ETIOLOGY OF BERIBERI. 291 



prisonment on entering the institution undergo a quarantine of 

 five days, and, if found to be suffering from any disease, are 

 subsequently kept in the prison hospital and are not permitted 

 to return to the general prison centers until well. The discip- 

 line of the prison is very strict.^- 



The nature of the experiments having been outlined and the 

 Government having given its sanction to the same, a number of 

 prisoners, under sentence of death, were selected and the nature 

 of the proposed experiments carefully explained to them in their 

 own dialect. They were told that the experiments were for the 

 purpose of testing the comparative value of different kinds of 

 rice as a food ; the articles of food comprising the diet that would 

 be given to them were enumerated, and they were also told that 

 perhaps they might contract beriberi. The proposition was 

 stated to them clearly. In addition, they were to be allowed an 

 abundance of cigarettes of any kind that they wished, and 

 also cigars if they desired them. Volunteers were then asked 

 for. Twenty-nine of the number volunteered. The remaining 

 ones did not care to undertake the experiment. Each of the 

 volunteers then signed a statement, written in his own dialect, 

 stating that he undertook the experiment entirely voluntarily 

 and that he would agree to continue with the experiment until it 

 was completed. This having been accomplished, the volunteers 

 were divided into 4 groups. Three of the groups were placed 

 in a bartolina or small inner prison on one side of the institu- 

 tion, known as the presidio side. The fourth group was placed 

 in a bartolina on the other side of the prison known as the 

 carcel side. The two bartolinas are a considerable distance 

 (72 yards) apart. There are three high stone walls between 

 them, one measuring about 4.8 meters in height, and two 3.6 

 meters in height; there is no approach to either except through 

 the entrance to the prison, and this is situated a considerable 

 distance from each. The location of the bartolinas may be seen 

 upon reference to the plan. (See Plate I, A and B.) The barto- 

 linas are alike in structure. They are surrounded by stone walls, 

 3.6 meters in height; there is but a single entrance through a 

 high iron gate and but one key to the gate, and this was in the 

 possession of an American guard. No one could enter or leave 

 the bartolina without this American guard being present. Other 



"We wish to express particularly our thanks to Colonel Dorrington, 

 director of the Prison, Inspector Rabb, Doctor Smith, Mr. Henshaw, and 

 Mr. Milbrodt for many courtesies and much assistance during the course 

 of the experiments. 



