410 The Philippine Journal of Science "23 



found in this series of an abnormal utilization of protein or 

 of fat. 



In Table 2 are given the values found in the blood analyses 

 of the two groups. 



Table 2. — Blood analyses. 



From the metabolic side two of these values, the blood sugar 

 and the creatinine, are of especial interest. The blood sugar 

 values confirm the evidence, discussed above, of a normal utili- 

 zation of carbohydrate. Aside from the question of beriberi 

 this is of interest as evidence against a diet high in carbo- 

 hydrate, in itself predisposing to abnormalities of carbohydrate 

 metabolism. It may be that the low total caloric value of the 

 diet usual to the poorer Filipinos may be a factor of safety 

 in this. Various workers have offered evidence that the full 

 diet of the Jewish race in America is a factor in the high inci- 

 dence of diabetes among that people. Here it must be remem- 

 bered that the diet of the Jew is high in total caloric value 

 rather than showing a decided preponderance of carbohydrate 

 with a low total caloric value as obtains with the Filipino. 



Viewing the creatinine values as an index of the endogenous 

 metabolism, we find no difference between the two groups and 

 a level in both slightly below that found in normal Americans, 

 which is consistent with the minus basal metabolic rate found. 



From the standpoint of damage to the excretory system in 

 beriberi the blood analyses are valuable negative evidence, 

 especially when the occurrence of oedema in this disease is 

 remembered. (Edema was present in about one-third of the 

 patients examined, but no differences were found referable to 

 this symptom. In view of the actual presence of oedema in at 

 least some of these patients when investigated, it is thought 

 that the objection mentioned in the discussion of the metabolism, 

 that the patients were then on a vitamine-rich diet, cannot 

 apply here. The change of diet was of too recent institution 

 to effect a recovery from any but slight and transitory damage 



