"Understanding how environment, crop management, and other factors, particularly soil fertility, influence the composition and quality of food crops is necessary for the production of high-quality nutritious foods. The flavonoid aglycones quercetin and kaempferol were measured in dried tomato samples (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Halley 3155) that had been archived over the period from 1994 to 2004 from the Long-Term Research on Agricultural Systems project (LTRAS) at the University of California-Davis, which began in 1993. Conventional and organic processing tomato production systems are part of the set of systems compared at LTRAS. Comparisons of analyses of archived samples from conventional and organic production systems demonstrated statistically higher levels (P < 0.05) of quercetin and kaempferol aglycones in organic tomatoes. Ten-year mean levels of quercetin and kaempferol in organic tomatoes [115.5 and 63.3 mg g^-1 of dry matter (DM)] were 79 and 97% higher than those in conventional tomatoes (64.6 and 32.06 mg g^-1 of DM), respectively. The levels of flavonoids increased over time in samples from organic treatments, whereas the levels of flavonoids did not vary significantly in conventional treatments. This increase corresponds not only with increasing amounts of soil organic matter accumulating in organic plots but also with reduced manure application rates once soils in the organic systems had reached equilibrium levels of organic matter. Well-quantified changes in tomato nutrients over years in organic farming systems have not been reported previously."

University of California - Davis (June 2007)

And what does the FSA say?:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6272634.stm (July 2007)

Flavonoids have also been linked with reduced rates of some types of cancer and dementia.

The Food Standards Agency says there is some evidence that flavonoids can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and they are currently carrying out a study to look at the health benefits in more detail.

However, a spokesperson said there was no evidence that organic food was healthier.

"Our long-standing advice on organic food is there can be some nutrient differences but it doesn't mean it's necessarily better for you."

Rock on! Will these stalwarts be given the honour and recognition they deserve, by the world of vested interest - I doubt it.

Research evidence to confirm what we already believed is mounting:

http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/Living/nutrition_research.html

No comment necessary - sorted innit?

(visit: http://www.alternativevet.org)

Here it is, what we've all known for, well, for ever ....

"ORGANIC food is substantially more healthy and beneficial, according to a massive pan-European survey based on a farm owned by Newcastle University.

The 14 million pound survey, the biggest survey ever carried out in Europe, "proved" that organic fruit and vegetables have 40% more vitamins and disease-preventing anti-oxidants - and organic milk held a staggering 90% more."

http://www.daelnet.co.uk/countrynews/country_news_29102007_2.cfm

Of course, vested interest has had a manful go at stemming the tide of information but the truth will out:

"The government's Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently criticised organic food, saying that its benefits over conventional produce were questionable. The present Foreign Secretary David Miliband, when he was DEFRA minister, said the difference between the two was largely a choice of lifestyle, rather than healthy eating."

http://www.daelnet.co.uk/countrynews/country_news_29102007_2.cfm

Also featured at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/29/nfood129.xml

Reducing this finding to just one of its components, it is logical to assume that organic food may actually be a cheaper way to purchase the necessary nutrients for health, as you need to eat less to obtain what you need!

This massive piece of research should serve to open people's eyes to the truth and to the obvious fact that we should all be eating 'organic'. It would be great to look into the future and see 'organic food' becoming the norm, just being called 'food' and what is currently 'ordinary food' being labelled 'chemical food'. After all, 'organic' was basically what everyone ate, before the march of the agro-chemical industry.

(visit: http://www.alternativevet.org)

"Four out of five vets said they were seeing more overweight and obese animals, according to 143 practices who were contacted in a survey.

Overweight pets risk serious health problems, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) warned.

Podgy pet "fat clinics" have been set up by more than three quarters of vets.

Pet obesity can cause arthritis, high blood pressure, poor liver function and diabetes, amongst other conditions.

A leaflet that warns pet owners of the dangers of letting their animals get overweight has been launched as part of RSPCA Week. " - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4939082.stm

I believe it is more or less accepted that human obesity is related to unsuitable foods and lifestyle. Why do we not draw this obvious conclusion for our pets? The modern obesity 'epidemic' of dogs (and cats) should be no mystery. We feed our animals unsuitable (manufactured and processed) diets and should only expect trouble, in both health and bodyweight. Why do veterinary practices and the RSPCA still promote such feeding practices? Why are such foods not openly condemned? Instead, veterinary practices sell them. The RSPCA has even 'teamed up' with a vet who markets his own foods, under the disguise of 'fresh'. Any financial or business links should be transparent. These foods may be an improvement over the usual manufactured and highly-processed foods but they still cannot be described as 'fresh'.

Pet obesity is on the increase, coincidental with the inexorable march of commercial foods. The disease problems listed by the RSPCA may also be a result of the unhealthy food (rather than actually being caused by the obesity as the RSPCA suggests) but that would be a difficult area of research to be certain. Those who feed a natural fresh diet usually find no problems keeping their dogs slim.

I had a stark illustration of this simple and obvious fact, last month on the Rock of Gibraltar. At the tourist shop, scavenging Barbary Apes (Macaca sylvanus and in fact tail-less macaque monkeys, not apes) were picking up waste food from the unsuitable human food prevalent at such places (sweets, cakes, ice cream etc.). They were obese! No other word sufficed. They were also very bad-tempered.

Their fellows out on the rock proper, fed fresh fruit (in plenty, so quantity did not appear to be the factor), were lissom, hard and fit.

Somehow, the answers to most problems can be found in our everyday lives, if we keep our eyes open and think carefully about what we see.

http://www.alternativevet.org/dog-diseases.htm#obesity

It would appear that the big multi-national commercial pet food manufacturers are now exploring the potentially huge market in ever-more-prosperous India and other 'new' markets. Commercialism knows no bounds.

We are even moving towards 'lifestyle drugs' with pets, with a new anti-obesity drug! Am I the daft one?

(visit: http://www.alternativevet.org)

A Temporary Control Zone has been put in place around a premises near Dereham in Norfolk. It is to be hoped that this is a false alarm but we have to await results of tests. If it is a case of FMD, this would represent a major break-out from the previously affected area (Surrey).

Anyone who keeps cloven-hoofed animals (pigs, sheep, cattle, deer etc.) should ensure that no unauthorised persons enter land near the animals and that animals are kept clear of public footpaths if possible.

All members of the public visiting the countryside should be careful not to create a risk to animals.

Foot and Mouth has been confirmed today, near Egham in Surrey. This is about 10 miles from the previous centre and long after the expiry of the expected incubation period (the surveillance zone in Surrey was lifted at midday on Saturday 8 September). A 10 km Surveillance Zone and a 3 km Control Zone are now in place and slaughter has been ordered.

Investigations as to source are going to be very rigorous, no doubt but now all we can do is wait to see what transpires. Certainly, a simple explanation is not going to be forthcoming. We have wild reservoir (e.g. deer), abject carelessness, criminality/sabotage or a completely different source, unconnected to the previous incident, to consider. The 'flood' theory for spread of the virus will no longer 'hold water', unless the virus is able to live in the environment for much longer than expected, despite the current weather conditions not being favourable for maximum virus survival and spread.

Ah, it's probably a pipeline connecting the two laboratories that could have leaked the virus. That neatly avoids pointing the finger at anyone in particular, unless we ask what the virus was doing in the pipe in the first place. Was the flow from the Merial facility to a treatment plant run by the government facility?

Will Merial be asked to pay anything towards the horrendous costs? Just think of the millions they were expecting to flow into their bank, from sale of the products emanating from their research.

However, the report seems to hit at the government facility there, putting the ball pretty firmly back with HM Government. I don't suppose we'll hear an apology or have a refund on our tax bill! I suppose the answer will be the usual round of lateral promotions and OBEs.

With all the other lethal viruses that are being researched at Pirbright and elsewhere, how do we know that we won't be seeing more bio-security leaks in the future?

Might any of this suggest to anyone that maybe we shouldn't be playing with fire, with this sort of research?

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2934325.ece

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/05092007/399/watchdog-link-food-additives-hyperactivity.html

Jolly good - more research telling us what we already knew - that artificial food colourants are related to hyperactivity, attention deficit and unruly behaviour in children (not to mention adults!).

Why did we ever need such dangerous stuff in our food? The Soil Association banned them years ago.

Why do we need more research? Because no one will act without such 'evidence' being published in a scientific journal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6634071.stm & http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/parentsjury/add_2.htm)

Well now it has been, so let's act!

Of course, the industry will re-act to oppose this.

While we're at it, no one's saying that here, at last, is valid research in human health, using HUMANS!

Is 'science' finally off its trolley? What sort of sense is this?

 http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/09/humananimal_hybrids_given_the.html

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has finally bowed to sense by allowing the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for use in scientific research. It marks a victory for science after an almost year-long battle, which began in December last year with the proposal to outlaw the creation of hybrids in a government white paper on fertility.

Yet another Pandora's Box is to be opened, all on the 'promise' by scientists that this will help find a cure for such diseases as Diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. How can they promise that? Why does anyone believe them? So many promises made and so little delivered, over the decades. Not long ago, those scientists were avidly telling us that using primates in animal experiments would help them - what help has all that suffering been? The cancer researching community is forever telling us that they are making progress, yet still cancer is on the increase after the billions spent and the terrible toll in useless animal experimentation.

Human-animal hybrid embryos are supposed to be able to produce stem cells that are 98% human. Is that so impressive? The 2004 release of the chimpanzee draft genome sequence showed that human and chimp DNA are roughly 99% identical! Chimps don't look like us, they don't have the same diseases and they do not develop AIDS, yet they were used in AIDS experiments for years, totally without benefit. What am I missing, here?

Perhaps I should have headed this blog: "Science gone bananas"?

When it doesn't work, what will be the next suggestion? Where is this slippery slope taking us?

Just because it happened in a laboratory does not make it science!

Let's not even ask the moral questions this decision raises.

Also in the news, this weekend, is the fact that sales of 'free range' eggs have overtaken battery cage eggs, in the UK. So they should and why on earth are we still keeping hens in cages?

I am heartened by the trend, especially as it shows that the great British public is becoming aware of animal welfare and is prepared to do something about it.

However, as The Daily Telegraph (David Derbyshire) wrote last November: "The image of free range hens wandering through woods and farmyards is a little way from the truth. In being free range, hens can still spend most of their time in hen houses or large barns as long as they have continuous access to runs "mainly covered with vegetation". Up to 2,500 birds are allowed in one hectare (just over two acres)." Furthermore, dominant hens may prevent the majority from using the legal 'popholes' to the outside. The tag 'Free Range' is just not sufficient safeguard and is being exploited by the industry. You only have to look at the welfare leaflet produced by DEFRA: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/farmed/layers/booklets/pb6490.pdf to see the incredible housing conditions to which many 'free range' hens are subjected.

RSPCA Freedom Food may not be all it seems, either. There have been prosecutions against Freedom Food farms: http://www.hillside.org.uk

This passage was lifted from: http://www.airflow.net/chukkies/freerang.htm "The UK free-range flock numbers around 3 million birds, 10% of the national egg-laying flock. Commercial free-range systems involve massive flocks, often around 15,000 birds, which are housed in huge sheds. Legally, the birds must have continuous access to open-air runs which means the sheds have a number of pop-holes. Stocking densities must not be more than 1,000 birds per hectare of ground to which the birds have access. This is about 200 times more space than battery hens have. However, inadequate numbers of pop-holes in large sheds may mean that many birds never leave the sheds. Pop-holes may also be protected by more aggressive birds discouraging other hens from using them freely. Overcrowding inside the sheds can lead to similar welfare problems as percheries with aggression, feather-pecking and cannibalism all occurring. Debeaking is more common in free-range hens than battery hens! Disease is also a problem, especially where high stocking densities result in the ground outside becoming heavily fouled. Traditional free-range involves smaller flocks which are housed in moveable houses."

As far as I can tell, Soil Association Organic standard is the best welfare option and the best policed, unless someone can tell me otherwise.

If you really want to help the hapless chicken, ask restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars etc. where they source their eggs. If they cannot satisfy your enquiries properly, it's best not to buy food containing eggs! If enough do this, there will be a major policy shift among buyers for the catering industry. The same applies to supermarkets or wherever else you shop.

Make keeping hens in cages obsolete and that would be a feather in your cap (pun intended)!

Organic food sales rocketed last year, according to the latest Soil Association report. Congratulations to the organic movement, for spreading the message successfully. Congratulations to the buying public, who are clearly getting the message.

Organic food production looks after the environment and ecology better. Buying organic supports this. Buying 'non-organic' merely pumps money into the pockets of those who do the opposite - the multi-national agrochemical industry.

The problem that now faces the organic movement is how to keep up with demand, to prevent loss of customer loyalty. Converting to organic is hard work and costly. World supplies of wheat are low, forcing up the prices of non-organic wheat on the world market and reducing or abolishing the incentive for farmers to convert.

The message to government is clear: The voters want organic food. Set about providing adequate incentive to fartmers to convert to organic, to safeguard supplies for the current demand and to allow for the next inevitable growth spurt in demand. This is not just a market forces issue. Current government support or other hidden support still favours the chemical sector.

I am grateful for the feedback received on this item.

There have clearly been problems with food from China, which also spill over into the food from Western manufacturers who source ingredients in China. This issue of harmful and illegal ingredients is one very important aspect. There are, furthermore, a great many products without explicit labelling (e.g. 'hide chews') and the generic labelling of pet food ingredients, that is permissible in law, can be very economical with detail and specificity. The only way for a buyer to avoid risks is not to buy manufactured food but to buy fresh ingredients of known quality.

Another issue is that of general health promotion. I firmly believe that processed food is not as good for pets as fresh food (preferably organic). Furthermore, I believe that no manufactured item replaces the essential role in tooth and gum health that is played by lumps of raw meat, that a dog has to chew, or raw joint/knuckle bones for the same purpose.

Thankfully, it looks as though the current outbreak is at an end. The EU has eased restrictions on UK exports and DEFRA appears to be in a relaxed mood.

The bio-security 'own goal' has yet to be resolved and possibly never will be. It's a familiar story - no one is at fault and yet it happened. I don't suppose for one minute that they'll stop playing with fire, however.

Two little shockers in this morning's news:

1) What a surprise - UK survival rates for cancer are poor, in international terms, below the European average and even lagging behind some Eastern European countries.

We keep hearing triumphal propaganda about increasing survival rates but how does this tally? Isn't it long past the time we should cease to rely upon animal experimentation for development of treatments? These are bound to end in failure and, in reality, do so. Money should be spent on compiling data, so we might be able to sort out the causes. In the meantime, diet, lifestyle and pollution seem pretty high on the list. Why not try to sort them out, instead of squandering untold billions on useless torturing of animals?

Let's face it, cancer and cancer research are big-earning industries. Curing or preventing cancer could be bad business.......

2) Another big surpirse, this one - the further a patient travels by ambulance, the more likely death becomes.

With the increased risk of MRSA and other superbugs by concentrating more and more patients into a smaller number of larger facilities, do we need this additional disadvantage of centralisation to convince us that 'small is beautiful'. It is well-known in veterinary preventive medicine - stressing facilities by stocking density or throughput brings more disease. Stop destroying local facilities, for goodness sake.

http://www.squidoo.com/natural_feeding_for_dogs_1

http://www.squidoo.com/natural_feeding_for_dogs_2

Sufferers of this distressing condition are not without hope, in that natural medicine can often help.

See http://www.alternativevet.org/Headshaking%20WS064-07.pdf

See http://www.squidoo.com/head_shaking

While we're not 'out of the wood' yet, restrictions are being further relaxed today. Logic dictates, in view of no further reports of outbreaks, that the feared spread of virus may not have occurred and this signal from DEFRA means that the powers-that-be are feeling more comfortable about the situation.

I suppose the decline of livestock in the countryside, in latter years, has its benefits, in that the denser the stock, the more likely it is that spread will occur. The converse also applies.

Yesterday's two possible new FMD outbreaks have now been declared clear. The Control Zones in Kent and around Chessington World of Adventure have been lifted. Tests have yielded negative results. This makes it more likely that the outbreak has been contained. Only a few more days of suspenseful waiting remain.

In these times of FMD and a further outbreak of lethal food poisoning in Scotland, it's good to have something nice to blog about!

Lyme Regis held its annual event, the 'Lyme Regatta', last week.

Here are some pictures:

Golden Cap in the afternoon light

Someone's having fun!

  Clown

  Dinosaur

First Prize!

  The Town Crier

Lyme's quaint little harbour, in the evening light

Personal experience (close family) suggests that homeopathy should be able to help those poor people in Scotland, who are suffering a renewed outbreak of E. coli food poisoning.

Food poisoning kills an enormous number of people, each year. In November-January 1996-97, in Central Scotland, 21 died of E. coli O157 food poisoning, 496 were affected and some were left permanently damaged. This time, the same strain has already killed one elderly lady and two more are seriously ill. It seems to have originated in a Morrisons supermarket, in Paisley.

With the dreadful mortality record, using conventional medicine, why has someone not asked the homeopathic medical community for help? They could do no worse than the current regime! Perhaps someone's scared that it might just work - then where would we be?

Alternatively, I suppose they could just stop eating meat?

Since writing the previous blog, DEFRA have rapidly posted details of the Surrey Control Zone, centred just to the Southeast of Esher & Claygate, taking in Claygate and Chessington and touching Kingston-upon-Thames, Epsom, Oxshott and Esher.

The news of a new 'suspect' case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), on Romney Marsh, North of new Romney in Kent is not good. However, we can hope that, like the recent case near Dorking, this will turn out to be a false alarm. The waiting is not nice.

STOP PRESS: While writing this, news of a new Control Zone in Surrey was announced by the BBC. This is also an unconfirmed suspect case.

The Kent information has reached the DEFRA update site: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/latest-situation/index.htm but the new suspect outbreak in Surrey is too new at the time of writing.

Visit http://www.whitehallpages.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=31217&newlang=eng&topic=158&catid=0 for the epidemiologist report and vaccination issues.

What drives those who would criticise or condemn homeopathy, without having invested a significant amount of time and effort researching the topic? These are NOT scientists.

Is it fear? Is it insecurity? Is it a realisation that homeopathy may overturn so many paradigms, in which they have invested their careers and their confidence?

True science first observes, later draws conclusions or theories.

In ethical medicine, any methodology that claims that it may be able to help patients should be thoroughly investigated, not vilified out of hand.

Let us have science, not doctrine. Let us have patient welfare, not vested interest.

Please don't bother me with mindless vitriol and pseudoscience. Please observe first and then try to make sense of the observations.

Does anyone need more proof of the serious dangers of manufactured food than the incident earlier this year, in which about 4,000 U.S. dogs have died, probably as a result of melamine (serves as a fake protein) inclusion in manufactured food?

The incident has been blamed on unscrupulous Chinese ingredient suppliers but surely the american importers and the manufacturers doing the buying share the blame? The need for a massive supply of cheap ingredients fuels such possible iniquities. The large scale manufacturing capability and the rapid distribution system ensure widespread damage from any error.

It is believed melamine may also have been included in some human foods.

This and the recent Sudan 1 carcinogen scandal, which contaminated chilli powder and which caused the recall of approaching 450 human food products (at a cost of about £100 million in the UK alone) show the power of food manufacturing to multiply any problem to a massive scale in a very short time.

These considerations are quite apart from the general health concerns associated with the feeding of processed foods.

Well, with the negative tests at the end of the week, signs are good that this nasty FMD episode may well be at an end. That will be a great relief, if true. However, we cannot be certain, just yet, so continued vigilance and precautions are wise, for the time being.

When I found a little black dog, running precariously through rush-hour traffic on the main road near us, last month, little did I realise she'd think of adopting us!

No microchip, no identity, no responses to all our notifications and about a month on, now. She's now called Tinker, because she is!

It's very difficult, under such circumstances, to know when one can say she's officially 'arrived' but she's certainly made herself feel at home.

Good old Steffan - we now have new windows to replace the hopelessly dilapidated ones that were in our shed:

I seem to lurch from one thing to another, in my attempt to have a trouble-free website.

The host has now added FrontPage extensions to the service, so I had to republish the site through FrontPage. Sadly, the host does not appear to support fully the navigation bars that I have in place. The site works fine but the navigation is not exactly as planned! We're working on it.

At least the changes now permit the interactive and feedback facilities! Let's hear from you.

Meanwhile, I apologise for the time off-air, yesterday, when I hadn't realised that the host had taken the site down, to switch me over to a FrontPage Extensions hosting package.

There is a new suspect farm, as of Thursday 9th August. The sad aspect of this is that it is situated about 10 miles to the East of the earlier outbreaks, beyond Guildford. A new Temporary Control Zone has been put in place, centring on the A25, midway between Gomshall and Westcott, near Dorking.

This news comes just as the authorities were relaxing movement restrictions (for animals to go direct to slaughter). This suspected case is still within the County of Surrey but brings the prospect of a longer battle than was first hoped. It will renew calls for vaccination.

DEFRA has responded with a 'standard letter' to my offer to help with homeopathic input. I am not hopeful, at present, that they are taking this offer seriously. This would be a shame. Why not write to DEFRA, suggesting that they should look into homeopathy as a possible means of containing the spread of the disease?

Meanwhile the hunt for the guilty party goes on, seeking out the source of the outbreak. The red herring of Legionnaires Disease has also muddied the waters.

Nice little dog story, with pictures.

http://www.owlhouse.co.uk/homeopathy.htm

Having missed the match at Twickenham, because of the Foot and Mouth and having devoted a lot of my mind to that unpleasant subject, I have only just started digesting the sporting results from the weekend. I'm not a great follower of sport but these two events were attention grabbers.

Twickenham - how could I have missed this one, of all matches, despite having had a ticket? That's life - 62-5! - that was even with JW uncharacteristically missing a few kicks but still joins the 900 club. Nine tries (four from Easter) - there can hardly have been time for a pitstop. One can only feel for the Welsh, as it all went so badly wrong for them.

As for the Hungarian Grand Prix, what it lacked in race thrills (as usual for that beastly cicuit), it made up for in politics. Lewis Hamilton and McLaren won for Britain (perhaps because of Alonso's penalty). A row between two drivers, for heaven knows what reason, really shouldn't spill over into the public domain. After all, it is the public who fund them, in the long run. Poor old Ron Dennis has a headache, now, as a result of forfeiting his team's winning points, apparently through no fault of his own and having a feuding team to cope with. It can't be good. He'd better have another glass of champers.

British Sport gets a lift, anyway.

Horses are not susceptible to the FMD virus. However, moving horses into or out of the 3km Protection Zone is only permissible by licence. Movements of those horses kept on the same premises as susceptible animals within the 3 km Protection Zone are similarly governed. Horse transport vehicles are likewise affected. This is precautionary.

I take this opportunity to remind clients that, as notified in a recent article below, that I shall not visit horses that are kept in close proximity to cattle, sheep, pigs or goats, during the current crisis. This is similarly precautionary, to prevent risk to my own or my clients' cloven-hoofed animals.

Just consider - someone tips a vial of FMD-infected material down the sink, it goes down the drain, it is well-diluted but then flood water spreads drain water over a wide area - hey presto, we have infected animals on a farm.

This is a plausible explanation for the current outbreak. It should set us all thinking that what we put down our drains and lavatories really matters.

What about that ghastly blue flushing chemical in your toilet? Even worse, what about all that bleach? Floor cleaners, washing-up liquid, surface cleaners, carpet treatments may all be harmful. The petro-chemical detergent and domestic product market is massive. Contraceptive pills, drugs of all sorts, car washing effluent - all of that revolting stuff ends up down our lavatories, down our sinks, runs out of our washing machines, drains off our drives and, yes, into the drainage system, a la Pirbright. It eventually ends up in rivers, ditches, waterways and even .... our drinking water!

It is only a small effort to exchange all our household stuff for eco-friendly products. These are easily obtainable now.

What we use in our homes has the power to make a huge environmental difference, positive or negative. Whatever we think, our effluent ends up in rivers, reservoirs and the poor old sea. Processing plants cannot remove it all.

Well, it was inevitable - another case has been found and slaughter is under way. The consolation is that it is only one case and that it is within the current Protection Zone.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/

In these parlous times, folk are turning to things 'natural' in droves. The feeling is that if it is 'of nature', then it has to be good and helps in some way to return us to a more natural state. While there's a lot in this, in many cases, there are some pitfalls.

Lots of people doing something rings bells in commercial hallways.

The inevitable result is that commercial interest swarms in that direction, hi-jacking the word 'natural' and sticking it on the label or in the advertising of just-about-anything, in the hope of catching sales.

Some of this stuff fits in with our perception of 'natural' and 'good'. A lot of it is counterfeit. Caveat emptor (buyer beware) is a great motto and slogan. Examine everything carefully for its natural and wholesome credentials. Do not be taken in by the commercial leeches and have your wallet sucked dry.

Three main ways in which 'natural' may not be wholesome are:

1) adulterated products that may contain a whiff of some natural ingredient but which have no more right to be called natural than I have to be called an Olympic athlete.

2) some things which are genuinely natural may be very unwholesome - look at arsenic, for instance, or poison ivy by way of reductio ad absurdum.

3) some products, while being natural, may be extremely damaging to the ecological niche from which they come (e.g. don't buy sandalwood products, as the groves are rapidly disappearing and are not replaceable in a predictable way).

Don't be cynical but don't be naive either. Keep those antennae waving!

It seems the experts are proposing the idea that the floods of 20th July spread the FMD virus from the Pirbright facility. As far as we know, no flood water actually passed through the buildings (what would have happened if it had?), which means that it must have been contaminated drain water entering the flood waters. Contamination of drain water would require a human breach of procedure, since no infective material should be disposed of via the sink or lavatory. One would assume that a large quantity of infective material might be needed, to retain an effective infective capability after such dilution.

I trust that the investigation will continue, in the hope of finding the who/what/when/how but it may be something that can never be ascertained at this stage. At least, if the theory is correct, the perpetrator will know he or she broke procedures.

Why do we have all these dangerous viruses about, like tigers in a zoo but more dangerous? Take a look at the earlier blog "Pandora's Box", for a list of viruses at IAH Pirbright. We shall probably never be told what they keep at the Merial facility on the same site.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.

In the light of the recent bio-security questions about the Foot and Mouth outbreak, at Pirbright, it may not be a comfort to readers to know that, apart from FMD virus, the IAH facility researches several animal diseases, 'exotic' to the UK:

Lumpy Skin Disease and Rinderpest for cattle

African Horse Sickness and Equine Encephalosis for horses

African Swine Fever and Swine Vesicular Disease for pigs

Blue Tongue, Peste des petits Ruminants and Sheep Pox for sheep

and

Goat Pox for goats.

Let's hope they can keep the lid on that bunch of goodies ........

Bio-security risk?

Meanwhile, it does not encourage me to learn that the carcases of the slaughtered cattle are being shipped from Surrey to Frome in Somerset, for incineration. Please give those trucks a wide berth, as they travel their way.

Another night has passed, without further confirmations of Foot and Mouth Disease. Although it is still early days in the outbreak, it looks more and more as if the initial infection took place in only one location, albeit possibly at more than one individual site. It is not 100% clear from reports whether all affected sites are under one ownership or whether there has been further (local) spread. Nonetheless, this compact area would make subsequent spread easier to track and contain.

In 2001, by way of contrast, the disease had spread to many scattered centres (multi-centric), before action was initiated.

There is no room for smugness about bio-security, at the two laboratory sites at Pirbright. For some reason, the directors of both have made it known that they believe no breach of procedues has occurred. At such times, it is best to keep mum, until the facts are known.

At least it's reassuring to know that Dr Reynolds has slapped a Protection Zone and Surveillance Zone around her old employers, at Pirbright, in case.

It appears, as of Sunday evening, that all concerned are resigned to the notion that last week's FMD outbreak has resulted from a laboratory escape, from nearby Pirbright. All that remains to be established, it seems, is which of the two facilities is responsible - the government-funded Institute of Animal Health or the multi-national commercial pharmaceutical giant Merial Animal Health Ltd. Needless to say, to date, both are protesting the quality of their bio-security. Time will tell .....

Especially with regard to dogs, but equally relevant to other species, the vaccination debate rolls on: http://www.alternativevet.org/vaccination.htm.

I have the pleasure of having been invited to give my views in front of a camera, at the end of this week, for a new DVD presentation on the subject.

Of course, there is nothing new to discuss or to reveal but the anxiety felt by dog owners is understandably very real and very great, regarding protection of their beloved animals from the 'killer diseases', such as Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Distemper.

Make no mistake, these diseases are still very prevalent out there and unprotected animals can fall prey to them, with disastrous consequences.

Several key facts need to be broadcast:

The diseases are killers.

It is not good enough to do nothing.

Annual boosting of vaccination is a habit, not based on science.

Even a single dose of vaccine, at the first injection stage, can be dangerous, in susceptible individuals. There is no way of determining susceptibility in advance.

There is a significant number of obvious vaccine reactions, rarely if ever reported under the SARSS scheme (http://www.alternativevet.org/sarss.htm)

Double-boosting in dogs that have missed a year or two is not only not based in science, it is also doubly dangerous.

In many cases, a single dose of vaccine can be protective for life. However, it is not possible to determine in which cases.

Antibody testing (titre testing) does not help a great deal. Animals can be immune without the presence of circulating antibodies.

Any dog with an illness or disease should not be vaccinated, according to the manufacturers' Data Sheet.

About 80% of chronic disease, in cases in which a start date can be determined, show first signs within three months of a vaccination event. This is despite the Newmarket POOCH study's findings (http://www.alternativevet.org/Vaccination%20WS024-07.pdf). This fact can be gleaned from veterinary notes up and down the country (i.e. real-life science).

Homeopathic methods (homeoprophylaxis) are without risk of side-effects.

Homeopathic methods are without clear proof of efficacy but limited clinical trial work is very indicative of a positive effect: http://www.alternativevet.org/research.htm

Thousands of dogs in the UK do not receive vaccination, rather receiving only homeoprophylaxis. This has not created a disaster.

Homeoprophylactic methods will not satisfy legal or competition requirements for vaccination.

My own dogs have never received any conventional vaccination, despite being extremely high-risk dogs as a result of their lifestyle and environment.

I cannot recommend the Pet Passport procedure for dogs, as it involves so much chemical input, further vaccination (Rabies) etc. I therefore advocate leaving dogs at home, when taking holidays and trips abroad.

What first alerted me to vaccination problems, who once was possibly the most vaccine-minded vet ever, was the sudden and dramatic relapse of homeopathically 'cured' chronic cases, just after a booster vaccination.

I am unable to recommend re-vaccination of any chronically-diseased patient, even after apparent 'cure', for this reason and because of the wording of the Data Sheet.

As stated at the outset, this information also applies to horses and to cats. In the case of horses and tetanus vaccination, boosting should not be necessary inside 10 - 12 years.

I am always very willing ot discuss this subject responsibly and in-depth, with any concerned enquirer (vet or animal owner): http://www.veterinary-homeopathy.co.uk/id4.html, knowing the legitimate concerns that attend this issue.

I had the enormous pleasure and privilege to have been invited to speak at the latest of the Prince of Wales's series of Summer Schools, held at his Cotswold farm and at Highgrove (17th - 19th July 2007). It was on the subject of 'Farming & Food'.

I felt slightly the 'odd man out', among the speakers, as I was not an integral part of the developing farming and food culture. I was talking about the role of homeopathy in welfare and positive health on the farm. Nonetheless, I found the course most illuminating and inspiring.

A diverse group of delegates and speakers were gathered, all of whom had a great deal to contribute. Among others, they came from retail giants, retail innovators and pioneers, the organic world, DEFRA, school food buyers, caterers, the European Commission for Agriculture & Rural Development, Young Farmers, the Soil Association and the NFU.

The Wednesday evening was spent as a guest of the HRH The Prince of Wales at Highgrove, both walking his magnificent private gardens and for a splendid dinner (local and organic). The Prince of Wales characteristically gave his vision of sustainable farming and the problems besetting the world, in agriculture and in climate. His Grace The Bishop of Liverpool gave an inspiring after-dinner speech on his work with sustainability education in Liverpool.

All agreed it had been a very worthwhile and positive experience and elected to continue contact and to hold further meetings. Much deliberation took place, about possible resolutions ot take forward. The series of Summer Schools convened by the Prince of Wales, of which this was only one topic, appear to be a powerful force for positive change and imaginative thinking.

The time of year for laminitis in ponies is well under way. It is comforting to know that homeopathy, along with sound (natural) feeding advice, has proved extraordinarily effective, even in some very chronic cases but especially if intervention is timely.

Mainstay remedies are: Aconitum, Belladonna, Fluoric acid, Graphites, Hypericum, Secale and Silica, used according to homeopathic principles. The experienced homeopathic vet will sometimes use others, according to signs and circumstance.

It is important to avoid feeding refined or semi-refined sugars, which are usually so much an integral part of manufactured foods and supplements.

See: http://www.alternativevet.org/nutrition.htm

http://alternativevet.org/Laminitis%20WS059-07.pdf

http://www.alternativevet.org/WS130-07.pdf

http://www.squidoo.com/laminitis/

It is important to establish a holistic regime, integrating management, diet, hoof-trimming and medical case. Chronic cases can require a great deal of close monitoring and regime adjustment, as the case proceeds, but the outcome is positive in the vast majority of cases.

Have you seen the September issue of 'Your Dog' magazine. On page 98 is a feature entitled "What's on the menu?". Dr Monica Lundervold MRCVS, employed in the PR department of IAMS, strenuously defends the 'processed food' cause, while yours truly has a bash for natural and fresh diets. I recommend reading both.

I am glad for Dr Monica that she has such faith in her employer's products (IAMS pet food manufacturer is a subsidiary of multi-national giant Procter and Gamble).

I quote from the 'products' page of my website www.alternativevet.org/products.htm :

"As with any walk of life, it is not wise to seek the advice of those who will directly benefit from that advice."

In her article, Dr Lundervold refers to the '24-hour Operational Ration Pack'. Guess what, this is only designed for continuous consumption over 15 days and certainly no longer than 30 days. Might the British Army have realised that such diets are not for long-term use? According to Surplus and Adventure,

" Features of the 24-Hour Operational Ration Pack are:

Incidentally, this little item comes to you, from military surplus supplies, for £9.95 (for 24-hours of food) and includes 10 matches, a striker and 6 water purification tablets! It is interesting to read that the military realises that there is such a thing as 'menu fatigue' and are introducing variety into 2007 packs. All this sounds far-removed from the petrol-pump sounding 'super premium' dog food described. Now would that be leaded or unleaded? Anyway, I'm glad Dr Lundervold mentioned the 24-hr ORP, really.

As for the publication of my own views (page 99), shame about the photo of the steel food dish! It's a bit 'off message' and I have made a mental note to try to remember, when writing articles, to ask for input on choice of photographs. By the way, my own incentive for writing the article? A free copy of the magazine!

The BBC have posted this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/6931324.stm 

It is often said that no research exists, to support the efficacy of homeopathy. It may be an idea to visit www.alternativevet.org/research.htm and http://www.alternativevet.org/outcomeanalysis.htm. It is not quite so insupportable as some would like us to believe......

Since the discovery of the virus strain, as being similar (or identical, depending which report one reads) to that used/kept at Pirbright research facility, the Protection Zone around the farm has been expanded today. The Pirbright facility is about 3 miles from the affected farm, so this new expanded zone includes the area around Pirbright and again has a 3km radius (interesting that the affected farm was THREE MILES from Pirbright (5km) so this area may be too small) and a new surveillance zone with a 10km radius from both sites.

Readers will be comforted that the head of the IAH at Pirbright has told reporters that there have been "no breaches of our procedures". Merial have apparently voluntarily ceased production of vaccines at the site.

Hit this link for a comment on possible homeopathic involvement in the treatment and prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD):

http://www.squidoo.com/footandmouth/

The other day I chanced upon an interesting venture. It's called VETONTHEWEB.CO.UK and is "the first and only web portal veterinary website in the UK, bringing vets, pet owners, pet and vet related businesses and welfare groups under one roof, for the benefit of all" to quote from the home page: http://www.vetontheweb.co.uk/.

I have posted an entry http://www.vetontheweb.co.uk/chrisday  but it would take more time than I have to make the most of the ambitious and expansive idea behind the project.

If you're interested in joining (free to pet owners), you can do so at: http://www.vetontheweb.co.uk/register1.asp

Late last night, preliminary results of virus typing were released. DEFRA said that the virus strain is not one recently found in animals. I quote from the announcement:

"It is most similar to strains used in international diagnostic laboratories and in vaccine production, including at the Pirbright site shared by the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) and Merial Animal Health Ltd, a pharmaceutical company."

This laboratory is not far from the affected farm. The suggestion is that this outbreak may be the result of a bio-security leak at the laboratory. Of course such laboratories do not just handle Foot and Mouth virus. It is time such work was out in the open and in the public domain. What other viruses do they have?

If this is indeed the source, it would not be the first time that a virus has 'escaped' from such a facility and it highlights the dangers of playing about with such things. The notorious escape of the lethal Rabbit Calicivirus from the Wardang Island research facility off Australia was but one example. The surprise is, when you play with matches, you get fire.

This may not be the time to repeat that I believe animal experimentation, as is carried out at Pirbright and many other research facilities, is a practice that should stop. I also doubt that this incident will make those involved rethink the whole thing. That does not appear to be the way science-linked-with-commerce thinks.

Back to the current FMD challenge, this finding makes it even more pressing that we should consider homeopathic methodology, to limit the spread of this disease. The discussions on the vaccination issue centre around economic considerations, because of the production of FMD antibodies and on whether the strain of virus in the vaccine is the correct one. The homeopathic option would, if shown effective, avoid both of these problems. If the disease starts to spread rapidly, it would take a very short time to establish whether homeopathy could prove effective.

http://www.squidoo.com/footandmouth/

The 3km Protection Zone surrounds the village of Wanborough, between Guildford and Aldershot. The exact identity of the farm has not yet been revealed but the cattle have now all been slaughtered, according ot reports.

This is clearly a very decisive action by DEFRA, this time around. It is now a matter of waiting to see whether the outbreak had spread, prior to detection. As the incubation period is about 7 days, that is the MINIMUM time we must wait before breathing a sigh of relief, if no reports of further cases come in. Traditionally, the spread of infection appears to have been faster in cold, winter weather.

During the last outbreak, nearly 7 million animals were destroyed and estimated costs reached £8.5 billion. That episode was not only tragic and devastating for the rural communities involved, it was an animal welfare disaster, with movement restrictions condemning many animals to a slow death by starvation and the scale of operation leading to many having been badly shot.

None of this staggering toll and terrible tragedy addresses the fearsome pollution issue, with the massive fires that burned for so long. We can only hope that all this can be avoided this time around.

The arguments against vaccination tend to lose their strength, when repeated outbreaks appear to be an inevitable reality. The arguments for homeopathic involvement (homeoprophylaxis) are very strong, provided we can show that we are able to be effective in control of spread. However, before that necessary information can be obtained, DEFRA needs to allow dialogue and to consider the representation that I shall be sending.

In the wake of the announcement of a new outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), many may require information and guidance.

The first thing is that it is cloven-hoofed animals that are susceptible to this disease, including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer. Any farmers or others who have these species under their care should do their best to prevent spread to their animals by setting up bio-security zones around the premises, disallowing access of unauthorised people or vehicles into contact with the animals. Disinfectant pads/baths may also be a useful measure (using a recommended disinfectant). Keeping animals away from footpaths and rights of way is an obvious precaution. Limiting travel to or from premises where such species are kept is also advisable. For the time being, it is wisest not to attend animal parks, zoos, rescue centres etc., where such species are kept.

Keep a regular and close inspection schedule, to check for signs of the disease. At present, we have no information on how far the virus may already have spread, so we must all be vigilant.

Signs of the disease in cattle are: slobbering and smacking lips, shivering, sore feet, reduced milk yield, blisters on feet and possibly inside mouth and raised temperature. Affected sheep are less easy to spot.

DEFRA has a comprehensive information sheet at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/about/clinical.htm.

The Soil Association was very pro-active in 2001. Their website is: www.soilassociation.org.

Of course, it's early days yet, but DEFRA really appears to have got its act together this time, under Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds's steerage. The old Jim Scudamore days appear to be a thing of the past. However, DEFRA has yet to be proven 'under fire'. Let's hope they are not tested too hard by this outbreak and that there will not be another animal welfare catastrophe, as we had in 2001.

Contact details for DEFRA:

Helpline telephone: 08459 33 55 77

Helpline e-mail: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

If you wish to speak to a named member of DEFRA, ring: 0207 238 6000 (switchboard).

Grrrr!

Number One Son Stephen and his lovely fiancee Kristen had very kindly invited me to TWICKENHAM today, to watch the Rugby match (the pre-World Cup 'friendly', between England & Wales), which promises to be a scorcher. I'm afraid I've had to cry off, owing to the Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak. It's too early to know how big the risk is, to our own or to our clients' animals. Hells Bells.

Until further notice, the AVMC will not be making any non-vital farm visits, to premises which contain cloven-hoofed farm animals nearby. This is regretted but it is the only line we feel able to take, in view of this morning's announcement of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). My office will telephone the clients whom I am to be visiting next week, to check on the livestock situation.

The early news this morning brought a shock. FMD is back, found near Guildford in Surrey.

No information is yet forthcoming, either about the source of the Foot and Mouth virus infection or about whether it could already have spread elsewhere. The ill steer that sparked the investigation was found at an abattoir on Thursday. It would appear, however, at this early stage, that there is a determination at the top to sit on this one hard. Vaccination is also being considered. A UK-wide movement ban is already in place and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone placed around the affected farm. Gordon Brown has cut short his holiday in Dorset and Hilary Benn is returning from his in Italy. Perhaps lessons have been learnt.

This time, it is said that the countryside will not be closed. However, it behoves everyone to try to restrict contact with cattle, sheep or pigs, for the time being, to ensure that none of us is responsible for further spread.

I shall write to the relevant authorities again, to offer my services on the homeopathic side. Last time, this was treated with derision, despite my offer to fund and conduct a pilot study that would quickly have shown whether homeopathy (or more correctly: homeoprophylaxis) could have stopped the spread.

Hopefully, this will be a very different affair, with just one centre, rather than the multi-centric outbreak we experienced in 2001. Meanwhile, my heart goes out to those on the farm, who must now endure total slaughter of their livestock.

2007 turns out to be a very auspicious year. I am 60 years old. I qualified as a vet 35 years ago. The AVMC (www.alternativevet.org) is twenty years old. It was the first dedicated holistic veterinary practice in the UK.  My tenure as Hon. Sec. of the BAHVS is 25 years old. It is twenty years since I became VetMFHom. The IAVH is twenty-one years old and the first International Veterinary Congress was held in Oxford, twenty years ago. The IAVH held its first Organic Farming Workshop in Foulum, Denmark, ten years ago. 2007 is also the year in which I retired as Hon. Sec. of the BAHVS.

Homeopathy-First Aid for Pets was first published fifteen years ago and Feeding Dogs the Natural Way was first published ten years ago. Added to that, the Mastitis trial took place twenty-one years ago and the Kennel Cough trial twenty years ago.

That's a bunch of special anniversaries.

www.alternativevet.org

Well, we seem to be on top of the navigation button issues, that were spoiling the looks of the site. The host service was very helpful in clearing this for me.

However, the 'interactive bits' of the site don't work yet, as I have to sort compatibility with my new host. This means we have no 'search' or 'feedback' capability at the moment.

We'll get to it as soon as possible - watch this space.

Of course, you could always e-mail me on my blog!

On Saturday 28th July 2007, I proudly watched son Thomas become wedded to Joanna Domaradzka. They made a lovely couple and Joanna's parents Ania and Neil (and what a great couple they are), laid on a magnificent bash at Bickleigh Castle, on the River Exe. The venue was grand, homely, beautiful and many other wonderful adjectives. The lady-of-the-house may have been able to teach Basil F a thing or two but things went really well. The ceremonies were lovely and the food excellent, not to mention the Sicilian wine. The best man went a bit too far with the fancy dress, don't you think?

Congratulations, Jo and Tom, and many years of wedded bliss to you both.

During June, we paddled the Thames. This needs a little explanation. We discussed the possibility earlier in the year but, for some reason, the whole concept gathered momentum and we found ourselves actually doing it, on Saturday morning, 2nd June! Somehow, we omitted to do any physical fitness training or kayak instruction.

The boats were a modern, high performance thermoplastic (HTP), two-seater Prijon Capri and a 'classic' 50 year-old plywood two-seater kayak, made by my father-in-law. We never gave it a thought but this latter boat, nicely-turned-out as it was, raised a lot of interest and folk-in-the-know would come and seek us out while lunching at pubs, having seen it moored nearby.

I can now reliably inform you that years at a computer keyboard, a consulting room desk and a car driving seat are not sufficient preparation for such an endeavour, especially at 60 years old. Nonetheless ...

We walked 20 miles (12 from source to Cricklade and 8 miles from Teddington to Kew) and paddled 140 miles. We took a river taxi from Kew to Westminster and another from there to the Thames Barrier and back. We saw 64 species of birds. We saw bridges, boats and water.

From heavily-wooded, reed-choked and turbulent upper reaches to the wide, deceptively-lazy lower Thames, we had a great experience. I can't help feeling we'd have done it a lot quicker, had we waited until the floods of July! Amazingly, we had but two hours of rain one evening, while we were on the river, on a trip that occupied 13 days, in all. It did rain on our last day but we were well-protected by the river taxis, by then, the first of which was an old 'Dunkirk' boat.

Isn't self-discovery a wonderful thing? Anyone who calls this a holiday, however, is in for a grisly demise.......

Thanks to Stephen & Kristen for looking after home and animals and for transporting us hither and thither. Thanks also to Catherine and Andrew, for putting us up during our London leg.

The BAHVS held its Annual Conference in Leeds, during the last weekend in June (or the first in July, depending upon the way you look at it). It was full of energy, wisdom, insight and conviviality. The speakers were magnificent and inspiring. The organisers did a wonderful job. Thanks!

It was a poignant moment for me, as I retired as Hon. Sec., after 25 years. I thank the membership of the BAHVS for my retirement gift - I shall have fun working out how to spend the book tokens! Special thanks to Francis Hunter, who presented it to me.

On the Friday, it rained .... and rained .... and rained.

On the Saturday, we could not access the field where our cattle had been grazing, nor could we see them. Rather than leave things to chance, we took to a kayak & here are the pics.

We were able to cross fences and hedges, without let or hindrance. The cattle were fine - we need not have worried!

On the Sunday, the floods had fallen a good 12 inches but were still up to the tops of the fence posts, on the lower flood plain, the highest in my lifetime (so far). The electric fencer unit was still a good 10 inches below the surface (new one required no doubt).

Anyway, it all turned into a jolly good excuse for a long paddle - most of Saturday and Sunday 'wasted' on the water. It disappeared all too soon, off down stream on its way to Abingdon, to contribute to the misery further down the Thames. We were the lucky ones. Our hearts go out to those who suffered so much in these floods and in those in June, further North.

I've put together a suite of small, focused websites, for the various therapies.

www.veterinary-acupuncture.co.uk

www.veterinary-herbal.co.uk

www.veterinary-holistic.co.uk

www.veterinary-homeopathy.co.uk

These are designed for a quick visit and they're small enough not to need a sitemap, whereas www.alternativevet.org is a big read, with more pages than you can shake a stick at (see previous article).

After a long time of fiffing and faffing about, I've managed to rescue the old domain www.alternativevet.org from its ethereal meanderings and have updated, uprated and improved the old website. They've come together again in the new offering, of which I'm rather proud. However, there's always a snag - there's an issue with the navigation buttons, that's going to take a few days to sort. I've decided to leave the site 'up', as it all works OK, as far as I can tell. The faulty buttons display their names when your cursor is held over them and they go to the required target. Sorry about it but I am rather amateur at all this.

Anyway, take a look ........