INDIAN CORN AS FOOD FOR MAN. 



97 



By accepting these factors and applying them to the accessory 

 foods of a simple diet, it is possible to caluculate the digestibility 

 of the cereal itself. The figures given in the next table were 

 thus obtained. 



Digestibility of nutrients and energy of corn preparations alone. 



c 



_c 



O 3 



a; q 

 0) 5 



Hominy 



Hasty pudding 



Johnny-cake 



Brown bread 



Hoe-cake .' 



Hoe-cake with syrup 

 White flour bread 



Per 

 cent. 



94.4 



93.1 



93.5 



93.4 



93.8 

 94.0 

 94.0 



A comparison of this table with that given on page 95 indi- 

 cates that these corn foods are either considerably less diges- 

 tible than the other foods with which they were eaten, or they 

 themselves become more digestible when eaten with other foods. 

 Similar results obtained with other experiments in which certain 

 foods were eaten both singly and with a mixed diet indicate 

 that the second conclusion is the correct one. 



A BaIvAncEd DiFT. 



Attention has been called to the fact that in most of the 

 experiments here reported the diet adopted was one-sided, i. e., 

 the proportion of protein to the fats and carbohydrates was too 

 small. This is so common an error in diet that it may be 

 proper to mention a few of the ways in which it may be cor- 

 rected. It is evident that Indian corn in itself is too poor in 

 protein to form a large part of the diet unless special pains are 

 taken to maintain the proper balance. This may be done in 

 several ways. By the addition of meats, fish, eggs, or vegetable 



