Thomas Richard Allinson (1858 – 1918)was a British doctor and proponent of "Naturopathy". In place of medicine, "Naturopathy" advocates health through diet and exercise, and especially the benefits of stone-ground whole grain breads. He was born in Grange-over-Sands, in Morecambe Bay in Lancashire. He attended medical school at the University of Edinburgh and set up a practice in London at age 21.He wrote and sold a number of books on stomach diseases, rheumatism, vegetarian cooking and healthy diets. He advocated vegetarianism and proposed that smoking was a cause of lung cancer, a radical idea in the 1880's. In 1885, he also made the link between chimney sweeping and scrotal cancer. One of his studies showed that the tar, oil and soot in the chimneys caused scrotal cancer in young boys who worked in that trade. In 1892 he started The Natural Food Company to sell healthy foods. His company flourished from the increased demand for whole-grain bread and meal. After his death, the company grew. Allinson's original bread recipe is still used today. Works |