Betterment Foundation’ in Battle Creek. The foundation of the racist group was to promote a purity of breeding. In fact, Kellogg himself purported that they should create a registry that would identify appropriate breeding pairs, exercising control over the white race and keeping it pure. He firmly believed in racial segregation. They also believed that anyone that wasn’t of ‘good stock’ shouldn’t breed, from the mentally ill to criminals. There were many famous eugenicists in the era, including President Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and (quite ironically) Helen Keller.
Dr Kellogg’s beloved San would fall into difficult times during The Great Depression. The well-to-do business saw a drop in turnover by a devastating seventy-five per cent. In 1930 Dr Kellogg broke with the church and left The San. The Sanitarium was over three million dollars in debt by the middle of the 1930s and in 1933, it fell into receivership. Kellogg left Michigan and established a new life in Florida with an interest in opening another Sanitarium there. William Keith made his brother the generous offer of 1.5 million dollars (around 21 million dollars today) to purchase the Battle Creek Food Company. John Harvey was insulted by the offer, feeling that it was far too low.
Dr Kellogg continued working in medicine, as a pioneer in recognising the risks of high blood pressure and heart disease. It was during his time in Florida that his relevance began to fade, as medicine continued to grow and progress beyond his out-dated ideals.
The Death of Dr Kellogg
In October of 1942 William Keith Kellogg made a tepid journey down to the state of Florida, where his brother John was residing, to discuss some business concerns. William Keith arrived expecting their usual confrontational relationship, only to find that John Harvey had been rapidly losing touch with reality. William Keith found his brother rambling and confused, a shell of the once sharp and decisive man. The divide that was caused by the Kellogg brothers’ cereal wars had taken a deep toll on their relationship and now that John Harvey had all but lost his senses, any hope of reconciliation was out the window. It is said that John Harvey wrote a seven-page letter of apology to William Keith on his deathbed, but his brother never received it. The Kellogg brothers would never speak to each other again. John Harvey Kellogg passed away on 14 December 1943, at the ripe old age of 91. William Keith Kellogg lived until 6 October 1951, also dying at the age of 91.
A Secret History of Brands Page 14