DIET AND DISEASE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1927, Page 1

DIET AND DISEASE

LONDON, Sept. 7. The report on tbs state of public health in England and Wales, published by Sir George Newman. Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health is of intense interest. It would at first strike one as being of an optimistic character, suggesting that possibly too much stress has been laid upon the matter of diet, and especially upon the burning question of the relative value of white versus wholemeal bread. While everyone is anxious to he relieved from fear, olio is appalled by the terrifying statement that cancer, that dreadful scourge which appears to he inevitably associated with civilisation, is claiming greatly increaing num-

hers ol victims every year. The figures Sir George Newman supplies show an increase from 27 1 per million in I*-17-185(1 to 1.302 per million in 102(1. ■This immense rise in mortality from this appalling disease has occurred in spite of all the research work done in innumerable laboratories, both in Great Britain and elsewhere, and of the increasing knowledge.- experience, and skill oi the surgeon in his operative measures for the removal of the disease as soon as it is recognised. (II'FiIATfON INEVITABLE. As the report indicates, the main incidence of cancer is in the digestive tract, a situation in which its recognition is never possible in an initial stage, and when operative measures can alone effect its removal with any prospect of success. Naturally, one shares Sir George Newman’s hope that some means shall he discovered by which cancer ean he

treated by methods other than operative. hut both common sense amt experience offer little prospect of success. This report strengthens immeasurably the attitude taken up by the New Health Society, since it demonstrates unmistakably the intimate association which exists between lood and disease

—a fact proved conclusively by the experimental work of Col. McC'arrisou, Biol. Plimmer. Dr. M. Rowlands, and u host of distinguished observers. All this affords the strongest evidence in support of the view that the future |of medicine lies in prevention. Again it emphasises the vital and urgent importance to the British public of the formation of Chairs in Dietetics not only in London University hut in all the medical schools in the country, in order that every doctor shall he thoroughly familiar with that factor which is most responsible for the health and happiness of the public,-