DIETARIES AND RATIONS. 19 



above named, the quantities in ounces of starch taken compared 

 with those required would be as follow : . 



Taken. Wanted. Excess. 



Ragi ... ... 39.0 ... 15-8 ... 23-2 



Rice ... 307 ... 15-8 .. 14-9 



Maize ... ... ... 24-9 ... 15-8 ... 9-1 



or, on the average, about one pound too much, daily, of starch. 

 Of course a pulse diet presents exactly the converse defect, a 

 diet of pigeon-peas, for example, furnishing less than 9 ounces 

 of starch to 3 ounces of albuminoids. But it is clear that 

 the defect of cereals as to the nutrient-ratio is precisely of that 

 kind which can be neutralised by the due admixture of pulse ; 

 to that adjustment we now address ourselves. 



However, several circumstances must be taken into con- 

 sideration, in adjusting, on the above lines, the quantities and 

 proportions of the several constituents of a day's ration. The 

 body-weight and the amount of work to be done are the chief 

 of these, but climate, age, peculiarities of food-materials available, 

 and national or local tastes and prejudices, must not be left out 

 of view. In hot countries less oily matter is needed and more 

 water; the young require more fat and mineral matter than 

 adults ; condiments, spices, and other flavourers must be varied 

 in kind or altered in quantity in different places. But, after 

 all, the two conditions which it is specially necessary to discuss 

 are those of body-weight and work, Most European standard 

 dietaries have been constructed for the sustenance of individuals 

 weighing from 140 to 154 Ibs., and the work these individuals 

 have been supposed able to perform is nearly proportional to such 

 weight. If, then, we assume an amount of daily work performed 

 by an average European labourer, weighing 150 Ibs., can be 

 expressible in this form that he lifts 300 tons one foot we shall 

 find that natives of. India weighing 115 Ibs. can and do perform 

 an amount of daily work equal to 230 foot-tons ; and that if 

 their weight be 105 Ibs. only, they can and do accomplish 

 work equal to 215 foot- tons. These amounts are strictly pro- 

 portional to the lesser body-weights named, and are often 



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