SELF-INFLICTED CANCER

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1924, Page 1

SELF-INFLICTED CANCER

LONDON, Sejiteniher 23. The events and endeavours of a life active and interesting in many spheres are set forth very cogently and entertainingly hy Dr Robert Bell in his “Reminiscences of ;m Old Physician.” Dr Bell, who is superintendent of Cancer Research at the Battersea AnliA'iviseetion and General llosjiital, is a jiroininent opponent of operative surgery in relation to that fell disease, and his hook recalls many instances of his readiness' at all times to hroak a spear in defence of his ojiinions on this and other hat tie-grounds of jiublie health. lie recalls also that it was he who, in 1880, “called sjiecial attention, and for the first time in the history of medicine, to (lie disastrous ell'ects of consti|)ation upon health,” and adds: There is no doubt whatever that chronic constipation not only exercises a most baneful efleet upon one’s general health, hut, moreover, is responsible to a sii|iremc extent for the develojinieiit of gout, rheumatism, anaemia, and, to a marked degree, cancer, besides other blood affections ol varying tyjies. “ Every year,” he declares, “ thousands of women are mutilated and (loomed who would have been easily cured by gentler means.” It is beyond doubt-, however, that cancer is a self-inflicted disease and is most assuredlv a disease dcjicndeut for its origin ujion a jirolonged contaminated condition of the blood. . . AA o know that a fungus only grows in unhealthy soil or ujion decaying material. The same holds good with cancer, because were Hie cells ol our bodies sujiplied with jnire blood—which is their soil—their functional activity would go on unimpeded and disease of any kind he completely ruled out.

Regarding “ vitamincs,” now fully recognised as an essential constituent of healthy diet. Dr. Bell says: “I was the first—in 1903—50 far as can he ascertained, (o call attention to the vast importance of their value. He prefers Hie name of “vitols” for this “ living principle” in food. He points out that neither vitols nor vegetable organic salts, both of which are essential to the healthy condition of tho blood-stvonm, ftto piosent in flesh meat, which, moreover, contains a considerable quantity of purins [a basic substance which when oxidized forms uric acid] . . and these are subtle poions. BREAD AS GOOD AS BEEF. Tn advocating a fruitarian diet. Dr. Bell savs: “There is only one article in this’class that I ban, and that is rhubarb, while asparagus should he partaken of snaringly. AY hole wheat meal—stone ground—brand which contains not only these natural salts, but also the germ of the wheat should always bo preferred to white bread. In parenthesis I mny repeat that this bread, weight for weight, contains quite as much real food value as beef and mutton, but is minus the unwholesome purins which thev nossess. •: Pussyfoot,” Dr Bell says, Tam thankful to say was not in evidence m mv time,” and he adds that “it was on'lv by the help of free libations of good jiort that-, under the heavy strain of work during the busiest period of mv life, I was able to keep my head above water. This so-ealled poison Las never injured by health one whit.