‘Work is progressing along the following important lines related to nutritional deficiency: (1) The chemistry of the blood; (2) the pathogenicity of the bacterial flora of respiratory, intestinal tract and other areas of the body; (3) the effects of diet on immunological reactions. Progress has been made in elucidating the significance of inorganic blood changes, the relation of alkaline reserve and resistance to infection and to immunological relations. It is hoped that when we are able to correlate the different factors associated with deficient diet that we will be able to exert the maximal influences for correction. [204-205]

Many interesting experiments have been made showing the influence of diet on the well being of man and animals. Those of McCarrison [note: ‘McCarrison, Robert; Lancet, May 23, 1931.’] at Coonoor, India, furnish interesting evidence of the effects of a faulty diet. Thousands of white rats were paired in roomy cages conducive to healthy living and fruitful reproduction. The rats were fed on diets similar to those of the people of India. One group was fed on a diet consisting of whole wheat, unleavened bread, butter, legumes, fresh carrots, a small portion of raw meat with bone once a week and an abundance of water at all times. For two and one-half years there was no trace of illness – no mortality, adult or infant, from natural causes. Microscopic examination at autopsy of 1189 rats so fed failed to show any abnormal condition. It is interesting to note that this is the diet of Northern India, where some of the finest specimens of physical manhood are found.

Another group was fed a diet deficient in certain basic requirements, similar to the ration of other groups of natives, and a high mortality prevailed among both the young and the adult. Postmortem examinations on 2243 rats showed lesions of many forms of disease, such as infection of the lungs, blood, glands, skin, heart, nervous, urinary and endocrine systems.

McCarrison concludes from these experiments that diets rich in cereals and poor in animal fat, milk and fresh vegetables are associated in albino rats with a large group of ailments common to man.’ (204-205)