Bertrand P. Allinson

MRCS LRCP
Bertrand P. Allinson at the Annual Vegan Dinner in 1962
Born
Bertrand Peter Allinson

(1891-08-12)12 August 1891
Died1 April 1975(1975-04-01) (aged 83)
Marylebone, England
Occupation(s)Physician, writer
Parent
RelativesAdrian Allinson (brother)

Bertrand Peter Allinson MRCS LRCP (12 August 1891 – 1 April 1975) was a British physician, naturopath and vegetarianism activist.

Biography

Allinson was the son of Thomas Allinson and brother of Adrian Allinson.[1][2] He was raised as a vegetarian and studied medicine. Allinson qualified MRCS and LRCP in 1914 from the University College Hospital.[3] He was a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps (1916–1920).[3] He was a physician at the British Hospital for Mental and Nervous Diseases.[1]

Allinson was an anti-vaccinationist and anti-vivisectionist. He opposed the use of pharmaceutical drugs which he believed hindered the "automatic cleansing process".[1] Allinson wrote articles supportive of naturopathy. He was vice-president of the National Anti-Vaccination League.[1]

Allinson was a physician at the Nature Cure Clinic, a naturopathic hospital which promoted vegetarianism and animal welfare causes such as anti-vivisection.[4] The Nature Cure Clinic opened in 1928 at an apartment in Baker Street.[5] In 1940, the out-patient building was destroyed by bombing and the Clinic moved to Allinson's house in Dorset Square. After the war, the Clinic moved to Oldbury Place.[5]

He was treasurer of the London and Provincial Anti-Vivisection Society.[6] His daughter Sonya Madeleine Allinson was an artist.[7]

Vegetarianism

Allinson stated that fruit juice fasting, a strict vegetarian diet and naturopathic practices such as hydrotherapy and osteopathy could be used to prevent and cure many diseases including cancer, hypertension and rheumatism.[6][8][9][10] He opposed the consumption of alcohol, coffee, meat, processed sugar, tea, white bread and promoted a vegetarian diet of raw fruit, nuts, salads, dairy products and whole grains.[10] He described alcohol, coffee and tea as injurious to the functions of the body.[11] Allinson recommended persons between the ages of 25 and 55 to take two meals per day and after that age one meal per day in the afternoon.[11]

Allinson was vice-president of the International Vegetarian Union (1958–1963) and President of the London Vegetarian Society (1922–1962).[12][13]

Selected publications

References

  1. ^ a b c d Brown, P. S. (1991). "Medically Qualified Naturopaths and the General Medical Council" (PDF). Medical History. 35 (1): 50–77. doi:10.1017/s0025727300053126. PMC 1036269. PMID 2008122.
  2. ^ Powys, John Cowper; Krissdottir, Morine. (1998). The Dorset Year: The Diary of John Cowper Powys, June 1934-July 1935. Powys Press. p. 119. ISBN 9781874559191
  3. ^ a b The Medical Directory 1969. Churchill Livingstone, 1969. p. 27
  4. ^ "The Vegetarian Movement in England 1847-1981: A Study in the Structure of Its Ideology". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Nature Cure Clinic and Hospital". Ezitis.myzen.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b Anti-Vivisection. Western Mail (March 22, 1933). p. 11
  7. ^ Who's Who in Art: Volume 33. Art Trade Press, 2008. p. 12
  8. ^ Pure Diet For Health. West Bridgford Advertiser (May 30, 1925). p. 3
  9. ^ Nature Diet. Birmingham Daily Gazette. (May 10, 1927). p. 10
  10. ^ a b Diet to Abolish Rheumatism. Reynolds's Newspaper. (May 11, 1930). p. 9
  11. ^ a b Dietetic Sinners: Vegetarian Leader Pleads for Two Meals a Day. Daily News (October 18, 1921). p. 5
  12. ^ "Dr. Bertrand P. Allinson M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  13. ^ New President for Vegetarian Society. Kensington Post (April 27, 1962). p. 4
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