BERIBERI AND UNPOLISHED RICE. ■ 233 



time similar conclusions were announced by Highet. Therefore, for 

 purposes of convenience a rice containing less than OA per cent of 

 phos|iliorus pentoxide is regarded as polished and that which contains 

 a greater percentage of phosphorus pentoxide as unpolished rice. 



xlccordingly, a bill was drafted which had for its purpose the bring- 

 ing about of the general use of unpolished rice in those quarters where 

 it furnished the staple article of diet. After considerable discussion 

 with physicians, lawyers, legislators, and others, it was deemed advisable 

 to attempt to secure the desired result by a law that would impose a 

 tax of 5 centavos (2.5 cents United States currency) per kilogram 

 upon all polished rice sold, whether it be foreign or domestic. However, 

 owing to the fact that the Legislature adjourned during the early days 

 of February, there was not sufficient time to present this matter to both 

 Houses. 



Becaiise of the successful experience with impolished rice in the 

 prophylaxis of beriberi in the Philippines during the year, and since 

 these data confirm the work of Fraser and Stanton,'' Aron,* Kilbourne," 

 de Haan/" and Highet,^^ as re'ported at the last annual meeting of the 

 Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, it is believed that the 

 time has come for the medical profession to aid in completing the last 

 step in the test which promises so well to place another weapon in tlie 

 hands of prophylactic medicine for the eradication of another of the 

 world's serious and costly diseases. 



''Log. cit. ' ^^ Ibid., 65. 



'Loc.dt. "Ibid., 73. 



'This Journal, Sec. B (1910). 5, 127. 



