During the past century, but more especially during the last half century, science has succeeded in limiting, suppressing or greatly modifying most of the acute infectious diseases, some of which tend to become epidemic.
This has been done in part by applying certain theories based upon the knowledge gained by the study of bacteriology, and in part–really the larger part– by a better knowledge of the principles of rational sanitation which is an engineering problem, not necessarily dependent solely upon bacteriology.
In its legitimate field of environmental prevention, or prophylaxis by mechanical and chemical means, sanitary science is deeply indebted to bacteriology for its knowledge of where to seek and how to destroy many hidden enemies. But after sanitary science wedded itself to bacterial therapeutics, with its blood- polluting vaccine virus, animal serums, antitoxins and vaccines, she began to bring forth a mongrel brood of hideous mien for those who have eyes to see through the masks they wear.
The acute, infectious and epidemic diseases are in Vain gloriously said to have been “conquered.” But do we not still have so-called “epidemics” and innumerable cases of acute disease? Did we not have the terrible pandemic of influenza which raged a few years ago, causing in one year approximately as many deaths as occurred during the same period of the World War? Before that visitation even the most enthusiastic believers in “modern medicine” confessed themselves helpless and ashamed? And have we not had annual recurrences of influenza somewhat milder in form, ever since?.
Granting that acute diseases may be somewhat less prevalent, have we not in their place an alarming increase in the great chronic diseases–cancer, tuberculosis, (this latter now being suppressed, modified and gradually changed into other forms of chronic disease) and other chronic degenerative diseases?.
Are not many strange, anomalous, baffling, mysterious phases and forms of well-known diseases constantly appearing?.
Careful observers have noticed and commented upon these facts without being able satisfactorily to explain and account for them.
May it not be that, in the long run, “the treatment is worse than the disease”?.
Acute diseases in primitive human beings and animals living in a state of nature are comparatively simple, definite, clear- cut and typical. True chronic diseases, as we know them, do not exist among them.
But with the advance of civilization and the development pari passu of drug and bacteriological immunization and treatment diseases become more and more complex, indefinite and atypical. Not only do the acute diseases tend more and more to become chronic, but more or less definite new forms of chronic disease appear. Cancer, for example, is almost unknown among primitive peoples.
Wild animals have almost no diseases, acute or chronic. It is only in domestication or captivity that animals become victims of disease, and then not because of any inherent organic defect, but because they are poisoned–by unnatural food and drink and the body-poisons produced thereby; by poisons introduced under the guise of medicines (drugs); by serums, so- called “antitoxins” and vaccines; by psychological pathogenic agencies.
It is the same with man. Artificial conditions of living, and medical treatment unguided by the Law of Cure are largely responsible not only for epidemics and “malignancy,” but for the great majority of all the diseases which afflict alike us human beings and our animal friends.
Allan D. Sutherland was born in Northfield, Vermont in 1897, delivered by the local homeopathic physician. The son of a Canadian Episcopalian minister, his father had arrived there to lead the local parish five years earlier and met his mother, who was the daughter of the president of the University of Norwich. Four years after Allan’s birth, ministerial work lead the family first to North Carolina and then to Connecticut a few years afterward.
Starting in 1920, Sutherland began his premedical studies and a year later, he began his medical education at Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia.
Sutherland graduated in 1925 and went on to intern at both Children’s Homeopathic Hospital and St. Luke’s Homeopathic Hospital. He then was appointed the chief resident at Children’s. With the conclusion of his residency and 2 years of clinical experience under his belt, Sutherland opened his own practice in Philadelphia while retaining a position at Children’s in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.
In 1928, Sutherland decided to set up practice in Brattleboro.