200 THE POOD OF THE TASMANIAX ABORIGINES 



If 50 oysters were daily added to the meal this quan- 

 tity of food would contain — 



Grams. 



Water 1,052 



Protein 226 ] 



Fats 7Q \ o 1-1 



Carbo-hydrates T3 278 solids. 



Salts 23 J 



Two facts are obvious; the above quantity of food 

 does not contain a sufficient quantity of solids to sustain 

 life, and what there is contains Protein in excess, while 

 the non-nitrogenous substances are insfficient altog-ether 

 (i). This will be still better illustrated if we calculate the 

 fuel value. 



Calories. 



Protein, 226 gram =^ 926.6 



Fats, 39 gram = 362.7 



Carbo hydrates, 13 gram z:^ 53.3 



Total 1,342.6 



According to Mrs. E. PI. Richard, the ration to 

 barely sustain life contains — 



Gram. 



Protein 75 



Fats 40 



Carbo hydrates 325 



and i-> equal to 2,000 calories. 



A Tasmanian who consumed 1,354 gram, of meat and 

 oysters vvould therefore still be short of 857 calories in 

 order to barely sustain life (2). How is he to make good 

 this shortage? Another 50 oysters supply not more than 

 176 calories. Another kilogram of meat would supply 

 1,165 calories. Therefore, if he were to consume 2,708 



(i) Chittenden says: To consume protein in excess of that 

 i-e(iiiired for the repair of the tissues is a physiological sin, the 

 wages of which is , migraine in earlier life and cardio-vascular 

 degeneration in the later. Is it probable that the exclusive 

 protein diet of the Aborigines is largely responsible for their 

 rapid disappearance? 



(2) The potential energy of his nutrients would still be lower 

 than that of a sewing girl of London, who sustains life on 1,820 

 calories, or the factory girl of Leipzig, who does the same on 

 1,940 calories. 



