Timeline

1851: Born to Joseph and Ann Tilden on January 21 in Van Burensberg, Illinois.   He was one of 9 children.

1867: Under the supervision of his father, Joseph Tilden, MD, he began to study medicine.

1868: He joined the medical office of J Fellows in Nokomis, Illinois, and studied medicine for two years.

1872: Tilden graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio (founded in 1830).  He returned to Nokomis, Illinois, and practiced there for eight years.

1873: Tilden married Rebecca Jane Maddux, a native of Hillsboro, Illinois. They had two children: a daughter, Edna, born in 1876, and Elsie, born in 1878 (who died in 1884).

1874: In wanting to complete a “regular” medical degree at Bellevue Medical College, the Dean refused to graduate him because he had received a prior medical degree from an “irregular” medical college. Austin Flint, Jr. M.D., of Bellevue, told Tilden: “You may attend as many terms of lectures as you wish by paying the regular fee, but under no circumstances will we issue a diploma to anyone who has accepted a degree from an irregular medical school.” The open hostility of the allopaths against the other drug schools prevented John from graduating as an allopath also. The allopaths who called themselves “regulars” referred to the hygienics, homeopaths, and eclectics as “irregular.”

1877: He completed additional postgraduate work at the American Medical College in St. Louis, Missouri.

1879: After completing his postgraduate work, he settled in St. Louis, Missouri, and lectured on anatomy and physiology at the American Medical College for two years.

1881: He moved to Litchfield, Illinois, and practiced there for four years. He partnered with Dr. R. F. Bennett, and they built up an extensive practice.

1882: Tilden was elected Adjunct Professor of Anatomy in St. Louis, Missouri, at the college where he previously taught.

1886: Tilden moved to Wichita, Kansas, and practiced there for another four years. Here, he immediately established himself as a general practitioner, though he made a specialty of surgery.

1895: Cursed Before Birth: a Few Straight Tips Regarding Our Social Condition was published. Dr. Tilden argues that we are cursed before birth due to the social and environmental factors surrounding us. Through a series of straight tips, he provides readers with practical advice on how to navigate society’s challenges.

1896: John married Mary Alexander in 1896 in Colorado. They had one son named Alexandar in 1897. Mary died in 1927.

1890: Tilden moved to Denver, Colorado, and remained there until the end of his life (1940 at the age of 89).

1900: He began publishing a monthly magazine called The Stuffed Club to promote healthcare. It eventually attained wide circulation in this country, abroad, and even as far as Australia.

1909: The Etiology of Cholera Infantum, Typhoid Fever, and Appendicitis was published. This book is divided into three sections: Cholera Infantum, Typhoid Fever, and Appendicitis.

1909: Iconoclastic and Constructive Criticisms of the Practice of Medicine, Designed for Professional and Lay Readers, was published. In this book, Tilden presents a series of criticisms of the medical establishment and medicine’s practice. He argues that modern medicine focuses on treating symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes of disease.

1912: Gonorrhea and Syphilis was published. A comprehensive guidebook written by Dr. John H. Tilden explores the causes, symptoms, and treatments of two sexually transmitted infections: gonorrhea and syphilis. The book provides an in-depth discussion of these diseases’ history, epidemiology, and pathology and their impact on the human body. It also covers the various diagnostic methods of detecting these infections, including laboratory tests and physical examinations.

1915: Tilden’s publication, The Stuffed Club, was renamed the Philosophy of Health.

1915: The Philosophy of Health was published. In this book, he shares his philosophy on health and wellness, including the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest, and mental and emotional well-being. He also discusses the dangers of modern medicine and the overuse of drugs and surgery and advocates for a more holistic approach to healthcare.

1916: The Tilden School for Teaching Health was opened from 1916 to 1924 as a private residential teaching institution and sanitarium that offered patients an alternative to the standard medical practices of the day in Denver, Colorado. The Tilden School attracted patients from all over the country and world, including Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. It offered furnished apartments for patients to learn to care for themselves and practice the Tilden techniques for healthy living. As many of his patients stayed for extended periods, the school’s architecture and grounds were designed to invoke more of an ambiance of a residential apartment complex than a traditional medical facility. The school was established to teach and promote the medical theories of its founder, Dr. John Henry Tilden.

1916: Care of Children and Mothers was published. This comprehensive guidebook provides essential information on the proper care of children and mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy. It covers various topics, including prenatal care, nutrition, hygiene, breastfeeding, and childhood illnesses.

1916: Food: its Composition, Preparation, Combination, and Effects, with Appendix on Cooking, was published. In this book, Dr. Tilden focuses on food and its influence on health and disease, food in its relationship to the body, digestion and absorption, animal foods, vegetable foods, sugar, spices and condiments, fats and oils, salts, beverages, and stimulants, along with a variety of recipes. 

1917: Impaired Health; Its Cause and Cure; a Repudiation of the Conventional Treatment of Disease was published.  This publication challenges the conventional treatment of disease. The author argues that modern medicine focuses too much on treating symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of illness. He believes that many health problems are caused by a toxic buildup in the body, which can be eliminated through natural methods such as fasting and detoxification.

1918: The book Epilepsy was published. No detailed description is available.

1918: The Pocket Dietitian, or How to Combine Food for Correct Eating, Special Menus for Summer and Winter, was published.  The Pocket Dietitian, or How to Combine Food for Correct Eating, provides a comprehensive guide to combining different types of food for optimal nutrition and health. It contains information on the importance of proper food combinations, the effects of improper food combinations on digestion and overall health, and practical tips on combining foods for maximum benefit.

1920: Venereal Diseases, a Drugless Treatment of Venereal Diseases, was published.  No detailed description is available.

1921: Appendicitis: the Etiology, Hygienic, and Dietetic Treatment was published. This book focuses on Appendicitis, its causes, and treatment.  Dr. Tileden includes the anatomy of the human body, the history of appendicitis, the cause of appendicitis, the pathology of the appendix, symptoms, various treatments, case studies, and an overall summary.

1921: Food: its Influence as a Factor in Disease and Health was published. This book explores the impact of food on our overall health and well-being. The author delves into the role of nutrition in preventing and treating various diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

1921: Foods And Their Place In Diet was published. This publication is a comprehensive guide to understanding the role of food in our diets. The book explores the importance of nutrition and how it affects our overall health and well-being. Dr. Tilden discusses the different food groups, their nutritional value, and the benefits and drawbacks of various diets.

1921: Impaired Health: Its Cause and Cure, Volume I was published.  This publication challenges the conventional treatment of disease. The author argues that modern medicine focuses too much on treating symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of illness.

1921: Impaired Health: Its Cause and Cure, Volume II was published. This book was written from Dr. Tilden’s standpoint that there is but one disease, toxin poisoning, or autotoxemia. The names given to pathological processes are nothing more than classifying affections.

1924: The Tilden School for Teaching Health was sold to Dr. Arthur Voss of Cincinnati, Ohio, intending to devote himself to writing and lecturing. Dr. Vos operated the Tilden Health School until 1931 when the effects of the Great Depression forced its closure.

1926:  Discontented without his school, he bought two residences and opened a new sanitarium and school in east Denver, CO, called the Tilden Health Institute. He operated this until he died in 1940. 

1926: The publication Philosophy of Health was renamed the Health Review and Critique. 

1926: The Practical Cookbook, Including Suggestions Regarding Proper Food Combinations, was published. It is a comprehensive guide to cooking and food preparation, including recipes for soups, stews, casseroles, salads, and desserts, tips on selecting and storing ingredients, using kitchen tools and equipment, and cooking for special diets.

1926: Toxemia Explained: The True Interpretation of the Cause of Disease was published. This publication provides a comprehensive explanation of the concept of toxemia, which is the accumulation of toxic substances in the body that can lead to various diseases. Dr. Tilden argues that toxemia is the root cause of all diseases and that the medical profession has been misguided in its approach to treating illnesses.

1926: The Causes Of Enervation was published. This book explores the various factors that lead to enervation in humans. Enervation is defined as a state of physical or mental exhaustion, weakness, or debility, and the author argues that a combination of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and environmental toxins, are the cause.

1926: Dr. Tilden’s Health Review and Critique Volume 1 was published. It is now out of print.

1926: The Practical Cook Book was published. This comprehensive guide to cooking and food preparation was an excellent resource for novice and experienced cooks, providing detailed instructions for various dishes and cooking techniques.

1927: Dr. Tilden’s Health Review And Critique V2 was published.  This book is a collection of articles and essays on various health topics, including nutrition, exercise, and disease prevention. Dr. Tilden’s work emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to health.

1927: Diseases of the Kidneys was published. This comprehensive medical book analyzes various kidney diseases and their causes, symptoms, and treatments. 

1928: Children: Their Health and Happiness: a Ready Reference Book for Mothers Who Desire to Know How to Bring Up Their Children in Health was published. This comprehensive guide to raising healthy and happy children covers various topics related to child health, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, hygiene, and emotional well-being. 

1929: John married Freida B. Ganzt on March 8, 1929 in Port Angeles, Washingon. They had no children. 

1934: The Proper Diet for Every Case of Impaired Health, With General Suggestions Regarding Health and Combination of Foods, Together with Valuable Food Formulas, was published by Helen Randle and Dr. John Tilden. It focuses on foods and the human body and the diagnosis and treatment of so-called diseases with their proper dietetic treatment.

1934: Dr. Tilden’s Health Review And Critique V6 was published. The book is a comprehensive review of health and wellness practices, covering various topics related to maintaining good health. It includes discussions on multiple diseases and their causes, as well as natural remedies and treatments that can be used to prevent and cure them. 

1939: Constipation, a New Reading on the Subject was published. This book comprehensively explains constipation, its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Dr. Tilden explains how constipation affects the body and can lead to other health problems. The book also includes various natural remedies and techniques to prevent and treat constipation. 

1939: Dr. Tilden’s Health Review And Critique V14 was published. The book is a compilation of articles and critiques on various health topics published in Dr. Tilden’s Health Review magazine in 1939. The articles cover various health issues, including diet, exercise, natural remedies, and disease prevention.

1940: Dr. Tilden passed away on September 1 in Denver, Colorado. His magazine Health Review and Critique was issued monthly until his death; Mrs. Tilden completed the 1940 volume of this magazine with material he had left behind and suspended its publication at the end of 1940. Fortunately, Dr. Shelton’s Hygienic Review debuted before Dr. Tilden died in 1940, and his journal Health Review and Critique ended (September 1939).  This continuity of magazines devoted to the hygienic ideal has continued since the movement began in 1832.