1920] FOODS HUMAN NUTRITION. 2G3 



per man of green herbs collected from (lie plains. It is emphasized that fresh 

 meat alone without vegetables will not iiHlelinilely postpone scurvy, but seems to 

 delay its appearance. An increase in the meat rations for the Indians and the 

 development of vegetable gardens for the stationary troops caused scurvy prac- 

 tically to disappear from Mesopotamia. 



The treatment and nianjtgement of diseases due to deficiency of diet: 

 Scurvy and beriberi, W. H. Wiixcox {lirit. Med. Jour. No. 3081 (1020), pp. 

 73-77, fig. 1). — This is a general report of a special study of scui-vy and beriberi 

 from their clinical aspects and from the point of view of prevention and treat- 

 ment, the study being made from IMay, 191G, to January, 1919, during the 

 Mesopotamia campaign noted above. 



The report discu.sses first the rations of the Indian troops at the period of 

 greatest incidence of scurvy and of the later rations of both Indian and British 

 troops, showing the means taken to correct the deficiencies in the former of 

 antiscorbutic factors and in the latter of antiberiberi factors. The striking 

 value of raw meat juice as an antiscorbutic is noted. Tamarind juice was con- 

 sidered to have some antiscorbutic properties and lime juice to have an uncer- 

 tain value. The extract of yeast known as niarmite proved of great value as 

 a prophylactic against beriberi, as did also the incorporation of 25 per cent 

 of atta in the bread served to the British troops. " It was owing to the ade- 

 quate supply of fresh vegetables, fruit, and fresh meat that deficiency diseases 

 were stamped out from the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force after March, 

 1917." 



A brief discussion Is included of the etiology, symptoms, and treatment of 

 scurvy and beriberi. In conclusion attention is called to the necessity of mak- 

 ing adequate provision in army rations for the vitamin as well as the calorie 

 requirement, and to the false economy in disregarding such requirements 

 through financial considerations. 



A previous contribution on the same subject has been noted from another 

 source (E. S. R., 40. p. 564.) 



Pellagra, A. Viswalingam {Jour. Trop. Med. and Hyg. [London'\, 21 (1918), 

 No. 15, pp. 153-158, pi. 1). — Various theories regarding the cause of pellagra 

 are reviewed briefly, and applied to the etiology of the disease as found among 

 the Chinese field lal)orers in the Malay States. 



Rejecting the maize theory, as maize is but little used by these people, evi- 

 dence is given from which the conclusion is drawn that " both the deficiency 

 theory and the i)arasitic theory may hold good in the etiology of the disease 

 in this country. I am inclined to think that, in individuals whose vitality is 

 lowered by exposure and hard work, some organism gains entry into the system 

 by way of the alimentary canal and sets up a condition of Intoxication, which 

 manifests itself in the varied symptomatology seen in this disease. I also think 

 that the disease in the early stage commences with gastro-intestinal trouble, 

 followed later by cutaneous and mental symptoms. , . . The condition of 

 chronic fibrosis observed in all the organs drained by the portal system seems 

 to incriminate the alimentarj' canal as the portal of invasion of the organism, 

 whatever that may be. The periodical exacerl>ation may be explained by the 

 seasonal variations of flies and other insects, and partly by a variation in the 

 resistance of the individual." 



A summary is given of the symptomatology, diagnosLs, prognosis, and treat- 

 ment of the disease, and several case reports are included. 



Some further observations on the etiology of " pellagra," A. Viswal- 

 ingam (Jour. Trop. Med. and Hyg. ILondon], 23 (1920), No. Jf, pp. 46, //7).— 

 Further evidence is given in confirmation of the view expressed above that 



