The prevention of disease by correct feeding / by M.O. Bircher-Benner.

Maximilian Bircher-Benner

Date:: 1933

Credit: The prevention of disease by correct feeding / by M.O. Bircher-Benner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

12/36 page 10

$migraine, Meniere’s disease and many “ nervous ”’ diseases, which are grouped as neurasthenia. It is well known that it also tends to accentu- ate depression, and even lies at the base of melancholia. If Bergson’s conception that the brain is the receiving organ of spiritual illumination be accepted, that the effect of every poison alters, disturbs, clouds the reception, one is compelled to realise that errors of nutrition colour, too, the life of feeling and of thought. You will recall Nietzsche’s words about brutality, hypersensitiveness, dreams, and about the reign of pepper, of contradiction and weariness of the world and the conduct of mankind on a bad diet. Nothing very definite can be said about the injury to the sympathetic nervous system, of the existence of which there is absolutely no doubt, because the injury only finds expression in the form of derivative disease of organs or systems: for instance, as an angio-neurosis, or as hypotonic (diminished tone) or hypertonic (excessive tension) states of the alimentary canal. As for the sense organs, the alimentary origin of many an irido- cyclitis (iritis with cyclitis) is certain, of that of otosclerosis (deafness) extremely probable. Xerophthalmia (the drying-up of the eyes), and keratomalacia (the softening of the horny skin of the eyes), with A.—avitaminosis, are striking examples of the damage done to the eyes by defective nutrition. As for the muscular system, 1 have been able to discern the alimen- tary nature of that terrible disease called polymyositis. As to the bony structure, the immeasurable damage of rickets is well-known. On the other hand, the etiological connections of nutrition and rheumatism are too little known and regarded. Accordingly, it should be emphatically stated that malnutrition is the funda- mental cause of all forms of rheumatic disease, from acute polyarthritis to the most severe case of chronically-deforming arthritis. Only secondary significance must be attributed to infection and to cold catching. Mention should also be made here that osteoporosis (a spongy condition of bone) and osteomalacia, as well as delayed formation of callus in fractures, are all the product of faulty nutrition. The fact that natural immunity is weakened by malnutrition teaches us the great significance of nutrition in relation to all infectious diseases, “‘ cold catching diseases,’’ angina, sore throat, influenza, tuberculosis. But the keynote of this monumental superstructure of nutritional diseases is formed by the causal connection of nutrition and tumours, especially malignant tumours, the chief of which is the disease of cancer. The excellent books by Rollo Russell, J. Ellis Barker and Erwin Liek dealing with this tragic theme relieve me of the need for further explanation. This is a very incomplete review of the army of diseases which are caused by faulty nutrition : an enormous amount of suffering, torment and misfortune for the stricken and their families, and of economic strain on the wage-earner and society generally. The victims of most of these diseases may be counted by millions. Dental disease—itself$

The prevention of disease by correct feeding / by M.O. Bircher-Benner.

Licence and re-use

Contents