ERADICATION OF BERIBERI. 



143 



legumen, which in this case was mongos biit which might equally well 

 have been beans as recommended by the Board on September 20, 1910. 



The following table will show graphically the periods over which 

 there was active each one of the five new factors, (a) undermilled rice, 

 (b) camotes, (c) mongos, (d) ginger root, and (e) reduction of rice to 

 16 ounces and addition of a legumen. The solid part of the lines in- 

 dicates the period during which the influence was general and the dotted 

 part the period during which the influence was beginning and did not 

 affect all the Scout organizations. 



Table VI. — Beriberi admissions hy months, calendar year 1910, and influences 



acting thereon. 





Jan. 



Feb. 



Mar. 



Apr. 



May. 



June. 



July 



Aug. 



Sept. 



Oct. 



Nov. 



Dec. 



Admissions 



19 



8 



12 



3 



4 



1 







2 















10 





No. 2 rice (a) 













































































Mongos (c) 











• 



1 













1 











Ginger root (d) 











1 



























Reduction and leg- 



iiTTiP {e\ 





























1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 



It is obvious that factor (e), viz, reduction in the amount of rice 

 and addition of a legumen, is the only one which has been operative 

 during the whole period of marked decrease in beriberi admissions. 



It might be argued, by those favoring the nitrogen starvation theory, that the 

 decrease in beriberi in 1910 was due to an increase in the amount of meat con- 

 sumed by the Scouts as a result of the letter of the division commander which 

 directed the making of savings as largely as possible on potatoes, onions and 

 coffee. We do not think that an increased meat consumption has been an im- 

 portant factor for the following reasons: (a) The Scout did not as a rule make 

 large savings on his meat component and (6) the meat allowance is so great (12 

 ounces) that the Scouts could make considerable savings thereon and still have 

 an amount larger than is furnished the soldier of many of the European armies, 

 the French allowing 10.6 ounces of meat, the Russian 7.75 ounces and the Austrian 

 6.7 ounces. In considering these figures it should be borne in mind that the 

 average weight of a Filipino is about four-flfths that of a European or American. 



IV. BEARING ON BEEIBEEI RATE OF FACTORS OTHER THAN DIETETIC. 



During the year 1910 we are aware of no changes in the sanitary 

 conditions among the Scouts, other than dietetic, which could account 

 for the lowered incidence of beriberi. There has been no marked de- 

 crease during 1910 in the admission rate for other diseases. The 



