The author reviews the long-standing debate over the relative merits of a high-protein versus a low-protein diet. At a time when the concern has resurfaced that over-consumption of protein in affluent societies may damage health, this book provides a fascinating historical perspective.

This book travels through a century of of puzzlement that took place betweenPerry's landing and the use of Vitamin B in the late 1930s. The result is a case study of how an obscure disease rises to international prominance and challenges the experts in public health and nutrition.