Day 022 - 12 Sep 94 - Page 28

     
     1
     2   MR. MORRIS:  In Professor Wheelock's testimony.  Does it start
     3        off with:  "If we are dealing with a poison"?
     4
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  It is Introduction, page 24 of tab 5.
     6
     7   MR. MORRIS:  If we just look at his second paragraph:  "When we
     8        have to consider diet-related diseases, there are major
     9        complications.  While it is now generally accepted that
    10        diet does play an important role in the development of the
    11        so-called degenerative diseases, which include coronary
    12        heart disease, and some cancers, the precise role of the
    13        different components in the diet are very difficult to
    14        elucidate."
    15
    16        This is maybe the crux of the matter.  He is saying, is he
    17        not, that diet and some cancers are linked but actually
    18        how they are is not known?
    19        A.  That is what he is saying.
    20
    Q.   Is that quite a reasonable position?
    22        A.  He is saying that diet does play an important role in
    23        the development of the so-called degenerative diseases,
    24        which include coronary heart disease and some cancers.
    25
    26   Q.   So the problem is establishing exactly which components in
    27        the diet -----
    28
    29   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Are you asking whether that is Professor
    30        Wheelock's view or this witness's view?
    31
    32   MR. MORRIS:  Do you agree with that statement that he has made?
    33        A.  I would say there is good evidence that diet is
    34        related to coronary heart disease.  We believe that diet
    35        may be related to the development of cancer.  But I would
    36        not go further than that.  I think there are real question
    37        marks over what the relationship is and what it is in the
    38        diet which is related to cancer.
    39
    40   Q.   But he says it is generally accepted?
         A.  Well, that -----
    42
    43   Q.   Does that mean that your position is "may be"?
    44        A.  No, it depends.  "Generally accepted" just means there
    45        is a body of people who will accept that diet does play an
    46        important role in the development of the so-called
    47        degenerative diseases.
    48
    49   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I have to say that is not how I would read
    50        it.  If it is generally accepted, I would take that to 
    51        mean normally everyone accepts, or there is, at least, 
    52        very, very wide acceptance.  You may disagree with 
    53        Professor Wheelock ----?
    54        A.  I would certainly ----
    55
    56   Q.   But that is what he appears to be saying.
    57        A.  I would agree with him as far as coronary heart
    58        disease is concerned.  What I would say is that diet may
    59        have a very important part to play in the development of
    60        some cancers.  But we do not have better evidence than