Day 269 - 25 Jun 96 - Page 85


     
     1   MR. RAMPTON:  One way and another it has to be, does it not,
     2        food supplies?
     3        A.  Yes but you do not quite know where it goes to.
     4        Whether it is exported or whether eaten locally or what.
     5
     6   MR. RAMPTON:   Well, the consumption estimates are based on food
     7        supply.  That does not mean to say one is a direct
     8        reflection on the other, does it?
     9        A.   No, that is right. I agree with that.  I mean, the
    10        point I am making is that this is very, as his Lordship
    11        said, is very blunt instrument and is much blunter than the
    12        individual data which has been produced in many papers
    13        which has been published in the scientific literature.
    14
    15   Q.   I fully understand all of that but would it not be
    16        reasonable looking at these figures, however blunt you
    17        think they are; however soft the data, reasonable to
    18        suppose for example that one of the reasons why the French
    19        and West Germans significantly underscore the UK in
    20        mortality from heart disease is first that they eat
    21        significantly greater quantities of vegetables and fruit
    22        than we do?
    23        A.   Yes.
    24
    25   Q.   And second, that they smoke less?
    26        A.  I do not know about the smoking.
    27
    28   Q.   You can see it.  It is only the right-hand side?
    29        A.  I thought the French smoked more than we did.
    30
    31   Q.   Apparently not?
    32        A.  Is that right?
    33
    34   Q.   If you look at the bottom right hand square?
    35        A.   That would certainly make a contribution to it.
    36
    37   Q.   Yes?
    38        A.   But again, you know, you can look at the recent papers
    39        that have been published on, for example, the risk of lung
    40        cancer in non-smokers and the risk of lung cancer in
    41        non-smokers is eleven times great if you have a high
    42        saturated fat diet, than if you do not.
    43
    44   Q.   I use this Professor Crawford; I have no positive case to
    45        prove and I am not arrogant enough to think that I can
    46        offer one.  I offer this, amongst other things that I have
    47        shown you, in support of the proposition that even in
    48        relation to heart disease never mind cancer, it is
    49        irresponsible and silly to be two dogmatic about the
    50        etiology of the particular disease?  By all means be
    51        responsible about making recommendations, but at this stage
    52        of human knowledge it is not sensible to be dogmatic about
    53        the causes?
    54        A.   Am I allowed to reply to that?
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   You are being asked a question. Your comment
    57        is being invited on that.
    58
    59   MR. RAMPTON:  I am asking if you agree?
    60        A.   Of course I do not agree, Mr. Rampton.  I think that

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