Dr. Thomas Allinson was a British doctor who in the 1880's developed something of an alternative to some of the practices of mainstream medicine. His ideas seem strikingly modern, especially considering he developed them in the 1880's. Allinson advocated things like exercise and bathing as a means of staying healthy. He also encouraged people to adopt a vegetarian diet and to avoid consuming things like tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco; Allinson believed the then-radical notion that tobacco caused cancer. However, Allinson also held some more radical ideas such as an intense opposition to vaccination and to many of the drugs doctors prescribed. These beliefs brought him into conflict with the authorities and his medical license was eventually revoked (though he continud to practice medicine afterward). Allinson was a particular proponent of the health benefits of stone-ground whole grain flour and bread made thereof. Indeed, in 1892 he purchased a flour mill and founded a company to sell healthy foods. During the First World War Allinson's belief in the value of whole-grain bread gained general acceptance and his company prospered.
However, how could any or all of Allinson's ideas gain widespread acceptance much earlier and what would be the effect of that? I'm particularly interested in his ideas about the harmful effects of tobacco and the health benefits of whole grain bread. Regarding the later, could we see more widespread adoption of whole-grain flour or enriched flour? Perhaps if there's some sort of scandal about the child malnutrition or tainted flour and Allinson's is seized on as a solution. This was the great era of social reform after all. Would that have an impact on the poor nutrition of the lower-classes? One of the things that alienated Allinson from the medical establishment was that he promoted himself and his ideas directly to the public, as well as to his colleagues.
However, how could any or all of Allinson's ideas gain widespread acceptance much earlier and what would be the effect of that? I'm particularly interested in his ideas about the harmful effects of tobacco and the health benefits of whole grain bread. Regarding the later, could we see more widespread adoption of whole-grain flour or enriched flour? Perhaps if there's some sort of scandal about the child malnutrition or tainted flour and Allinson's is seized on as a solution. This was the great era of social reform after all. Would that have an impact on the poor nutrition of the lower-classes? One of the things that alienated Allinson from the medical establishment was that he promoted himself and his ideas directly to the public, as well as to his colleagues.
