This Day in History: Dr John Kellogg applied for a patent for his "flaked cereal" (Corn Flakes) on this day (May 31) in 1895. If you've ever had Corn Flakes you would know that it is rather bland, which is what Kellogg wanted. He believed that a bland cereal would stop young people from masturbating, or as they called it in his day: The Sin of Onanism. Kellogg believed that masturbation could cause "cancer of the womb, urinary diseases, nocturnal emissions, impotence, epilepsy, insanity, and mental and physical debility" and yes...it could even make you go blind. In Plain Facts for Old and Young: Embracing the Natural History and Hygiene of Organic Life, Kellogg cataloged 39 different symptoms of a person plagued by masturbation, including general infirmity, defective development, mood swings, fickleness, bashfulness, boldness, bad posture, stiff joints, fondness for spicy foods, acne, and palpitations.
John Kellogg was a Seventh Day Adventist who eschewed sex, and never even consummated his marriage. He may also have invented granola and peanut butter. Kellogg also developed the first acidophilus soy milk.
There is a 1994 movie called The Road to Wellville (based on a 1933 book of the same name) that starred Anthony Hopkins as John Harvey Kellogg. The movie also starred Bridget Fonda, Matthew Broderick, John Cusack, Michael Lerner, Dana Carvey (as George Kellogg), Lara Flynn Boyle, John Neville, Colm Meaney, Camryn Manheim, and Monica Parker.
On a side note: Porridge and oatmeal have been the main daily meal for people for over 1000 years. Porridge was also also commonly used as prison breakfast for inmates in the British prison system during the 19th century and early 20th century, and so "doing porridge" became a slang term for a sentence in prison.
Heinz Schmitz
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