228 A NATURALIST IN CANNIBAL LAND 



shows itself first by a swelling in the lower limbs, a 

 swelling which gradually spreads to the trunk and 

 upwards to the heart, seems to be due to improper 

 feeding; I think it is a species of land scurvy. My 

 boy who contracted the disease complained first of 

 loss of feeling in the legs. Then his legs below the 

 knees began to get puffy and quickly this puffiness 

 spread. When the puffiness gets past the middle of 

 the trunk the patient usually dies. The chief pain 

 seems to be all the while in the stomach. The only 

 remedy so far as I know is a change of diet. 



After suffering frightful pain for two days my boy 

 died and I had reason to fear that I would have more 

 cases on my hands. On a previous expedition I had 

 been forced by an outbreak of measles to go away 

 from a fine collecting ground. I was now face to face 

 again with the same notice to quit. I had either to 

 give up the work at a spot which was so promising 

 of good results or make my boys run the risk of death. 



that the need could be equally well served by adopting the system 

 adopted in the Japanese Navy of adding to the dietary scale 

 foods containing the elements lacking in a rice diet. By sub- 

 stituting a portion of the rice for peas, and adding a small quantity 

 of dripping to the ration scale, we are safeguarding not only in 

 the case of the above-mentioned theory, but two other theories 

 in regard to beri-beri one that it is due to a deficiency in proteids, 

 and the other that it is due to a deficiency in fats. Last year, 

 when beri-beri was present at Lakekamu, this diet was served 

 out to the police and Crown servants, and no case of beri-beri 

 appeared amongst them. This diet has also been in vogue at 

 the Port Moresby gaol for the past three months, resulting in 

 improved conditions among the prisoners." EDITOR. 



