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narum, a disease that bears a close resemblance, clinically as well 
as patho-anatomically, to beri beri and could be developed in fowls 
and pigeons through a diet of polished rice. If the animals were 
fed on unhusked rice (gabba) or undermilled rice, i. e. rice denuded 
only of the coarse outer skin, not of the so-called “silverlayer”, the 
inner layer of the pericarpium, the disease did not declare itself, 
nay, diseased animals could even be cured by such a diet. Under- 
milled rice is still the staple food of the Javanese, especially in the 
country-districts, where instead of modern machinery, primitive 
implements are used for husking. VORDERMAN’s investigation showed, 
in accordance with my researches on polyneuritis gallinarum, that 
beri beri occurred frequently in those prisons where polished rice 
was the staple article of diet, and rarely in those where under- 
milled rice was the ordinary food. 
Thenceforth many researchers have occupied themselves with the 
experimental study of this bird’s disease and have also applied 
their results to the beri beri problem to good purpose. 
As we intend to confine ourselves, in this’ paper, to the etiology 
of polyneuritis gallinarum, we wish to point out beforehand that 
students of the disease are still divided in their opinion about the 
influence of diet in its causation. The presumed existence of a 
poison, operating in the diet, has already by some been assigned as 
the probable etiologic factor, just as heretofore in the case of beri 
beri. This view implies that the protective and curative effect of 
rice-polishings and other similarly acting natural products, such as 
katjang idjo, yeast, egg-yolk, meat and the like, proceeds from a 
constituent that acts as an antidote. Over against the poison- 
hypothesis, which still has many supporters, is another view, first 
clearly formulated by Dr. G. Grins *), viz. that the constituent 
alluded to does not act as an antidote but as a so-called acces- 
sory food-stuff, which together with protein, fats, carbohydrates and 
salts is essential for the diet, to meet the physiological requirements, 
and that the disease develops itself when the said constituent is 
administered more sparingly than is required by the organism. It has 
not yet been defined chemically with sufficient certainty, nor has 
it been made out whether we have to do with one or with more 
substances. This must be remembered when we use the synonyms 
“curative” 
5) 
, “protective” or “antineuritic” substance or substances. 
Also other diseases, such as scurvy, Barlow's disease, pellagra 
and the like are with more or less probability caused by a deficiency 
1) Geneesk. Tijdschr. v. Ned. Ind. Deel 41, p. 47, 1901, 
