DIVISION OF AM.UAL HUSBAMHiY 475 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



According to Manson and Osier, the most characteristic lesions of beri-beri in man 

 are: Hydroporioardium, oedema of the lunj^s, and inflammation of the duodenum, 

 degeneration of the nerves, and atrophy of the muscles. So that it seems evident that 

 we are dealing with a very closely allied disease. 



ETIOLOGY. 



It is well-known that certain rice products produce beri-beri. It was evident that 

 the different lots of pigs under experiment took the disease after a longer or shorter 

 period of feeding. As different shipments of rice-meal were used, it appeared that 

 there was a variation in its toxic properties. The exact nature of this harmful pro- 

 perty remains to be proved. Caspari and Mozkowski (E.S.R. vol. xxx., No. 1, Jan. 19, 

 1914) adhere to this theory of a toxic substance in the diet leading to an intoxication. 

 Chamberlain. Wedder and Williams (E.S.R. vol. xxviii.. May 1913, No. 6) believe that 

 beri-beri and polyneuritis of chickens result from some deficiency of substance in 

 phosphorus in the diet. Many other authors have various theories concerning the 

 deleterious substances in rice. The general opinion is that polished rice is harmful ; 

 these experiments tend to prove that rice-meal also either possesses the toxic quality 

 or else is lacking in some necessary constituent. Personally, I incline to the theory 

 that a toxic is the cause of the trouble. The strongest argument in favour of this 

 theory is that immediately the rice— meal is stopped the pigs improve. Also it was 

 found that after a purgative there was immediate improvement. 



ACASSIZ. 



