NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
151
combinations in such a way that there should be a metabolism of at least
12 grms. of nitrogen per man daily.
We may accept this dietary on the condition that 2 chittacks of arhar dal
shall always be given.
This diet would therefore be—
DIET II ( d) 2.
Wheat
. 8 chittacks . 8.91520 grms. nitrogen
Total value 15 . 89852 grms.
nitrogen.
Bajra
. 3
„
. 2 . 43312
„
,,
Arhar
. 2
„
. 4 . 05010
„
„
Vegetables . 3
„
. 0 . 50000
„
,,
of which 12 . 1709 grms. nitrogen are absorbed, or 76 . 5 per cent. of the nitrogen
of the diet.
Contrasted with the level of the present dietaries we get :—
Average of present
dietaries.
Suggested
Diet II ( d)2.
Nitrogen offered
.
16 . 7292 grms.
15.89852 grms.
,, absorbed
.
11.2860 „
12.17090 „
Percentage „
.
67 . 4 per cent.
76.5 per cent.
,, wasted
.
32.6 „ „
23.5 ,, ,,
Carbohydrate offered
.
625.0 grms.
555.63 grms.
Heat value
.
3,260 calories
2,993 calories.
Calories per kilo of body-
weight.
60 ,,
55.4 ,,
DIET II ( e).—WHEAT, MARUA AND PULSE COMBINATION.
Wheat
. 8 chittacks .
. 8 . 91520 grins. nitrogen
Total value 16.2336
grms. nitrogen.
Marua
. 4
„
.
. 2 . 71620
„
, ,
Urid dal . 1 chittack
. 2.07715 „
, ,
Arhar dal
.
1
„
.
. 2 . 02505
„
,,
Vegetables 3 chittacks .
. 0 . 50000
„
, ,
The absorption from this diet will be 12.1447 grms. nitrogen, or 74 .8 per
cent. of the nitrogen of the diet.
We have taken the co-efficient of the protein absorption of marua at the
same figure as juar, 53 per cent. If this be about right, the above diet could
be made use of in those jails where marua-eating prisoners are incarcerated.
Contrasted with the level of the present dietaries we get :—
Average of present
dietaries.
Suggested
Diet II (e ).
Nitrogen offered
.
16.7292 grms.
16.2336 grms.
,, absorbed .
11.2860 „
12.1447 „
Percentage „
.
67 . 4 per cent.
74.8 per cent.
,, wasted .
32.6 „ „
25.2 ,, ,,
Carbohydrate offered
625.0 grms.
598.5 grms.
Heat value
.
.
3,260 calories
3,086 calories.
Calories per kilo of body-
weight.
60 ,,
57 ,,
152
Diet II (e) therefore is superior under every heading to the average of the
present dietaries. Its carbohydrate and caloric values are too high, but they
cannot be decreased without diminishing the level of protein metabolism below
12 grms. nitrogen per man daily, unless we increase the amount of pulse at
the expense of the cereals, which we are not inclined to do.
Two chittacks or over a quarter of a pound of pulse daily is quite as much
as the intestinal tract can deal with satisfactorily ; any large increase beyond
this amount is likely to set up diarrhoea and irritation of the bowel.
This completes our efforts on the framing of dietaries for use in the jails
of the United Provinces. We shall now bring them together in tabular form
in a manner similar to that made use of for the dietaries at present in force in
the Jail Code.
Table showing the new scales of Dietaries proposed.
Proposed
Diets.
PRINCIPAL.
ADJUVANT.
DAL.
Vegetables.
Quantity.
Total
Quantity.
Grain. Quantity. Grain. Quantity. Grain.
Quantity.
I (a) . Wheat . 10½ chittacks ...
...
Arhar . 2 chittacks 3 chittacks 15½ chittacks.
I (b) . „ . 10½ ,,
Gram . 1½ chittacks
„ . 1 chittack 3 ,,
16 „
II (a) . ,,
. 8 ,,
Barley . 3 „
,, . 2 chittacks 13 „
16 ,,
II (b) . ,, . 7 ,,
Makka . 4 „
1 Urid . 1 chittack 3 ,,
16 „
I Arhar
.
1 „
II (c) . „
. 8 ,,
Juar . 4 „
Arhar 2 . 2 chittacks 3 „
17 „
II (d)1 . ,,
. 8 ,,
Bajra . 4 „
Arhar 2 . 2 „
3 , ,
17 ,,
II (d)2
„
. 8 „
,,
.
3 , ,
Arhar. . 2
,,
3 ,,
16 „
II (e) . „ . 8 „
Marua
.
4 , ,
1 Urid . 1 chittack 3 „
17 „
Arhar
.
1 „
We shall now draw up a table giving the several points of importance,
contrasting them in the present dietaries with what obtains in the proposed
scales.
1 Superintendents to have the option of giving arhar dal 2 chittacks instead. of 1 chittack each of urid and
arhar dals.
2 Superintendents to have the option of substituting 1 chittack of urid dal for 1 chittack of arhar.
Table contrasting the Points of Chief Importance in the Present Dietaries, Voit's Standard and
in the Proposed Scales.
Headings of important points.
Average
of
present
dietaries.
Diet
I (a).
Diet
I (b).
Diet
II (a).
Diet
II (b).
Diet
II (c).
Diet
II (d)1.
Diet
II (d) 2.
Diet
II (e).
Diet Voit's
Standard.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Nitrogen offered in Diet .
.
. 16.7292 16.2503 16.7842 15.9545 15.9564 16.3191 16.7098 15.8985 16.2336
18.88
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Nitrogen absorbed .
. .
. 11.2860 13.2143 13.15613 12.4025 12.2054 12.4813 12.5716 12.1709 12.1447
16.80
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Percentage absorbed
.
.
.
67.4
81.3
78.4
77.74
76.5
76.5
75.2
76.5
74.8
88.9
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Percentage wasted .
.
.
.
32.6
18.7
21.6
22.26
23.5
23.5
24.8
23.5
25.2
11.l
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Grms.
Carbohydrate offered .
.
.
. 625.0
532.83
546.6
560.44
540.0
584.1
598.3
555.63
598.5
500.0
Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories.
Heat value of Diet .
.
.
.
3,260
2,810
2,914
2,920
2,810
3,056
3,168
2,993
3,086
3,000
Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories. Calories.
Calories per kilo of body-weight .
.
60
52
54
54
52
56.6
58.7
55.4
57
40
Diets II (b) and II (e ) may be slightly increased under the first three headings by the substitution of 1 chittack of Arhar for 1 chittack of Urid dal.
Diets II (c) and II (d) 1 may be slightly decreased under the first three headings by the substitution of 1 chittack of Urid for 1 chittack of Arhar dal.
153
154
These tables are simple and easily understood. It will be seen that we
have been guided in the framing of these dietaries by the degree of protein
absorption possible from them. In Diets I ( a ) a n d I (
b ) t h e l e v e l o f p r o t e i n
metabolism has been arranged somewhat higher than in Diet II series. We
have stated our reasons for this. Diet II series show a level of nitrogenous
interchange of over 12 firms. nitrogen per man daily, on an average 1 grm.
nitrogen higher than that attained by the prisoners on the dietaries at present
in force. Our reason for arranging for a higher level of protein metabolism
than is the case at present, is to have something in reserve. It may not always
be possible to obtain wheat of first quality in the smaller jails but, if Superin
-tendents of Jails insist on having clean wheat, even though it may contain a
small proportion of barley, the results obtained will be quite up to what we
have calculated for. We have not taken the protein content of wheat so high
as it would be in a really first class sample and, as just mentioned, we have
more than 1 grm. of nitrogen per man daily in reserve. Those precautions
will do more than cover any defects in the food-stuffs likely to be met with, if
the inspection of the food-materials be properly carried out.
The dietaries we propose are superior in every respect to even the best of
those now in use, and very much superior to all but Diet E of the Jail Code.
We have no hesitation in stating that a trial will prove them to be
absolutely satisfactory.
As we have already pointed out, experience has shown that none of the
present dietaries, except Diet E, are of any use in the feeding of prisoners, and
that Superintendents are accustomed to devise nutritive mixtures, somewhat
similar to our Diet II series, in order to make use of cereals other than wheat.
We have standardised their efforts and shown exactly what combinations of
wheat and other cereals with pulse will provide for practically identical degrees
of protein metabolism, and. thus, as far as possible, ensure that the dietaries are
all of equal value.
We have considered the different food-materials very carefully and have
tried to arrange the dietaries to suit their peculiarities. We do not consider
that there should be any excuse, once these dietaries are introduced, for the
almost complete neglect of all the cereals except wheat that obtains at the
present time. For although at present the Jail Code permits Superintendents
to combine any two of the different dietaries, by giving half of each, the dietaries
derived in this manner are as little satisfactory as the originals. In serial No. 13
we give observations carried out on perhaps the best of the diets so derivable ;
the results are not very promising. Indeed it could hardly be otherwise, for,
except in the combinations A+G/2 and A+11/2, the amount of wheat is too low
in proportion to the other cereals and pulses.
155
The combinations we have suggested are those that appear to us the most
suitable, but it will be quite a simple matter for Superintendents to work out
for themselves the protein value and degree of protein absorption obtainable
with other combinations, from the table we give showing the nitrogen content
and nitrogen absorption per chittack of food-material on pages 145 and 146.
By introducing the diets we suggest as the scales for the jails of the United
Provinces, a much greater use can be made of the cereals, barley, makka, juar,
bajra and manta, than has hitherto been the case. We have seen that these
food-materials are very extensively cultivated and largely used by the inhabi
-tants of the Province ; there is no reason why they should not be made use of
in the jails also. All we have done is to suggest the proper method of doing it.
The following table, supplied through the kindness of the Director of Land
Records and Agriculture of the United Provinces, gives some idea of the extent
to which the several food crops are cultivated :
Name of Crop.
PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL CROPPED AREA.
1905-06.
1906-07.
1907-08.
Jumr . . .
. . .
6
6
7
Bajra . . . . .
.
5
5
6
Maize . . . . . . . .
5
5
6
Rice . . . . .
. . .
17
17
14
Wheat . . . .
. .
15
16
14
Barley . . . . .
.
10
10
12
Small millets, marua, etc..
. . .
5
4
7
Gram . .
. . . .
12
13
9
Arhar . . . . . . .
.
4
4
5
Urid . . . . . . .
.
3
2
3
It is evident, therefore, by limiting the jail dietaries to wheat, gram and
arhar, as is practically the case at present, sufficient advantage is not taken
of the food-materials at hand to vary the prison fare, and break the monotony
of the same diet from month to month.
Besides making the dietaries inside the prison walls much superior to
what the same classes would live on outside, it deprives the prisoners of food-
materials which are very palatable and of which they are very fond.
Thus :—
(1) " Bajra is an article of diet much esteemed in some parts of India.
It is eaten in the form of cakes and porridge in the United
x2
156
Provinces and Bombay. Boiled with milk it forms a light and
pleasant meal for invalids."
(2) " Juar is one of the most important of the food crops of India ; from
it are prepared bread, porridge and other food preparations."
(3) " Marua is much used by the poorer classes in Western India,
usually in the form of porridge. It is considered to be practi-
cally wholesome and digestible."
(4) " Barley. The Hindus employ barley in the dietary of the sick. It
is chiefly used in the form of sattu or powder of the parched
grain."
Judging from inquiries we have made, wheat is the food of the higher and
middle classes and a luxury to the poorer. In times, of scarcity or famine,
when wheat, gram and juar are practically the same in price, wheat is eaten
largely by the people, but in ordinary times bajra and juar are the principal
food-materials of the poorer classes and small cultivator.
Makka or maize is also largely used as a food-material. Barley and marua
not to so great an extent as the other cereals. Arhar dal is the favourite form
of pulse, and a small amount is partaken of daily.
It is, therefore, only right and fair to the prisoners that these secondary
food-materials, bajrå, juar, makka, barley and marua, should not be denied
them. While they are not suitable to be used alone, when given along with
wheat, in the manner we have indicated in the diets suggested, they are ex-
ceedingly useful in varying the monotony of the wheat diet, and in providing,
food-materials to which the great mass of the prisoners are accustomed.
In the framing of the dietaries proposed, we have always borne in mind the
importance of lowering the excessive amount of carbohydrates and decreasing
as much as possible, the caloric value of the present dietaries. While we have
not succeeded to the extent we should like, the proposed scales show on the
average a considerable diminution under these headings as compared with the
dietaries at present in force. It is hopeless, however, to attempt to reduce the
calories per kilo of body-weight to anything approaching the limits allowed
Europeans, except by a radical change in the whole type of the dietaries. As
we have already pointed out, the carbohydrate element and the heat value could
be suitably decreased by a large addition to the amount of pulse at the expense
of the cereals. This we consider a most reprehensible method. of attaining our
object, as, besides the effect of large quantities of dal in causing intestinal
irritation and diarrhoea, it is contrary to the customs of the people.
So far as we can gather, from extensive enquiries both in Bengal and in
the United Provinces, it is only inside the walls of the jails that evidence can
be obtained of dal ever being consumed in the quantities to be found in the
157
dietaries of the jails of Bengal and the United Provinces. The only other way
of reducing the carbohydrates and heat value of the dietaries would be to
change from a vegetarian to a mixed type of alimentation.
Practical considerations of expense put such a suggestion out of court,
besides which, it is unnecessary.
The dietaries we have suggested are all that could be desired from a protein
absorption standpoint, and while a mixed diet of animal and vegetable foods
would permit of a great reduction of the carbohydrates and heat value, without
decreasing the protein metabolism, it is open to the same objection as an
increase in the pulse, viz., it is contrary to the customs of the people.
We shall, therefore, have to rest satisfied with the reduction that has been
found possible in. the suggested scales.
The only other point, with regard to the proposed dietaries that we can
think of as likely to form a basis for criticism, is the total quantities in actual
weight of the diets.
Reference to the extract from the Jail Code at the beginning of Chapter I
will show the present dietaries to be so arranged that each weighs 18
chittacks, including vegetables. The maximum weight of any of the proposed
diets is 17 chittacks, and the minimum 15½ chittacks ; the most nutritious diet,
of the eight suggested, being the one with the lowest weight. As we have
intimated, we consider two pounds by weight of uncooked food-materials amply
sufficient, when cooked, to ensure the necessary feelings of comfort and satis
- f a c t i o n t h a t a c c o m p a n y a h e a r t y m e a l . A s t h e a b s o r p t i o n f r o m t h e s u g g e s t e d
diets is in every instance considerably higher than with the present dietaries,
it will be evident that the reduction in weight of the diets is brought about by
getting rid of materials in the food-stuffs that are not absorbed and which, by
their presence in the bowel, only tend to increase putrefaction and fermen-
tation. That the weight we have mentioned is sufficient is shown by the fact
that we never had any complaints from prisoners who were on diets of this
and even lower weights. The weight of the dietaries of the people outside the
jails averaged, so far as we could gather, 12 to 13 chittacks.
In connection with what we have said regarding the neglect of makka,
maize, or Indian corn as a food for human consumption in the jails of the
United Provinces, we would point out that in America and in Italy it forms
the principal food for the majority of the rural population. 1 In 1900 one-
third of all the land under cultivaticn in the United States was devoted to
maize. The Americans have devised many different preparations, of which
the most important are the different forms of meal, granulated corn meal,
hominy, pop corn, etc. Many different methods of cooking are made use of ;
1 Food Value of Corn and Corn Products. By C. D. Woods, D.Sc., U. S. Dept. of Agr. Bull. No. 298.
158
for the Most part corn breads are of the unleavened or fiat bread type, and are
granular rather than porous. They are usually baked in thin loaves or cakes,
the meal being mixed with water or milk and baked in the ashes of the fire-
place, or on a heated stone or blade of a hoe held over the coals. The method
of baking often gives rise to special terms for the bread, as hoecakes, ashcakes
or coriadodgers, Johnnycake, etc.
The famous Boston brown bread is usually made with corn meal, rye and
whole-wheat flour, and is cooked by steam in small loaves in tightly covered
tins.
The digestibility of foods made from corn has been investigated. Harcourt
states that 74 per cent. of the protein and 99 per cent. of the carbohydrates of
corn-meal mush are digested.
From experiments at the Marine Experiment Station the digestibility of
corn-meal mush would appear to be :
Protein 73 per cent., carbohydrates 98 per cent., and available energy
93 per cent.
From further work on the digestibility of corn bread of different sorts
carried out at the Marine Experiment Station, the results indicate that the pro-
tein of corn is slightly less thoroughly digested than that of wheat ; but the
difference is too slight to be of much practical consequence. 1
" There are all sorts of popular notions about the effect of corn on the
body. Thus one occasionally hears it said that it is indigestible and unfit for
persons of weak digestion." " It is frequently spoken of as a good winter food,
but as too ' heating' or ' heating to the blood' for summer. Just what these
expressions mean it is not easy to say. Carefully conducted experiments have
shown that as a rule the consumption and ingestion of carbohydrates and fats
do not materially increase the output of the body-heat, but that protein does
cause an increase in the amount radiated or otherwise given off from the body.
Corn is not a typical protein food, as its protein content is not over 10 per cent.,
so it would hardly cause an appreciable increase in the output of heat from the
body as compared with wheat or other common foods also supplying the different
classes of nutrients in reasonable proportions. Corn is rich in fat and carbohy-
drates. Fat is known to protect the body from extremes of temperature, and
so, it may be that corn has been spoken of as a heating food, particularly valu-
able in the winter diet, on account of its fat-producing properties.
" In this connection it is interesting to note that corn has always been a
more important food-stuff in the Southern United States, Mexico and the
Mediterranean regions than in, the corresponding northern regions, even where
Scientific Memoirs, No. 37.
159
it is a common market commodity, and this would certainly indicate that there
can be no reason for supposing that cold weather is more appropriate for the
use of corn foods than warm. The most reasonable deduction from the available
data is that the way corn dishes are prepared and cooked, and the foods with
which they are combined are more important factors than climate in regulating
the use of these foods, and that, rightly used, corn bread and other corn dishes
are wholesome at all seasons. That it is wholesome and well-suited to its
numerous uses as a food product is abundantly proved by its long-continued use
under a great variety of circumstances and conditions, and the high opinion in
which it has always been held. Scientific investigations have abundantly justi-
fied the popular conclusions on the subject.°" 1
THE COST OF THE PRESENT DIETARIES.
As the prices of food-grains vary considerably from year to year and even
in different periods of the same year, it is difficult to work out even approxi-
mately an average of the cost of the feeding of prisoners that is likely to be
near the mark. However, it is not necessary for our purpose that we should
get the absolute cost per head, all we want, in comparing the expense entailed
in feeding the prisoners on the present °dietaries and on the suggested scales,
is to take an average price of the different , food-stuffs and work out the
relative difference in the cost of the two sets of dietaries.
The following table gives the weekly price current of the food-grains in
Allahabad for the week ending 9th November 1910
RATE PER RUPEE IN SEERS.
1st Class.
2nd Class.
Seers.
Chittacks.
Seers.
Chittacks.
Wheat. . . . .
8
8
9
. . .
Barley . . . .
15
8
16
8
Gram . . . . .
14
...
14
8
Arhar . . . . .
14
. . .
15
. . .
Juar . . . . .
20
...
21
. . .
Bajra. . . . .
17
. . .
17
8
Urid . . . . .
12
. . .
13
. . .
Rice . . . . .
6
8
7
. . .
i.e., 8 seers 8 chittacks of 1st class wheat can be bought for one rupee
(16 chittacks equal 1 seer.)
1 Woods. loc. cit.
160
The first step is to find out the cost of the present dietaries on the above
-basis.
We have found that Diet E is used for nine months in the year and a mix
ture of other diets for the remaining three months.
COST OF DIET E.
Wheat 11½ chittacks
.
.
.
.
1.27777 annas.
Grain 2½ ,, . . .
. 0.17241 anna.
Arhar 1 chittack
.
.
.
.
0.06666 „
1.51684 annas per man daily.
Therefore, for 275 days would be 26.0706 Rupees.
COST OF A MIXTURE OF OTHER DIETS FOR 90 DAYS.
The mixture of other diets work out to be—
Wheat 8 chittacks . . . . . .
0.88888 anna.
Juar or Bajra 5 chittacks .
.
.
.
. 0.26974 „
Arhar 1½ chittacks . . . . . .
0.10000 „
Urid ½ chittack .
.
.
. . .
0.03845 „
1.29707 annas.
Therefore, for 90 days would be 7.2960 Rupees.
Therefore, the average cost of feeding the prisoners in the jails of the
United Provinces, on the above rates for food-stuffs, is 33.3666 Rupees.
per man yearly.
THE COST OF THE SUGGESTED DIETARIES.
It is even more difficult to work out the cost of the proposed scales as the
prices of makka and marua are unknown.
However, by taking the average of the prices of juar, bajra and barley
for makka and mania we shall not be far wrong.
Diet I (a) and I (b) should not be in use for more than six months in
the year.
Diet 1 (a) Wheat, 1st quality
. . . .
1.23530 annas.
Arhar
.
.
.
.
0.14285 anna.
1.37815 annas per man daily.
161
Therefore, for 3 months would be 7.8382 Rupees.
Diet I (b) Wheat, 1st quality
.
. . .
1.23530 annas.
Gram
.
.
.
. . .
0.10344 anna.
Arhar
. . . . . .
0.07142 „
1.41016 annas per man daily.
Therefore, for 3 months would be 8.0202 Rupees.
Wheat .
. 8 chittacks.
Diet II series may be taken as represented by
2nd cereal
. 4 ,,
Arhar .
. 2 , ,
DIET II SERIES.
Wheat, 1st quality .
.
.
. . .
0.94117 anna.
2nd cereal
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 0.21818 „
Arhar .
.
.
. . . . .
0.14285 „
1.30220 annas per man daily.
Therefore, for six months would be 14.8939 Rupees. That is, on the current
price list given, the cost of the present dietaries works out at 33.3666 Rupees
per man yearly ; while the cost of the suggested scales works out to be 30.7523
Rupees yearly. So that, on this basis there would be a saving with the suggested
scales of 2.6143 Rupees per man yearly. That is, we are able to give the
prisoners distinctly better types of dietaries, containing first quality of
wheat and far less monotonous than the present scales, without increasing
the cost to the State. We have already shown how very much superior
the proposed dietaries are to those at present in force ; except in the case of
Diet E there is no comparison between them. Yet, by arranging the several
food-stuffs available in a judicious manner it has been found possible to reduce
the cost of the dieting of the prisoners (taking the average number of
prisoners in the United Provinces at 38,000) by upwards of a lakh of rupees.
per year.
We need hardly say that we worked out the proposed new dietary scales
entirely from a physiological standpoint, fixing the quantities of the several
food-stuffs according to the nitrogenous requirements of the prisoner and that
the question of cost was not taken into consideration at all.