NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
43
to make use of the 3,500 calories of their dietary must either produce a large amount
of heat—requiring great radiation, conduction, etc., to keep the body temperature.
normal—or require really hard labour to dissipate the caloric value as mechanical
energy. There is little doubt that neither of these conditions obtains— neither as.
a source of body heat nor as a source for the energy of muscular contraction is the
large fuel value of their dietaries worked off.
The question, therefore, arises—what becomes of the great potential energy
offered in these dietaries ? The answer to this would appear to be three-fold : a
part of the carbohydrate, varying in amount according to the needs of the body,
is absorbed—so long as the processes going on in the intestinal canal are physiolo-
gical—and made use of to supply body heat and energy for muscular contraction ;
a part undergoes little or no change in the bowel and passes out undissolved and
very much in the same form as when ingested—this is probably due to its being
bound up with cellulose, so that the digestive juices are unable to penetrate to the
starch granules and set up the changes essential for absorption ; a third part is
broken up in the digestive tract by excessive fermentation, which beginning in
the stomach is continued in the intestines. In this way a very large percentage of
the total potential energy of the diet may be dissipated through the conversion of
its starch or sugar into carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, acetic acid, lactic
acid, butyric acid, etc., and other fermentative products of low caloric value.
Besides this loss of the potential caloric value there is a considerable amount of
evidence to show that excessive fermentation leads to a simultaneously disturbed
digestion of protein, so that a vicious circle becomes established. It is highly pro-
bable that the excess of acid products is capable of setting up catarrhal inflamma-
tion of the small intestine and of inflicting injury on its delicate epithelial lining ;
and there is little doubt but that many cases of chronic gastritis are dependent
on excessive fermentative activity in the stomach. It is not, therefore, to be won--
dered at that, with these results of excessive fermentation, absorption of protein
and carbohydrate should alike suffer and signs of mal-nutrition become evi-
-dent. The practical evidence of the truth of these deductions is to be found in
the extreme prevalence of bowel complaints in Bengal, the presence of oxaluria,
hyperchlorhydria, toxaemia, increased acidity of the urine, abdominal distension,
acid in the fæces, etc.
If further evidence were required that by excessive carbohydrate fermenta-
tion loss to the body of a very large proportion of the potential energy of the diet
takes place, it is afforded by the practical absence of any marked tendency to the
storing of fat amongst the working population of Bengal.
We may conclude, therefore, that the carbohydrate element in the quantities
presented in Bengal Jail dietaries is not only useless and wasteful but actually
44
harmful. While agreeing, therefore, with Lewis's opinion on the dietary we con-
demn it for a totally different reason ; whilst believing that the diet is excessive
for prisoners of the body-weight of the Bengali, and agreeing that it offers more
nitrogen and energy per kilo of body weight than that found necessary in English
prisons, we condemn it because, on account of its bulk and composition, much
less than the proper proportions of its nutrients can be absorbed and made use of
in the system. We shall show, with regard to the most important element
—protein—that the level of nitrogenous metabolism attained on such a diet is ex-
ceedingly low—very much lower than that of prisoners in English prisons. The
diet is excessive, not because it entails too high a level of nitrogenous metabolism,
but for exactly the opposite reason.
SECTION 2.
2. The amount of nitrogen undergoing metabolism on the ordinary
jail diet.
Having worked out the chemical value of the average diet to be about
93 grammes of protein, the next step was to investigate how much of that quantity
was absorbed from the food given.
This was done for the Bengalis, Ooriyas and aborigines of Chota Nagpur.
The work was carried out in the Presidency Jail, Calcutta, Puri Jail and Ranchi
Jail. These three centres fairly well cover the different classes of Lower Bengal
who are on this type of dietary.
(a).—THE PRESIDENCY JAIL, CALCUTTA.
In this jail Burma rice was used entirely, to the exclusion of country rice.
One effect of this comes out very plainly in all the investigations in which the
whole twenty-six ounces of Burma rice was given in the diet, viz ., that it was found
practically impossible to get the prisoners to consume the full diet for more than
a day or two. The result of this was, that in the Presidency Jail we have not
been able to obtain a complete series of observations on prisoners showing the
amount of nitrogen undergoing metabolism on the whole diet. We have, however,
a number of observations carried out when the greater part of the Burma rice was
consumed. From an average of these it will be possible to show the ordinary
amount of nitrogenous metabolism that takes place on the full jail diet with
Burma rice. No observations are included in this series in which less than
4 1/ 2o z s . o f B u r m a r i c e p e r d a y w a s t h e a v e r a g e a m o u n t c o n s u m e d .
45
TABLE II.
Investigation to determine the degree of nitrogenous metabolism on a diet composed
of (practically) the full quantities of the jail scale.
(i) Ten prisoners on the full diet of Burma rice and arhar dal observed
for two consecutive days.
MIXED BATCHES.
Urine
quantity.
Re-
action.
Total N.
of urine.
N. of
Burma
ri ce.
N. of
arhar
dal.
N. of
vege-
tables.
Weight.
C. C.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Lbs.
Three Hindus
.
.
18,000
Acid
72.34
81.40
60.20
4.72
116.4
Seven Mahomedans
.
21,790
„
74.71
81.40
60.20
4.72
116.4
Total i ntake of ni trogen—
Total output of nitrogen
—
N. of Burma rice .
. 162.80 grms.
N. of urine
.
.
. 147.05 grms.
N. of arhar dal
.
. 120.40 „
.5 grm. N. per day constant 10.00 „
N. of vegetables
.
.
9.44 „
per man
Total N. metabolism
.
. =157.05 „
Total
. =292.64 „
= 53.66 per cent. of the total N. of the diet
= 7.85 grms. N. per man daily.
(ii) Ten prisoners on 25 ozs. of Burma rice and 3 ozs. each of arhar dal and
massur dal observed for five consecutive days.
BATCH OF
Quantity
of urine.
Re-
action.
Total N.
of urine.
N. of
Burma
rice.
N. of arhar
and mas-
sur dals.
N. of
vege-
tables.
Weight.
C. C.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
L b s .
Ten Bengali prisoners
.
28,560
Acid
69.16
78.50
68.38
4.72
123.2
23,920
„
67.13
78.50
68.33
4.72
. .
20,430
„
67.59
78.50
68.33
4.72
123.3
26,930
„
71.39
78.50
68.33
4.72
. .
25,310
„
65.32
78.50
68.33
4.72
123.2
T o t a l N . o f i n t a k e —
Total output of nitrogen
—
N. of Burma rice .
. 392.50 grms.
N. of urine
.
.
. 340.59 grms.
N. of dals
.
.
. 341.65 „
.5 grm. daily constant
. 25.00 „
N. of vegetables
.
.
23.60 „
Total N. metabolism
.
. =365.59 „
Total
. =757.75 „
=48.23 per cent. of N. of diet.
=7.31 grms. N. per man daily.
The percentage of nitrogen absorbed by this batch was the lowest obtained in
the whole investigation. The reason, so far as we could see, was the condition of
the arhar dal which was of very poor quality and badly cleaned. It appeared also
to be contaminated with some foreign seed.
46
(iii) Five prisoners on 25 ozs. of Burma rice and 6 ozs. of massur dal observed over
five consecutive days.
BATCH A.
Quantity
of urine.
Re-
action.
N . o f
Burma
rice.
N. of Mas-
sur dal.
N. of
vege-
tables.
Weight. Total N.
of urine.
Five Bengali prisoners .
C. C.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Lbs.
Grms.
14,850 Acid
39.25
37.68
2.36
127.6
37.70
11,290
„
39.25
37.68
2.36
127.8
36.90
9,590
„
39.25
37.68
2.36
127.8
34.37
13,250
„
39.25
37.68
2.36
127.6
38.86
14,240
„
39.25
37.68
2.36
127.6
38.28
Total intake of nitrogen—
Total output —
N. of Burma rice .
. 196.25 grms.
N. of urine
.
.
. 186.11 grms.
N. of massur dal .
. 188.40 „
.5 grm. daily constant . 12.50 „
N. of vegetables .
.
11.80 „
Total nitrogenous metabolism=198.60
„
Total N. of intake
. . 396.45 „
= 50.10 per cent. of nitrogen of diet
= 7.94 grms. N. per man daily.
(iv) Five prisoners on just over 25 ozs. of Burma rice and 6 ozs. of massur dal
observed over five consecutive days.
BATCH A.
Quantity
of urine.
Re-
action.
Total N.
of urine.
N. of
Burma
r i c e .
N. of
massur
dal.*
No. of
vege-
tables.
Weight.
Five Bengali prisoners .
C. C.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Lbs.
8,910
Acid
36.73
40.70
34.26
2.36
116.0
9,100
„
35.79
39.13
34.26
2.36
115.8
10,440
„
42.55
40.70
34.26
2.36
116.0
5,600
„
33.80
40.70
34.26
2.36
116.1
7,350
„
36.76
37.87
34.26
2.36
116.1
Total intake of nitrogen—
Total output —
N. of Burma rice
. 199.10 grms.
N. of urine
.
. . 185.63 grms.
N. of massur dal
. 171.30 „
.5 grm. daily constant
. 12.50 „
N. of vegetables
. 11.80 „
Total nitrogenous metabolism . 198.13 „
Total N. of intake
. 382.20 „
= 51.84 per cent. of nitrogen of diet.
= 7.92 grms. per man daily.
* A different sample of massur dal from that used in (iii). The two sets of observations were carried out at
different seasons of the year (iii) in the cold weather, (iv) in the rains.
47
(v) Five prisoners on just under 25 ozs. of Burma rice and 6 ozs. of mung dal
observed over five consecutive days.
BATCH A.
Quantity
of urine.
Re-
action.
Total N.
of urine
N. of
Burma
rice.
N. of
mung
dal.
N. of
vege-
tables.
Weight.
C. C.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Lbs.
Five Bengali prisoners.
10,830
Acid
39.49
37.62
32.23
2.36
115.9
7,170
„
32.77
37.69
32.06
2.36
..
8,850
„
36.67
40.17
32.06
2.36
116.0
9,970
„
35.43
38.49
32.23
2.36
116
7,120
„
36.68
40.17
32.23
2.36
115.9
Total intake of nitrogen—
Total output—
N. of Burma rice
. 194.14 grms.
N. of urine .
.
.
. 181.04 grms.
N. of mung dal
. 160.81
„
.5 grm. daily constant .
.
12.50 „
N. of vegetables
.
11.80
„
Total nitrogenous metabolism
. 193.54 „
Total N. of intake
. 366.75
„
= 52.50 per cent. of N. of diet.
= 7.74 grms. N. per man daily.
We were unable to obtain more observations with anything like the full 26 ozs. of
Burma rice consumed, even in those given here there was a decrease from the full
scale. However, as the decrease was small we may accept the average of these as
showing the degree of nitrogenous metabolism possible on nearly the full ordinary
jail diet.
What do we learn from this series?
By i an intake of 292.64 grms. nitrogen gives a metabolism of 157.05 grms.
By ii „
„ 757.75
„
„
„
„
„
„ 365.59
„
By iii „
„
396.45 „
„
„
„
„
„ 198.60
„
By iv „
„
382.20 „
„
„
„
„
„ 198.13
”
By v „
„ 366.75
„
„
„
„
„
„ 193.54
„
Therefore an intake of 2195.79 „
„
„
„
„
„ 1112.91
„
= an average of 50.70 per cent. of the N. of the diet is absorbed.
= the metabolism of 7.69 grms. of N. per man daily.
So that Bengali prisoners are only able to absorb a little over 50 per cent. of the
nitrogen of their full diet, which means an average of 7.70 grms. of nitrogen or 48.12
grms. of protein undergoing metabolism daily. Another point brought out in this
series, and one to which we shall have occasion to refer to later, is that an increase
in the amount of nitrogen given as dal is not accompanied by an increase in the
amount of nitrogen undergoing metabolism.
48
Thus, with practically constant quantities of nitrogen derived from Burma
rice and vegetables, but with changing amounts of nitrogen derived from different
dais. we get :—
(i) Arhar dal 150.10 grms. N.=
196.25 grms.
N. absorbed.
Basis of
five men
for
five days
N. of
Burma
rice and
vegetables
Constant
(fairly)
( i i ) Arhar dol 170.87 „ „ =182.79 grms.
Massur „
N. absorbed.
(iii) Massur „ 188. 40 „ „ = 198.60 grms.
N. absorbed.
(iv)
„
„ 171.30 „ „ = 198.13 grms.
N. absorbed.
(v) Mung „ 160 . 81 „ „ = 193 . 54 grms.
N. absorbed.
Neglecting (ii) in which the arhar dal was of an inferior quality, it is evident that
there is practically an identical absorption from the same amounts of arhar dal,
massur dal and mung dal, although the quantity of nitrogen furnished by equal
quantities of those dals varies considerably.
The practically identical absorption shown by (iii) and (iv) is very interesting ;
though the amount of nitrogen furnished by the massur dal of (iii) provides 17.10
grammes more than that given in (iv) yet the result is the same. This would tend
to corroborate the view that an increase in the nitrogen given as dal is useless in
causing increased nitrogenous metabolism, and that the limit of the quantity of dal
in the dietaries is reached, if not passed, with 6 ozs. per man daily.
We might look on these figures from another point of view, and deduce that the
protein of arhar dal and mung dal is more easily assimilated than that of massur
dal. This is very probably the case, and as a matter of fact these dais are
considered to be more digestible than the others by the native population.
This is particularly so with regard to arhar dal amongst the Beharis, and, as
we shall have occasion to point out later, variations in the absorbability of the pro-
tein of the different dais can be made out when the total bulkiness of the diet is
decreased. To this, however, we shall return.
(b).— PURI JAIL, ORISSA.
The prisoners in this jail are almost wholly Ooriyas who are very markedly
a rice-eating people. The rice used in the jail is grown locally and is therefore
country rice. We had no difficulty in getting the full amount of the rice of the jail
diet consumed ; in fact it was rather the other way, more could have been eaten
than the quantity sanctioned in the jail code. The prisoners of this jail were,
therefore, particularly well-adapted for experiments in which the amount of rice
in the dietaries was diminished, as results corroborating those found in other jails,
where the ordinary 26 ozs. of rice was only with difficulty consumed, would be of
peculiar value. We took full advantage of this characteristic of the Ooriyas and,
49
with the sanction of the Inspector-General of Jails, placed the whole population
of the jail for six months on diets that contained considerably less rice than the
ordinary jail standard. A full report of the results will be found in its proper
place ; at present, all we wish to say is that even this rice-eating people, accus-
tomed from infancy to the consumption of enormous quantities of rice, in a
short time got used to the altered conditions and became quite contented with
their new diets.
The Ooriyas on the other hand are not as a rule very fond of dal, the amount
of dal taken daily by the ordinary working population being very small, due largely
to the expense of this food material. They are very fond of fish and all those near
the coast and close to rivers obtain plenty of fish as a part of their dietary.
Most of them, however, live on rice and vegetables as their staple diet.
All we have said, therefore, with regard to the extreme bulkiness of this type
of diet and the disabilities attached to it apply with even greater force in the case
of the Ooriya than with the Bengali. The result is that the physical development
of the Ooriya and his powers of resistance to disease are probably on even a lower
scale than those of the average working population of Bengal, when those of both
classes who are able to get enough to eat are compared.
Let us see how the rice-eating Ooriya stands with regard to his power of
absorbing protein from the ordinary jail diet.
TABLE III.
Investigations to determine the degree of nitrogenous metabolism on a diet composed of
the full quantities of the jail scale.
(i) Sixteen prisoners—all Ooriyas—divided into four batches.—Urine of prisoners
of each batch pooled. The full diet of 26 ozs. of country rice and 6 ozs. of different dals
was consumed.
Observations over three consecutive days.
BATCHES.
Quantity
of urine.
Reaction.
Total
N.
Weight.
N. in
country
rice.
N. in
dal.
N . i n
vegetables,
etc.
C. C.
Grms.
Lbs.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
BATCH I.
Four prisoners .
.
5,260
Acid.
26.70
113.1
32.08
25.75
1.96
5,160
„
28.88
..
32.08
24.10
1.96
5,000
„
26.90
113.1
32.08
25.20
1.96
BATCH II.
Four prisoners .
.
3,840
„
24.19
97.8
32.08
25.75
1.96
6,230
„
28.96
..
32.08
24.10
1.96
6,230
„
28.74
97.9
32.08
25.20
1.96
BATCH III.
Four prisoners .
.
3,600
„26.28
100.8
32.08
25.75
1.96
5,100
„
25.45
..
32.08
24.10
1.96
6,000
„28.89
100.8
32.08
25.20
1.96
BATCH IV.
Four prisoners .
.
4,750
„
28.99
108.7
32.08
25.75
1 . 9 6
6,150
„
28.84
..
32.08
24.10
1.96
5,600
„27.71
108.8
32.08
25.20
1.96
50
Intake of nitrogen in rice .
. 384.96 grms. Output
—
„ „ „ in dal .
. 300.20 „
Nitrogen of urine .
. 330.53 grms.
„ „ „ in vegetables. 23.52 „
.5 grm. daily constant . 24.00 „
Total N. intake
.
.
=708.68 „
Total nitrogenous metabolism . 354.53 „
=50.02 per cent. of the nitrogen of the diet
and means the metabolism of 7.38
grms. of nitrogen per man daily.
The different dals in use were mung, gram, kalai and arhar.
(ii) Four prisoners—all Ooriyas.—Urine of prisoners pooled, on a diet of 26 ozs. of
country rice and 6 ozs. of arhar dal.
Observations over five consecutive days.
BATCH II.
Quantity
of urine. Reaction. Total
N. of urine. Weight.
N. in
country
rice.
N. in
arhar
dal.
N. in
vegetables,
etc.
C. C.
grms.
lbs.
Four prisoners . .
6,970
Acid.
26.66
98.2
32.08
25.70
1.96
6,670
„
28.38
98.2
32.08
25.70
1.96
6,340 „
28.48
..
32.08
25.70
1.96
5,870
„
27.20
..
32.08
25.70
1.96
5,780
„
27.95
98.2
32.08
25.70
1.96
Total intake of nitrogen—
Output —
N. of country rice .
160.40 grms.
N. of urin
.
.
. 138.67 grms.
N. of arhar dal
. 128.50 „
.5 grm. daily constant
. 10.00 „
N. of vegetables
.
9.80 „
Total nitrogenous metabolism . 148.67 „
Total nitrogen .
.
298.70 „
=49.78 per cent. of the nitrogen of the diet.
= 7.43 grms. of nitrogen per man daily.
(iii) Four prisoners—all Ooriyas—on the full 26 ozs. of country rice and 7 ozs.
of gram dal observed over six days.
[7 ozs. of gram dal provides the same amount of nitrogen as 6 ozs. of
arhar dal, so that by a comparison of the nitrogenous metabolism of this set of
observations with those given above (ii) we have a measure of the relative
absorbability of the protein of gram and arhar dals. The two sets of observa-
tions are on the same four prisoners.]
51
Observations over six consecutive days.
BATCH II.
Quantity
of urine. Reaction. Total N.
of urine.
Weight of
prison-
ers.
N. in
country
rice.
N. in
gram
dal.
N. in
vegetables,
etc.
Four prisoners .
.
C. C.
Grms.
Lbs.
6,760
Acid
26.69
98.8
32.08
25.74
1.96
4,750
„
26.93
98.8
32.08
25.74
1.96
5,325
„
27.91
..
32.08
25.74
1.96
5,960
„
27.70
..
32.08
25.74
1.96
4,520
„
26.88
..
32.08
25.74
1.96
5,430
„
28.36
98.8
32.08
25.74
1.96
Tot al i nt ake of ni t rogen—
Output
—
N. of rice
.
. . 192.48 grms.
N. of urine
.
.
. 164.47 grms.
N. of gram dal
. . 154.44 „
.5 grm. daily constant
.
12.00 „
N. of vegetables
.
.
1.76 „
Total nitrogenous metabolism. 176.47 ,,
Total nitrogen of intake . =358.68 „
=49.20 per cent. of the nitrogen of the diet or
the metabolism of 7.35 grms. of nitrogen
per man daily.
What do we learn from this series ?
By (i) an intake of 708.68 grms. nitrogen gives a metabolism of 354.53 grms.
By (ii) „ „ „ 298.70 „ „ „ „ „ „ 148.67 „
By (iii) „ „ „ 358.68 „ „ „ „
„ „ 176.47 „
Therefore „ „ 1366.06 „ „ „ „ „ „679.67
„
= 49.75 per cent. of the nitrogen of the diet or the metabolism of 7.39 grms.
of nitrogen or 46.20 grms. of protein per man daily.
So that the rice-eating Ooriya is only able to absorb just under 50 per cent. of the
nitrogen of his diet, which means an average of 7.40 grammes of nitrogen or 46.25
grammes of protein per man daily.
When we compare this result with what was found for the Bengali we see how
very closely the figures tally with each other. There is only a difference of 0.30
grm. of nitrogen per man daily in the amounts undergoing metabolism : this result
would probably have been even closer if we could have obtained observations
on the Bengali when the full quantity of rice was consumed. The full amount of
Burma rice of the Bengali diet was not all eaten, so that probably a slightly greater
amount of the nitrogen of the diet was absorbed owing to the reduction in bulk.
The absorption of protein by the Bengali on his Burma rice diet and by the Ooriya
H 2
52
on country rice are therefore very similar. It would not appear from these observa-
tions that country rice has any advantage, so far as its nutritive value is concerned,
over Burma rice althoughit is much preferred by the inhabitants of Bengal includ-
ing Behar. In fact, so far as these observations touch the question, whatever
difference exists is in favour of the Burma variety, that is when the full 26 ozs.
are eaten.
In these three sets of observations, the full amount of rice being always con-
sumed, the intake of nitrogen from rice was constant ; the intake of nitrogen from
dal was also very nearly identical in each ; thus,
Basis of five
men for five
days.
N. of country rice
and vegetables
constant.
+
(i) Mixed dals 156.35 grms. N. =184.50g r m s .
N. absorbed.
(ii) Arhar dal 160.62
„
„ =185.75g r m s .
N. absorbed.
(iii) Gram dal 161.81 ”
„ =183.75 grms.
N. absorbed.
and, as will be seen, the differences in the amount of nitrogen absorbed between the
three sets of results is so close as to be within the limits of experimental error.
This affords further proof that with the nitrogen from the other components of
a diet constant and the nitrogen from dal (any dal) practically the same, very
nearly, equal amounts of nitrogen will undergo metabolism.
It is to be noted, however, that it required 7 ozs. of gram dal to provide the
same amount of nitrogen as 6 ozs. of arhar dal, and that the substitution of these
amounts for each other in the jail dietary is followed by practically an identical
absorption. It is quite possible, however, that an equally good absorption would
have been obtained if only 6 ozs. of gram dal had been given in the diet ; but the
aim in view in these experiments was to keep the nitrogen intake as nearly constant
as possible.
We may sum up the results of these observations on Bengali and Ooriya pri-
soners by stating :—
(i) On an average just 50 per cent. of the protein of the full jail diet is
absorbed, which means the metabolism of about 7.55 grammes of
nitrogen or 47.18 grammes of protein per man daily.
(ii) When rice is given in quantities of 26 ozs. per man daily it does not
appear to make any marked difference which variety of rice—Burma
or country—is used.
(iii) When 6 ozs. of dal are given, combined with the full 26 ozs. of rice and
6 ozs. of vegetables, it does not appear to matter what kind of dal
is made use of—practically an identical absorption is obtained with
the same amount of dal in the diet, although the quantities of nitrogen
provided by the several dais vary very considerably. This would