146 CHAMBERLAIN. 



the first to develop beriberi whenever for any reason a period of un- 

 favorable dietetic administration supervenes. 



Since rice is the natural and economical diet for the oriental native 

 it follows that the free use of undermilled rice is likel)^ to work in the 

 direction of both efficiency and economy. 



~ CONCLUSIONS. 



(1) Beriberi has disappeared from the Philippine (native) Scout or- 

 ganizations during the last half of the year 1910. 



(2) There have been no sanitary improvements to account for this 

 except the changes in diet and there has been no corresponding decrease 

 in the admission rate for diseases other than beriberi. 



(3) There was no corresponding decrease in the incidence of beriberi 

 in the general Filipino population or in the Philippine (native) Con- 

 stabulary. 



(4) The decrease in admissions for beriberi among the Scouts was 

 clearly marked for four months before the use of undermilled rice began. 



(5) The decrease in admissions was well under way before the mongos, 

 camotes and ginger root of the new ration began to be issued. 



(6) The decrease in the admissions for beriberi was due either to un- 

 known causes acting coincidently with a reduction in the amount of rice 

 used and the addition of a legumen, or was due directly to these dietetic 

 changes. As no other reduction in admissions even approaching that of 

 1910 has occurred since the organization of the Scouts in 1901 we do not 

 believe that the present decrease is due to coincidence. 



(7) The facts do not oppose the polished-rice theory of beriberi pro- 

 duction. On the contrary, we believe that they support it. 



