Day 017 - 25 Jul 94 - Page 59


     
     1        speaking, in relation to these cancers we have been
              discussing or any form of cancer, at what point in the
     2        scale going upwards does white start to turn to grey in
              terms of weight of suspicion?
     3        A.  I think you are beginning to get slight shades of grey
              at about four and definite shades of grey in excess of
     4        five.
 
     5   Q.   So are we going dark grey at about six or seven?
              A.  Yes.
     6
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What do they mean in terms of
     7        persuasiveness?
              A.  I would say that something that is at the top and is
     8        black is very persuasive; there is overwhelming evidence
              to suggest there is a relationship between, say, one thing
     9        and another, like, for example, cigarette smoking and lung
              cancer.  When one is down below the level of five and into
    10        pale shades of grey, I think that what we are seeing is
              that there is some evidence to suggest that the factors
    11        may be involved, but we do not have the scientific
              evidence to show they are involved.  At the moment they
    12        remain theories.
 
    13   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  They merit continuing investigation?
              A.  They certainly merit continuing investigation.  I do
    14        not think we can put any more credence on them than that.
              They certainly are not proven facts.
    15
         MR. RAMPTON:  Whereas at nine or ten could one say that X is or
    16        almost certainly is a cause of Y?
              A.  Yes.
    17
         Q.   I want you to comment briefly, if you will, in the context
    18        of what you have been telling us about breast cancer and
              cancer of the colon and rectum, about the following forms
    19        of cancer, and I am going to list them compendiously.
              I will ask you a question when I have done that.  Cancer
    20        of the ovary; cancer of the uterus; cancer of the
              prostrate; cancer of the pancreas.  Is the evidence in
    21        relation to those cancers of a relationship between diet
              and causation better, equal or worse than it is in
    22        relation to breast cancer and colorectal cancer?
              A.  I would say the evidence is much worse.
    23
         Q.   Is worse?
    24        A.  Yes.
 
    25   Q.   Less strong?
              A.  Certainly much less strong. 
    26 
         Q.   I have very little left now, Dr. Arnott.  You told us this 
    27        morning that the statements which the government puts or
              forces tobacco manufacturers to put on cigarette packets
    28        to the effect that cigarette smoking can kill you, are in
              your view both correct and desirable.  Yes?
    29        A.  Indeed, yes.
 
    30   Q.   Do you see any need, as a medical man, for similar kind of
              statements to be made of, let us say, a leg of lamb or a

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