"Toxemia Explained" was written in the late 19th century (I think); in it, J.H. Tilden tries to explain why medicine is failing to eradicate illness and pain. For him, doctors keep focusing on the symptoms without considering the causes of illness.
Actually, Tilden contends, there is only one cause, and that is toxemia, the accumulation of toxins in the body. Toxemia builds up our body's normal purification mechanisms are prevented from doing their work. The main reason why these mechanisms are suppressed are to be found in lifestyle anomalies: stress, overeating, alcohol, etc. I don't remember what else.
I didn't finish "Toxemia Explained", short though it is. I just couldn't suppress my irritation at the author . While his idea sounds interesting, and even today, relatively novel, the delivery is just terrible. Tilden is obnoxious, arrogant, and paranoid. He's persuaded himself that the medical establishment of his time is hell-bent on suppressing his own brilliant dissenting voice.
But even if that's true... Tilden seems to think that being treated like a madman by the mainstream is proof that you've made a fundamental discovery. For a doctor, his reasoning is remarkably un-scientific. He keeps using sophistry, oversimplification and personal attacks as if any of it could prove his point...
Is his book about him or his ideas? He should've tried forgetting his ego and selflessly but rigorously exposing his research, and seen if he was still called a madman.
at best, Tilden is a wasted talent.