FOOD AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. 167 



We believe the presence of wheat, maize, millets, etc., replacing the 

 bulky rice, which is of low nutritive value, sufficiently explains the 

 situation; however, we shall examine some of the objections which have 

 been brought forward against the view that defective nutrition is the 

 result of a low protein intake. 



Doctor Kellogg, a strong advocate of vegetarianism, criticised our 

 finding regarding the important role played by diet, and especially by 

 protein, in the nutrition of the Bengali, as follows: 



The weakest part of the report from my standpoint is the remarks which 

 the investigator makes in relation to the defective nutrition resulting from the 

 low protein dietary. I do not think it is at all fair to attribute the lack of 

 endurance often seen among Indians to the low protein diet. There are so many 

 factors which certainly should be taken into consideration. Among these are their 

 sexual excesses, the depressing effects of the very hot, damp climate in which 

 they live, and which predispose to lack of exercise, the injurious effects of exces- 

 sive, prolonged exposure to the actinic rays of the sun. Still another factor of 

 importance is the immature age at which these people usually marry. Many of 

 the Indians, however, are strong and robust people. I understand that an Indian 

 regiment made up entirely of natives is the finest lot of men in His Majesty's 

 service. 



We agree that these causes have undoubtedly an influence in retarding 

 growth and lowering the general standard of physique, and, if there 

 were no means of estimating .their effects, it would be very difficult to 

 say that they are not quite sufficient, as Doctor Kellogg believes, to 

 account for the relative difference between Europeans and the poorer 

 developed natives of India. 



Many objections to Doctor Kellogg's views immediately arise, for 

 instance, as regards climate and the actinic rays of the sun. Europeans, 

 Eurasians, and the better-fed Bengalis are all equally exposed to these 

 influences, yet retain their energy. We have made inquiries regarding 

 sexual excess, and, while masturbation probably is more prevalent among 

 the Bengalis, excessive sexual congress is chiefly practiced by the better 

 classes, who have the means and energy to satisfy their desires. Im- 

 mature marriage is undoubtedly a factor, but there are customs which 

 have a tendency to neutralize its ill effects : The husband and wife do 

 not live together until the wife reaches puberty — the husband is usually 

 several years older than the wife, and the latter spends about one-third 

 of each year with relatives away from the husband. Another effort of 

 nature to maintain the standard is the relatively higher death rate 

 amongst the children born early in marriage. However, while these 

 replies to Doctor Kellogg's criticisms are important in showing that his 

 objections do not cover the whole ground, it is evident they are too 

 indefinite to be measured and appraised at their full value. They would, 

 even at the best, be only a matter of opinion, one school of thought 

 looking on them from a point of view different from that of another. 



