He was an early researcher to suggest that excessive red meat consumption is a cause of cancer.
[2] In 1876, he was exhibitioner and gold medallist in clinical medicine and surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
[2] He was house surgeon at Wigan Royal Infirmary, Western General Dispensary and St Peter's Hospital in London.
[2] His book The Natural History of Cancer was positively reviewed in medical journals as a valuable reference work.
[3][4][5][6] Williams noted that overeating and "gluttonous consumption of meat" in modern industrial cities as well as lack of exercise and fresh vegetable food were factors causing the increased rates of cancer.