26. Phosphorus in Indian Food Stuffs. 
By Davip Hoopsrr, F.C.S. 
One of the most important discoveries of recent times is 
the relation that has been traced between the use of milled 
rice and the disease known as epidemic dropsy or beri-beri. 
The investigations of Drs. Stanton, Fraser, Highet and Brad- 
don have shown that the lack of phosphorus in cleaned or 
milled rice is the predisposing cause of the disease. By ex- 
perimenting on fowls with rice of varying quality it was 
sanusnateaial that polyneuritis (similar to the epidemic dropsy 
of man) was developed when milled rice was used, but not 
when rice simply husked was given. By chemical analysis 
or ne. property, and it was shown by control 
experiments that rice containing 0469 per cent. of phosphorus, 
oped 
the publication of this theory in 1909 further researches have 
been madein the East, and they have tended to confirm the im- 
portance of phosphorus as an essential constituent in dietetic 
preparations. 
In 1910, Major E. D. W. Greig, I.M.S., was placed on 
special duty to investigate the outbreak of beri-beri in Bengal, 
and I was appointed to assist him by analysing the samples of 
rice and food grains collected during the enquiry. Major 
Greig’s preliminary report has been issued as No. 45 (New 
Series) of the Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and 
Sanitary Departments of the Steinloce of India, and is en- 
titled ‘‘ Epidemic Dropsy in Calcutta.’’ It is on the present 
occasion considered desirable to deal with the shea aspect 
of the subject in a separate paper, by quoting the analyses of 
a large number of rice samples from different parts of the 
country, and showing the amount of — in other food 
substances commonly consum 
Rice being the staple food of m ns ‘eastern countries it is 
important that its constituents should be fully studied. In 
the Agricultural Ledger No. 5 of 1908-09, Bayes are given 
of one hundred and sixty samples from various localities in 
India, and the proportion of protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre 
and ash are recorded. All the samples of rice were husked 
