The value of an absolutely vegetarian diet in psoriasis / L. Duncan Bulkley.

  • Bulkley, Lucius Duncan, 1845-1928.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The value of an absolutely vegetarian diet in psoriasis / L. Duncan Bulkley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    The oldest patient, a man 78 years of age, who had severe psoriasis all his life and had been some years under observation, showed a very remarkable improve- ment as soon as he was persuaded to follow this diet, some five months ago, and old thickened patches have almost disappeared. It is not always easy to convince patients of the value of this treatment, and to secure that they shall carry out an absolute vegetarian diet with perfect strictness for a sufficient length of time or permanently; and it will often require no little insistence, as well as intelli- gent aid on the part of the physician, in order to effect the result desired. But after an experience with it for twenty years I know that it can be effectually accom- plished, at least in a certain proportion of intelligent pa- tients in private practice, and I have a number who are really enthusiastic on the subject and have been so for many years. If from carelessness or necessary causes, as in traveling, visiting, etc., the rules of diet are trans- gressed and there should be some little return of the eruption, this has yielded to a very strict observance of the dietary restrictions, with other proper treatment, better than occurs with the latter alone. Little need be said in regard to the general subject of a vegetarian diet, for abundant experience has shown its value under many conditions of health and disease. The opinion is, I believe, gaining ground both among the medical profession and the laity that far too much meat is eaten by those who can get it; and in London, certainly, the practice of vegetarianism is increasing, as is evidenced by the large number of well-patronized res- taurants which make this a specialty; these are also in- creasing in New York City. In my experience patients have felt remarkably well, when this was rightly directed and carried out, and in numerous instances I have found distinct and steady gain in weight in the spare, and loss of weight in the obese, when tested repeatedly on the same scales.