If I were a drug company and I wished to patent a readily available and inexpensive natural substance which has been shown to prevent disease, what would I do?

I think that first of all, I would make it sound as though my version were not only different but superior.

And I would definitely try to show that the natural version is not only ineffective but dangerous, even in the teeth of evidence to the contrary. I might even try to manipulate a focus on those side effects ....

I would probably say something like "our improved version will have therapeutic results without the dangerous side effects of the natural substance".

Ta Da!  Watch for a pharmaceutical version of Vitamin D in the next few years.

Vitamin D analogue

Vitamin D5 Ready for Clinical Trials in Breast Cancer

We have moved - thank goodness it is over.  With the best will in the world, I know we made some errors during the move, and fell from our usual stellar standards.  I hope we are forgiven, and all is now organized again.

We are in an old J.C. Penney's bullding on the square in Macomb Illinois, opposite our beautiful courthouse.  One day, we will restore the old hardwood floors and the original tin ceiling, but for now, while we are still waiting for some of our new inventory - here we are.

For the dog lovers among you - here is my pack in our latest snow!