The British Association for the Advancement of Science designed an experiment to determine the world's funniest joke. Following was one of the early leaders for such honors.
Famed fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his gruff assistant Doctor Watson pitch their tent while on a camping expedition, but in the middle of the night.
Holmes nudges Watson awake and questions him.
Holmes: Watson, look up at the stars and tell me what you deduce.
Watson: I see millions of stars, and if there are millions of stars, and
if even a few of those have planets, it is quite likely there are
some planets like earth, and if there are a few planets like earth
out there then there might also be life.
Holmes: Watson, you idiot! Somebody stole our tent.
The doctor missed what was right before him in this world because of his view far beyond him. Do doctors miss what is right before them because they look far beyond them?
Most doctors have pitched their tents in the medicinal field in the expedition for truth about healthful living. Do they look beyond the body and miss the natural order that is right before them? Is the reality of healthful living to be found within the natural order of the nutritional?
The famed fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his equally famed fictional assistant Doctor Watson give assistance in the following nutritional instance.
The Case Of The Calcium Controversy
Sherlock Holmes: I've been considering calcium of late.
Dr. Watson: Whatever for?
Holmes: It appears to me that too much has been made of the nutritional need for calcium.
Watson: Now see here, man, you're delving into my area of expertise, Holmes.
Holmes: You know how I respect you, old boy.
Watson: You'd best stick to criminal detection and leave medical science to me.
Holmes: Hear me out, old boy. I've been reading of one Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D., from
Watson: The school has a good reputation.
Holmes: Dr. Abraham speaks of four substances that exercise primary roles in calcium
Watson: Go on.
Holmes: The first is, 1,25(OH)2 D3, the second, parathyroid hormone, the third, calcitonin, and the fourth, magnesium.
Watson: What was that first one?
Holmes: It's an end product of a process that begins with the synthesis of cholecalciferol. Of course, you recognize cholecalciferol as Vitamin D3.
Watson: Harumph! Of course.
Holmes: Continuing, this D3 is formed by an interaction of solar ultraviolet radiation with 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin, and leads to this substance being formed.
Watson: Get to the point, man!
Holmes: This substance increases calcium absorption and decreases calcium loss in urine. Parathyroid hormone...
Watson: ...stimulates removal of calcium from bone and its utilization by soft tissue, but this is an action for which there is very little call, as 99% of all calcium resides in the bones and teeth.
Holmes: Exactly! That brings us to calcitonin that, as you know, enhances calcium deposition in bone, and prevents the deposit of calcium in soft tissue. Excessive calcium in soft tissue can lead to arterial disease associated with heart disease.
Watson: Hear, hear, where are you going with all of this?
Holmes: Magnesium!
Watson: Magnesium?
Holmes: Yes, Watson, magnesium. It stimulates the secretion of calcitonin while suppressing the less desirable parathyroid hormone. This favors bone strengthening and prevention of soft tissue damage!
Watson: Extraordinary!
Holmes: Yes it is. Furthermore, while magnesium facilitates efficient calcium intake, calcium interferes with magnesium absorption. This is just one reason that it appears to me that too much has been made of the nutritional need for calcium.
Watson: Incredible!
Holmes: It's ELEMENTary, my dear Watson, simply ELEMENTary.
Watson: Very punny, Holmes, VERY PUNNY.
