On 16 Dec 2009 at 11:40, Allen Esterson wrote, concerning my complaint that a new article by Hayman (2009) on Darwin's affliction didn't consider the previous "most recent" paper on the topic in 2005:
> Stephen has missed (vacationing?) what I find the most likely > explanation, cited on TIPS on 5 October this year: > > "Darwin's illness: a final diagnosis" (2007) > Fernando Orrego and Carlos Quintana > Notes and Records of the Royal Society 2007: 61, 23-29 > > http://rsnr.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/61/1/23.full.pdf+html Yes, I was rash to assert that without checking. As it happens, I was startled and pleased to receive an e-mail yesterday from none other than John Hayman himself, which once again should remind us that our postings are public. Dr. Hayman also pointed out that there have been a number of other recent diagnoses, including a "resurgence of Crohn's disease and mercury poisoning...and Helicobacter". He told me that the original version of his paper did address the lactose intolerance theory, but was cut from the paper due to space limitation. He sent me a copy of his views on the lactose question, possibly the material edited out from his article, and while he seems to agree that the lactose (or milk protein) intolerance theory does have merit, it fails to adequately explain "the severity and range of his symptoms". As for Allen's nomination of the Orrego and Quintana hypothesis of Crohn's disease as "most likely", I'm not so sure. O & Q argue that the precipitating circumstance was a bacterial infection contracted in Chile. But both Campbell and Mathews (2005) and Hayman (2009) argue that there were signs of the illness before Darwin set sail. That would seem to rule it out, or at least O & Q's version. Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
