VIII, B, 6 Gibson: Human Milk and Beriberi 471 



rice is insufficient to prevent the onset of neuritis. The experi- 

 ments are given in the accompanying table. 



It is evident from the results obtained that the almost con- 

 tinuous daily administration of 5 cubic centimeters (fowl 3) and 

 10 cubic centimeters (fowl 5) of human milk with the polished 

 rice did not prevent polyneuritis. Furthermore, 20 cubic centi- 

 meters of the milk is insufficient as stated above. Clark has 

 shown that degeneration of the nerves of fowls may be observed 

 as early as the seventh day of continuous rice feeding; it would 

 seem, then, that histological examination of the nerve on about 

 the twentieth day of the experiment would be a more exact 

 method of detennining whether or not a certain substance is 

 protective. For example, fowls 1, 7, and 10 (the control) have 

 not developed neuritis in fifty-seven days. However, fowls 2, 

 6, 9, and 11 showed distinct degeneration when killed on the 

 twentieth day. Finally it would seem, if Vedder's statement 

 that fowls kept on 5 cubic centimeters of fresh cows' milk with 

 milled rice are partially protected be accepted, that normal human 

 milk must contain not more than one-fourth of the amount of the 

 vitamine of the former. 



