NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
190
of nitrogenous interchange, in the formation and development of those attri-
butes and qualities of mind and body that are alike the pride of the soldier and
the envy of inferior races.
II.—THE EVIDENCE AFFORDED BY INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM REGIMEN-
TAL MEDICAL OFFICERS, AND FROM OTHER SOURCES.
No explanation other than diet would appear to meet the conditions met
with in a comparison of the inhabitants of the provinces of Bengal and the
United Provinces living in the great plain that extends from the sea north-
west to the boundaries of Oudh. The manners, customs, religion, caste rules,
etc., are much the same amongst the same sects throughout : the climate except
for a greater humidity in Lower Bengal for a few months in the year does not
markedly differ in the United Provinces and Behar, and early marriages,
except among Musalmans, are practised all over this area. Yet, we find that
Bengal provides no recruiting areas for the Indian Army, whilst even in the
United Provinces only certain tribes are recruited from other tribes, living in
the same place, subject to the same customs and caste rules, being passed over
in the selection of soldiers.
We know that there may be instances in which non-selection is to be
ascribed to causes other than the non-possession of the necessary manly quali-
ties and martial spirit, and in which, therefore, the fact of a tribe or race not
forming a source for the supply of fighting material may be no true criterion of
the physical development and the general manliness of its individual members.
On the other hand, it will be admitted that as the material at present selected
from is exceedingly good, there must have been some reason why those parti-
cular tribes were preferred in the first instance.
Accepting, therefore, that the tribes recruited from for the Indian Army are
superior in physique, courage, boldness and general manly vigour to the ordi-
nary population of the United Provinces, it appeared to us a question of
some importance to ascertain, if possible, the dietaries on which this superiority
has been attained.
For this purpose we collected information under the following headings
from the medical officers of over twenty regiments :
—
i.
The food-stuffs made use of by the different classes or races represented
in the regiment.
ii.
Information as to the food-stuffs made use of by these representatives
when in their own homes, i.e. , before becoming soldiers
.
iii.
Whether animal food in any form, milk, eggs, fish, etc., enters into
the dietaries of the different tribes in their own homes.
191
iv. Information as to the physical development, height, chest girth
and body-weight.
We shall take up the information obtained in this way under the headings
of the several races or tribes represented in the different regiments
—
1. JATS.1
The food-stuffs made use of by the Jats in their homes during the import-
ant early years of life when growth is taking place are :—
Bread made from wheat, bajra, juar and other cereals. Rabri, prepared
by mixing bajra with buttermilk. Dals and vegetables of all
kinds. Rice, seldom eaten in any form. Milk, curd and ghi
(clarified butter) are used to a fair extent as the majority of the
families from which recruits would be obtained are able to keep
their own cows and buffaloes.
Animal food enters to a very limited extent into the diet of the Jats in
their homes. Mutton, goat's flesh and eggs are partaken of very
sparingly—on the average once or twice per month, and usually
on the occasion of some religious festival.
Sugarcane and sweets are eaten fairly extensively.
This is practically a vegetarian diet which, on an average, would permit
of a protein metabolism very little higher than that of the general population
were it not for the considerable quantities of milk and curd that the Jats con-
sume. The nitrogen of milk is easy of absorption and, taken in fair quantities,
would raise very considerably the level of nitrogenous interchange.
In the early years of life up to when they enlist, milk forms an important
item of their dietary, whereas, the amount of animal flesh or even eggs par-
taken of is small. After enlisting the men continue to drink milk, even
though they have to purchase and pay for it out of their own pockets.
We may conclude, therefore, that the Jat is on a somewhat higher level of
protein metabolism than the average inhabitant of the United Provinces, and
being better off will be able to afford a more liberal amount of wheat in his
diet.
Physical development.—The Jats on the whole are fairly well developed.
Height 68 to 69 inches, chest-girth 34 to 36 inches, the average weight one
officer returns at 150 lbs., but this is probably too high.
The medical officer of a Jat regiment states that as a class they appear to
pick up any infection easily, and that their alimentary canal is readily disturbed
1 For information on the Jats we are indebted to Captains H. P. Cook,I.M.S., A. H. Howlett, I.M.S.,
and C. L. Sowdenlet, I.M.S.
192
by Changes in diet. Their soldierly instincts are undoubtedly great ; and
though not so sturdy as some of the other races of northern India, their claim to
be regarded as good fighting material is valid.1
2. BRAHMINS2 RECRUITED. FROM THE UNITED PROVINCES.
The food-stuffs of the Brahmins.—Children are suckled for the first three
years of life ; milk of the cow, buffalo and goat is also given in addition. Ghi
(clarified butter) is added to the milk from the age of 18 months ; rice or bread
from two years and dal after three years of age.
Meat is never given before the age of seven or eight.
Adults in their own homes. —Bread made from flour of the different
cereals. Different dals. Sometimes rice in small quantities.
Milk is taken very freely.
Meat is taken very rarely, i.e. , two or three times in a year. Many men
never touch meat and only very few take it oftener than once in a fortnight.
Eggs are never eaten and fish very rarely.
Fresh vegetables are taken every day or every second day, taking the place
of dal as a rule.
This diet is therefore very much the same as that of the Jats and would
allow of a similar degree of protein interchange. The Brahmins belong to the
highest caste amongst Hindus and are, as a rule, considerably better off than the
average inhabitant, so that, besides being able to provide themselves with plenty
of milk, a large proportion of their bread is made from wheat flour, the inferior
cereals, bajra, juar and other millets forming a smaller proportion of the diet.
On the whole we may accept it that the dietaries of the Jats and Brahmins
are pretty much the same and of practically equal value in their protein
element.
Physical development. —The medical officer of a class Brahmin Regiment
writes :—" On enlistment the average height of recruits is 69½ inches and the
average chest measurement (full expansion) 36 . 7 inches. The men, however,
are not very muscular until they have been through a course in the gymnasium
when they put on muscle rather better than the men of most regiments. By
the time they have finished their preliminary training their physique is very
good.
" In some respects their stamina does not seem to be very good, but I am
inclined to think this is more the result of their habits than of their diet. A
large amount of debility seems to be brought about by the men, when fatigued
1 T h e F i g h t i n g R a c e s o f I n d i a : B o n a r j e e .
2 For information on the Brahmin we are indebted to Captain R. C. Macwalters, I.M.S.
193
going without food rather than cook it, as their caste rules require them to do.
On manœuvres, when the weaklings are left behind, the men of this regiment
stand hard. work very well."
3. RAJPUTS.1
Rajputs are roughly divided into two classes, Eastern and Western. The
former are chiefly drawn from Cawnpore, Allahabad, Benares and Lucknow
districts, while the latter and better physical type of Rajput is drawn from
Agra, Delhi, Rohtak, Hissar, Nabba, Patiala and. Gurgaon districts. These-
two sections differ somewhat in their caste rules and food ; the Western
Rajput tending to be more elastic in observance of caste obligations, and hence
more amenable to changes of diet when directed. In some Rajput regiments
the Eastern Rajput is no longer recruited. A great portion of the Rajputs of
the Punjab has been converted to Mahomedanism, and have thereby lost their
distinctive character as Rajputs. Some of the best Punjabi Mahomedan clans
being nothing more than Rajput Mahomedans.
Food-stuffs eaten in their homes— (i) Eastern Rajputs.—Wheat and other
cereals, juar, bajra, etc. Rice is made use of to some extent.
Gram and other dais : Makka or maize and vegetables. Milk and ghi
are taken freely.
Little meat or animal food is eaten by the Eastern Rajput, although all
Rajputs are meat eaters when the cost can be afforded.
(ii) Western Rajputs.—Wheat, maize, and other cereals. Dal and vege
-tables of all kinds, also milk and ghi are freely partaken of.
Flesh of goat, mutton, chickens, fish and eggs are all made use of by the
Western Rajput in varying quantities. Roughly 75 per cent. of this class
partake of meat.
The dieting of the Western and better type of Rajput is therefore
decidedly superior in assimilable protein to that of the Eastern Rajput. The
effect of even a small amount of animal food per day makes a considerable
difference in the level of nitrogenous interchange. It is significant in
connection with this that one medical officer speaks of the Western as superior
to the Eastern Rajput, while another medical officer of a Rajput regiment
volunteers the important information that Eastern Rajputs are no longer
recruited for the particular regiment to which he belongs.
The dietary of the Western Rajput is probably superior in the amount of
assimilable protein it offers to either that of Jat or Brahmin.
1 For information on the Rajput we are indebted to Captaine W. L. Watson, I.M.S., and D. C. Graham,
I.M.S.
2c
194
Physical development. —Generally speaking the physique of the Rajput
may be taken to be average in type—
Height (average) .
.
.
.
.
.
. 67 to 68 inches.
Chest-girth .
.
.
.
.
.
. 31 to 37.5 „
Weight .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 147 to 154 lbs.
The farther west a Rajput is, the less he is under Brahminical influence ;
the closer to Benares, the more priest-ridden, superstitious and punctilious is
he in regard to his religious customs. All Rajputs will eat flesh (except
of course forbidden flesh), and do not object to the flesh of wild boar,
though he will have nothing to do with the common domestic pig. There is
no doubt that the western Rajputs make far better soldiers than the Eastern :
one reason advanced is that the former is far more pure-blooded than the latter ;
on the other hand, the differences in diet and in the consumption of animal
food by the two classes would appear to be a more important determining fac-
tor. " The Rajput makes a good soldier, but is easily depressed and knocked out
of tune by failure and defeat. He is willing to go anywhere and do anything
when things are well, but the dogged pertinacity, the spirit which refuses to
recognise defeat, the capacity to arise above failure, are not his." (Bonarjee:
The Fighting Races of India.)
The Rajputs are of peculiar interest from our standpoint as they are the
modern non-Brahminical and more or less pure-blooded representatives of the
early Aryan immigrants into India. The history of these people would seem
to show that the closer the adherence to original caste rules has been the less in
evidence at the present time are those qualities essential to the soldier. As we
have seen with regard to Hindu Rajputs, the eastern branch, or those most
under priestly influence, and therefore conforming more closely to the Brahmins
in manners and customs, is regarded as considerably inferior for recruiting pur-
poses to the western branch in which the caste rules are much more lax and in
which animal food. materials are more freely partaken of. This divergence
from the original Hindu manners and customs is still greater in thsse portions
of the Rajputs which have been converted to Mahomedanism.
Thus the Sials are a tribe or caste of Rajput Mahomedans who were con-
verted to Islam in the 14th century, They are a fine race, brave, self-respecting,
and hardy, with considerable pride of race. Physically, they are big and strong
men, rather rude and rough in their demeanour. The Tiwanas, Gondals, Chibbs,
Kharrals, and Bhattis are all of the Rajput stock. These tribes offer splendid
material for those regiments that enlist Panjabi Mahomedans.
195
4. DOGRAS. 1
The Dogras are a Rajput race of Highlanders, preponderatingly Hindu by
religion. Their country is most fertile yielding large quantities of various cereals
and fruits. The hills abound in cattle of good breed, and agriculture is carried
on with intelligence and care, producing large crops.
Ethnologically the Dogras are of the same blood and race as the Rajputs of
the plains : the main difference between the Dogras and the Rajputs of the
Punjab and Rajputana is that the former have a keener sense of national pride
and a higher feeling of national integrity. They are on the whole of finer
physique than the plain Rajputs. Dogra recruits, caught young, while there is
yet time for good physical development to take place, soon fill out with liberal
feeding, drill, and systematic exercises. The general appearance of a Dogra
regiment leaves nothing to be desired. " Their steady and resolute, though not
showy, courage, renders them very reliable soldiers, and they justly enjoy the
reputation of being among the best fighting material to be found in the country."
[Bonarjee.]
Food-stuffs. —The Dogra eats wheat and other cereals, particularly maize
and bajra. The men from Jammu and Kashmir eat rice also.
Dal of all kinds and vegetables are used.
Milk, ghi, curds, buttermilk are partaken of freely.
The strictest sects do not, but many Dogras do, eat fowls and eggs. If
they can afford it, Dogras eat meat frequently and game when obtainable.
This diet is on the whole a fairly good one and much superior to diets of
the Bengal type, or even to most of those in force in the United Provinces.
Physical development. —The Dogra amongst the great fighting races is a
small man of moderate physique. Average height 67 to 68 inches. Average
chest measurement 34 to 36 inches. No records of body-weight are available.
The value of the Dogra in the fighting line is well-recognised and requires
no comment from us. In connection with this point, however, we might draw
attention to the fairly liberal degree of nitrogenous interchange permitted by
the type of dietary in use, and to the considerable proportion of animal food
entering into the diet.
5. JAT SIKHS. 2
Recruited from the "Malwa" District around the Sutlej. The Jat Sikh
is mainly a wheat-eater, but supplements this with dal of all kinds and different
vegetables available.
1 We are indebted to Captains M. J. Quirke, I.M.S., and A. Cameron, I.M.S., for information on Dogras.
2 We are indebted to Major C. C. Wimberley, I.M.S., and Captain W. P. C. Williams, I.M.S., for inform-
ation on the Jat Sikh.
196
Although wheat is the staple food, in their own homes they also eat bajra,
maize, juar and other inferior cereals ; when these form the main items, how-
ever, more milk, curd, buttermilk and. ghi are taken in addition.
Goat's flesh, mutton, venison, pork, and occasionally hares, porcupine, etc.,
are all eaten when procurable, but not in large quantities.
Milk, ghi, curds, buttermilk are largely consumed, as all are agriculturists
and peasant proprietors with buffaloes and cows in their possession.
Eggs are rarely eaten, as few of them keep fowls.
Fish is used by such men as live near rivers, but does not enter largely
into their dietary.
The dietary as outlined above is distinctly of a superior type. Being
agriculturists and peasant proprietors a full sufficiency of all the food-stuffs
available from the land is ensured, and the addition of a free supply of milk
to a fairly liberal diet in other respects, particularly in animal food, would
mean a high level of protein interchange.
Physical development. —"Jat Sikhs as a class are late of development, and
recruits of 18 to 19 years of age are often lanky, undeveloped looking lads.
As a rule they have well shaped chests with good expansion and plenty of
'bone.' They rapidly develop into men of powerful physique under a course
of drill, gymnastic, etc., with a liberal diet."
Average height
.
. . . . . 68-69 inches.
Average chest-girth .
.
.
.
.
33-35 „
Average weight
.
. . . . . . 140 to 150 lbs.
The Jat Sikh is admittedly a fine example of the fighting races who have
earned their reputations on the Indian Frontier, or where courage, stamina and
manly qualities are absolutely essential. "Taken as a whole, the Sikh is one of
the finest types of man to be found in Asia. He is independent without being
insolent, resolute and firm in character, remarkably free from the petty bias and
prejudices which run rampant in a land of prejudices like India; respects himself
and, as a consequence, commands the respect of others ; is a soldier by instinct
and tradition ; regards cowardice as worse than crime ; and with his splendid
physique and well-bred ways is altogether one of the finest of Oriental
races." (Bonarjee).
6. THE SIKH.1
The two classes of Sikhs considered in this note are Labahnas and Muzbies.
Their food and general habits appear to be identical.
1 We are indebted to Captains R. B. Seymour Sewell, I.M.S., A. Cameron, I.M.S., and W. P. C. Williams,
I.M.S., for information on the Sikh.
197
(i) The food-stuffs made use of in the Regiment.
(a) Recruits.—All recruits are fed in one Recruit's mess. The food and
quantities per recruit are as follows :—
Milk .
.
.
.
.
.
. 5 chittacks equals 10 . 2 ozs. every day.
Ghi .
.
.
.
.
2 ozs. per day.
Monday
.
. . . . .
Wheat flour 12-14 chittacks.
Wednesday
.
.
.
.
. Dal
" 1½ "
Saturday .
.
.
.
.
. Vegetables q. s.
Wheat flour 12-14 chittacks.
Tuesday
.
.
.
.
Mutton 3-4 "
Friday
.
. . . Dal 1½ "
Vegetables q. s.
Wheat flour 12-13 chittacks.
Thursday .
.
.
.
. Sugar 1 chittack.
n
Sunday
. . . . . .
Ghi
1 "
Dal 1-2 chittacks.
Vegetables q. s.
The vegetables are either fresh green vegetables or potatoes. In addition
to above, recruits frequently purchase other delicacies out of their pay and on
an average consume 16 ozs. of milk daily.
(b) The ordinary trained Sikh takes two meals daily—morning any
evening. The ordinary articles of diet with their approximate quantities are
as follows :—
Milk . . . . . .
16 ozs. daily.
Flour (wheat) . . . . . .
24 " "
Ghi . . . . . .
2 " "
D a l
.
.
.
.
.
.
4 " "
Vegetables : Potatoes
. . . . . .
4-6 " "
Rice.—Six to 8 ozs. is taken occasionally as a change; when this is done
less wheat flour—about 16 ozs.—is used.
M e a t
.
.
.
.
.
.
16 ozs. taken two or three times a month.
R u m
. . . . . .
3½ ozs. per man daily.
(ii) The food-stuffs in use in their own homes, i.e., before becoming soldiers.
(a ) Children.—Children are usually breast-fed for about 2½ years. After
the age of 1½ years the mother's milk is supplemented by fresh cow's milk
diluted with an equal quantity of water. Towards the end of the period of
suckling the child is given a morning feed of curdled milk—a sort of junket
—
4 ozs. daily.
198
( b ) A t 2 ½ y e a r s o f a g e t h e c h i l d i s w e a n e d . H e i s t h e n g i v e n f o u r m e a l s
a day consisting of the following food-stuffs, roughly in the quantities given
below:--
Milk.
.
.
8 ozs. and upwards.
Curd.
.
.
. .
2 " only at morning meal.
Wheat.
.
.
.
.
8 "
Rice.
.
.
.
.
4 "
Dal.
.
.
.
.
2 "
Sugar.
.
.
.
.
2 "
Vegetables.
.
.
.
.
2 "
Ghi
.
.
.
.
.
1 oz.
At the age of 3 years the child begins to take meat in small quantities—
usually two or three times a month.
(c)Young adults living in their villages take much the same food as the
ordinary soldier Sikh. However, they usually drink more milk of cows,
buffaloes or goats. Cows and buffalo's milk is generally boiled, goat's
unboiled.
The various kinds of animal food that enter into the dietaries of the
Sikhs in their own homes are :—
Commonest, goat's flesh, occasionally mutton.
Fowls are eaten, but only male fowls.
Venison, bacon, eggs, duck, pigeons, fish are all partaken of when avail-
able. The better off the family happens to be the greater is the average
amount of animal food in the dietary. Beef is never made use of.
It will be evident from the above notes and from what has been said with.
regard to the Jat Sikh, that the splendid reputation the Sikh regiments of India
have acquired has not been made on dietaries affording a low level of protein
me t a b o l i s m; b u t , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h a t t h e n i t r o g e n o u s i n t e r c h a n g e p o s s i b l e
from their diet scales is quite on a par with that of European soldiers. The
Sikh is, perhaps, the best known outside of India of the martial tribes of the
plains : it is therefore of interest to learn something of the dietary on which he
lives. From all that we can discover, difference in dietary forms the one
feature of importance in contrasting the manners and customs of the Sikh with
other Hindu tribes, which are of little or no value in the fighting line. Even
in a comparison with other Hindu tribes that are recruited from, the Sikh is
admittedly second to none. We have no desire to attempt to classify or place
in order of merit the different tribes we have mentioned, but, to those who have
lived in India, it would be fairly evident that the Sikh is certainly a better
199
fighting man than most of those on whom observations have been made.
We have no hesitation in saying that the dietary of the Sikh is superior
to that of any of the tribes so far considered, and, failing any other
explanation of his superior qualities, we must admit the determining influence
of the high level of protein metabolism attained during the more important early
years of life, the period in which the body framework and protoplasmic tissues
are being built up.
As we have already pointed out in a comparison of the hill-tribes of
Bengal,1 w e a r e v e r y s t r o n g l y o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t p h y s i q u e , s t a m i n a , e n e r g y
and general manly qualities are closely dependent on the degree of nitrogenous
interchange possible from the dietary. We believe that climate and certain
customs, such as early marriages, sexual excesses, etc., have an undoubted
influence on the physical development and general well-being of the different
tribes, but, where it is possible to eliminate climate and caste influences,
as in a comparison of tribes living under the same condition but on different
dietaries, there can be no doubt of the superiority of the physical development
of those tribes whose diet is the most liberal and whose daily average of
metabolised nitrogen reaches a high level. This is clearly brought to light in
a study of the races and tribes inhabiting the great plains of Bengal, United
Provinces and the Punjab : as an extreme case, we may take as an example
the Sikh and the Behari. These races live under practically identical condi-
tions as to caste obligations, and climate forms no great determining factor in
the Sikh's favour, yet in the Sikh we obtain men of good physique and
splendid fighting qualities, while in the Behari the qualifications essential for
the soldier are so little in evidence that his claims for a martial life are
entirely overlooked.
The Behari we found lives on a protein metabolism of 8 to 9 grms. of
nitrogen, whilst the Sikh reaches a level of 12 to 14 grms. of nitrogen per
man daily.
We wish for no stronger evidence than this of the effect of a high level
of protein metabolism on the physical development and formation of
those manly characteristics that enforce respect, and relegate a tribe or
race to its proper position amongst the inhabitants of India. Having seen
the results of dietaries offering varying quantities of assimilable protein on
different tribes, otherwise under similar conditions, we are firmly of the
opinion that the level of protein interchange advocated by Chittenden is too
low, and that a liberal supply of assimilable nitrogen in the daily food is to
the advantage of the individual and to the welfare of the race.
1
S c i e n t i f i c M e m o i r s , N o . 3 7 .