MEDICAL SUllVEY OF THE TOWN OF TAYTAY. 293 



Fvoni a piiysiological standpoint, the diet of the average person represented 

 90 grams of protein and 2,700 calories, and for a laboring man 100 grams 

 of protein and 3,100 calories. Practically all of the rice used in the 

 town belonged to the class of cured rice, which it is claimed by the 

 adherents of the rice theory in regard to the etiology of beriberi, never 

 causes this disease even when it forms the greater portion of the nutriment 

 consumed over a long period of time. It is interesting to note in this 

 connection that no case of acute beriberi was discovered in the town. 

 Whatever little evidence there is, therefore, supports the theory that 

 beriberi is caused by the ingestion of uncured rice. It must be admitted, 

 however, that this evidence is probably not of sufficient importance to 

 be used as an ai'gnment in favor of this vicAv. Beriberi might be preval- 

 ent in a town or district during one season of the year and entirely absent 

 during another. 



The cost of the food consumed by the inhabitants usixally amounted to 

 between 9 and 16 centavos daily, with an average of 12|- centavos per 

 person. Plowever. it is not believed that the daily ration consumed by 

 these people is the most desirable one for them or that the most beneficial 

 food can be purchased by them for this amount. Experience in the Phil- 

 ippines has shown that whenever a large number of Filipino men are 

 required to perform under American direction the duties of laborers, in 

 the construction of roads, streets, railroads, etc., a more liberal diet be- 

 comes necessary for them. In Bilibid Prison where the prisoners are 

 recjuired to perform a much greater amoimt of manual labor than the men 

 at Taytay carry on, the cost of the food for each individual averages 21 

 centavos per day. When, however, a number of these prisoners were 

 transferred outside of the prison and "placed upon even harder work, con- 

 sisting of the construction of fortifications, it was found advisable to 

 increase the amount and cost of the daily ration to 30 centavos per day. 

 Twelve centavos is a sufficient amount to purchase the ration for the 

 average individual in Taytay only becailse he performs there very little 

 work. When the average Filipino undertakes to carr}' on the work ex- 

 pected of a laborer he requires a more liberal diet, and one Avhich includes 

 meat in addition to fish. Under such circumstances his physical condi- 

 tion usually becomes greatly improved. 



In relation to the entomological study of the town, two new species of 

 mosquitoes were met with, both belonging to the genus Oidcx. A descrip- 

 tion of these will appear in another number of the General Science section 

 of this Joi'iiNAL.^ Mosquitoes of the subfaiuily anophelince {Myzomyia 

 russii Giles) were found breeding, pai'ticularly in the districts of the town 

 along the banks of streams and in all bodies of stagnant water around the 

 wells; they were most numei'ous along the stream running through the 

 town. It is interesting to note that the distril)ution of the anoplidina', 



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