66 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



defines a rational diet as one wliicli. while pleasant to the taste, will maintain 

 body equilibrinm and facilitate the working of the organs, and reduce to a 

 ruiniuium the work which it of necessity imposes on them. 



Investigations on the etiology of pellagra, W. H. Buhlig (III lid. llcaltji 

 Mo. Bui., 5 {1909), No. 7, pp. .',11-W^, figs. 2).— In an extended study of 

 pellagra at the Peoria State Hospital, South Bartonville, 111., various questions 

 were taken into account as to the possible relation of this disease to diet, and 

 in addition, the results are reported of examinations of blood, excretory pro- 

 ducts, the water supply of the institution, and similar matters. 



"Aside from the consideration of \vhether corn has anything to do with the 

 causation of pellagra, the food of pellagrous patients in our judgment is a 

 subject of first importance and not only is the present food of the patients to 

 be taken into consideration, but also that of these people before they came 

 into the institution, . . . 



" It is a striking fact that practically all cases of pellagra occur in the 

 undernourished, or that relatively few occur in the well nourished. Two ele- 

 ments present themselves here : The food ingested and the ability of the indi- 

 vidual to metabolize his food. . . . From the numerous dietary lists of the 

 institution that we have examined we will venture the oi)inion that the prc- 

 tein intake is very low, but that probably each individual, because he may 

 help himself, will get as much as he actually needs. . . . The question is 

 whether this low protein is harmful, or whether the high carbohydrate is, or 

 whether both together are. The writer knows of no experiments on these 

 questions covering a sufficient length of time, and is not in a position to pass 

 on the matter. The whole subject of the food and metabolism of these patients 

 needs investigation and should not be neglected in a thorough study of the 

 disease." 



In connection with culture tests with moldy corn, tests were also made with 

 cooked corn, as some molds are known to be very resistart to heat and the 

 idea has been advanced that such organisms may survive cooking. " We can 

 only state a few experiments made by us from corn meal mush and hominy 

 after it had been made in the usual way at the in.stitution by boiling about i; 

 hours. We can not see how anything living can withstand such treatment and 

 our two cultures of corn meal and two of hominy on gelatin bore us out l»y 

 being sterile after several weeks." 



Observations on pellagra at the Peoria State Hospital, Peoria, 111., J. F. 

 SiLER and II. J. Nichols (111. Bd. Health Mo. Bui, 5 (1909), No. 7, pp. .',37- 

 jJ78, figs. 8). — In connection with the study of pellagra information is sum- 

 marized concerning the diet of the institution and other matters. 



Taking a period of 4 years, the average number of patients at the institu- 

 tion has ranged from 1,725 to 2,200 annually, and the cost of food from 9.0 to 

 35.5 cts. per patient per day. In addition to the general diet for the majority 

 of the patients, special diets are prepared for certain groups and for attendants. 



According to the authors, " the diets are good as institutions go. The daily 

 food in the general diet averages about 2,000 to 2,500 calories, which is made up 

 approximately of 30 gm. proteid, TO to 80 gm. fat, and 300 to 400 gm. carbo- 

 hydrates. Meat is given only twice a week. On the whole it may be said that 

 the food supply is satisfactory except that the general diet is somewhat deficient 

 in proteids." 



At the time the investigations were made there were 2.1.50 inmates at the 

 institution, of whom the majority had been almshouse and asylum inmates for 

 many years. Of these persons 175 wei'e pellagrous. 



In considering the possible relation of corn in the diet to the occurrence of 

 pellagra, it is stated that the patients on the general diet received rather more 



