﻿122 ^^6 Philippine Journal of Science i9u 



Clark ^' has shown that degeneration may be noticed within 

 seven days on a polished rice diet in fowls. Such degeneration 

 is, however, only very slight. The pictures of the sciatics in our 

 palay-fed fowls correspond to that obtained from those fed for 

 two weeks or more on milled rice. The degeneration in fowls 

 4 and 5, in fact, is more pronounced than can be observed in 

 some fowls which have died of rice polyneuritis. 



It would seem, then, that the substitution of rough rice for 

 the polished article cannot be completely protective against beri- 

 beri in all individuals. We do not mean to say that this sub- 

 stitution has not practically eliminated beriberi where it has been 

 undertaken or that the use of rice polishings is not without 

 great therapeutic value. But in view of the accumulated evi- 

 dence, we can say that the addition of other foodstuffs to a diet 

 of unpolished rice is essential to meet the normal nutritive re- 

 quirements of the body. 



" Vedder and Clark, This Journal, Sec. B (1912), 7, 423. 



