The following is a quote from John Corrill and is an example of the common health practices during the time Joseph Smith wrote the WoW.
John's introduction:
Ricketson gives his own thoughts on various health issues and quotes several of the well know physicians of the time: Percival, J. Fothergill, Leake, Willich, Cullen and Rush. These are excerpts that I thought were pertinant to the Word of Wisdom. The page number is given followed by the quote. The physicians opinions sometimes varied from topic to topic ie some thought "mild" drinks were OK, others did not. There was near unnanimous opposition to tobacco, except for use as medicine. There was also additional topics such as city pollution and personal hygiene.
“MEANS OF PRESERVING HEALTH, AND PREVENTING DISEASES”, Dr. Shadrach Ricketson, Printed by Collins, Perkins, and Co, New York.
ALCOHOL
31 Wine...when drunk frequently and copiously, it generally, sooner or later, injures the constitution, or renders it subject to inflammatory diseases. It is a powerful stimulant, the long continued use of which, rarely fails to induce debility. Hence, great wine-drinkers, somewhat advanced in life, are generally low-spirited, and often afflicted with a long train of hypochondrical symptoms and incurable diseases...
34 [Concerning distilled spirits] their frequent and excessive use is not only unnecessary, but highly injurious; and has destroyed thousands; perhaps more than either pestilence, famine, or the sword. I need not, therefore, take much pains to show their evil consequences, either in a medical, political, moral, or religious point of view;
HOT DRINKS
92 It is supposed, that tea contains a volatile, cordial, or reviving principle; which, if admitted is nothing in favour of its wholesomeness for constant use; for powers of a stimulant nature, when long continued, are sure to be followed by an atonic or debilitated state of the stomach; and, finally, of the whole constitution. Many cheaper and more innocent substitutes may be found in our own country; which, if prepared in a similar manner, should be used rather cool than hot.
99 It is rare to see great and constant drinkers of strong tea and coffee, somewhat advanced in life, who have not some symptoms of weakness, tremors, or indigestion: wherefore, it is judged, that the great number and increase of paralytic, nervous, and hypochondriac diseases are, in part, to be attributed to the frequent and excessive use of those articles, drunk in a hot and strong state.
Did women know the train of diseases induced by debility, and how disagreeable these diseases render them to the other sex, they would shun tea as the most deadly poison. No man can love a woman eaten up with vapours...Avoid, likewise, the excessive use of hot drinks, such as coffee, chocolate, and tea, particularly the last, in which the inhabitants of this country indulge more than any other beverage
TOBACCO
226 In no one view, is it possible to contemplate the creature man in a more absurd and ridiculous light; than in his attachment to tobacco. This weed is of a stimulating nature, whether it be used in smoking, chewing, or in snuff...
The progress of habit in the use of tobacco is exactly the same as in the use of spirituous liquors. The slaves of it begin by using it only after dinner; then during the whole afternoon and evening; afterwards, before dinner; then before breakfast; and, finally, during the whole night.
The oil of tobacco is of so active and virulent a nature, that a few drops of it have proven fatal.
This plant is possessed of narcotic properties, by which it produces, in those who first begin to smoke it, giddiness, cold sweats, vomiting, purging;
DIET
62 Indeed, it is doubted by some, whether more people have not been destroyed by excess of diet, than ever have been by famine...Moderation and temperance have from their importance, been not improperly called, “The golden means of preserving health.”
65 The repeated excesses at dinner are serious affairs. It has been thought, that more people suffered by hard drinking, than immoderate eating. My observation leads me to take the opposite side. At present, indeed, the former practice is generally banished to the vulgar; but whilst it prevailed to the utmost, it seems to me, that more were injured by excess of diet, than of drinking.
103 ...the result of my observation and experience, both on my own constitution, and on those of others, has led me to believe, that a vegetable diet, or one in great part so, is most consistent with, and conducive to ease, health, and longevity; for I have generally observed such to enjoy the most uninterrupted health; to be subject to the fewest diseases, the mildest symptoms, and the least mortality...
MEAT
108 A reason for avoiding much animal food, especially in cities, and during the summer season, is, that a great part of the fresh meat brought to market, becomes overheated and feverish by long keeping...and some, perhaps, has already undergone the incipient stage of putrefaction before it is cooked...It is therefore, recommended to all in hot seasons an climates, to abstain from much animal food...
119 ...although animal food may be admissible by the human economy...for the most part, a small portion of it only is necessary; that the very temperate and sparing use of it is the surest means of preserving health, and obtaining long life; whilst the large use of it tends to the production of diseases...
114 Melted fat, or the drippings of baked and roasted meat, are equally, if not more, pernicious to the stomach than even stale butter, and both ought to be used only for greasing cart-wheels, and not for injuring human organs.
EXERCIZE
121 Let the patient take less food, and more exercise, and he will not want a physician
152 A certain proportion of exercise is not much less essential to a healthy or vigorous constitution, than drink, food, and sleep; for we see, that people, whose inclination, situation, or employment does not admit of exercise, soon become pale, feeble, and disordered.
157 Exercise...accelerates the animal spirits, and facilitates their distribution into all the fibres of the body, strengthens the parts, creates an appetite, and helps digestion. Whence it arises, that those who accustom themselves to exercise, are generally very robust, and seldom subject to diseases.
164 To such as can bear it, walking frequently up hill is recommended. The inhabitants of mountainous countries are generally healthy and long-lived. This is commonly attributed to the purity of the air in such places; yet the frequent and necessary exercise of climbing mountains, which these people undergo, adds much to their health and longevity.
SLEEP
140 A want of sleep impairs the animal faculties, and enfeebles the whole system; and when too much indulged, is followed with nearly the like effects...
...about seven, or at most, eight hours in twenty-four, are sufficient for sleep.
141 The practice of sitting up till past mid-night, and of lying a-bed late, converting, as it were, night into day, and the reverse, cannot be sufficiently discouraged and reprehended...
144 Want of sleep is hurtful in a great many different ways, especially to the nervous system. It renders the organs of sense, both external and internal, as well as those of every kind of motion, unfit for performing their offices. Hence, the sensations are either abolished, or become imperfect, or depraved; and hence imbecility of mind, defect of memory, a kind of delirium, mania itself, pain of the head, weakness of the joints, an imperfect or inordinate action of the vital organs; quickness of pulse, heat, fever, [etc]...
~dancer~