74 ANALYSIS OF PLANTAIN FRUIT AND MEAL. 
Again, the dry mealy matter of the plantain, of the potato, and of rice 
consists respectively of— 
Rice. Potato. Plantain. 
Starch ‘ ‘ . 869 65:0 78:4 
Sugar, Gum, &c. : . O05 15:0 7°6 
Fat. ‘ j . O8 10 05 
Cellular fibre , e . 384 8:0 56 
Protein compounds 75 8-0 5:2 
Ash : ‘ 0-9 30 27 
100-0 100-0 100-0 
or, comparing only the Starch, Sugar, &c., and the protein compounds, on 
which the nutritive quality ot’ these different vegetable productions princi- 
pally depends, we have the following numbers: 
Rice. Potato, Plantain. 
Starch, Sugar, &c. P « 87:4 79:0 86:0 
Protein compounds . : . 75 8-0 5:2 
These numbers show that it approaches, as I have said, nearest in its com- 
position to rice, containing nearly as much starch, but a sensibly smaller 
roportion of the protein compounds, on which the sustenance of the muscles 
is supposed chiefly to depend. 
In regard to its value as a food for man in our northern climates, there is 
no reason to believe that it is unfit to sustain life and health; and as to 
warmer or tropical climates, this conclusion is of more weight. 
The only chemical writer who has previously made personal observations 
upon this point (M. Boussingault) says: “I have not sufficient data to 
determine the nutritive value of the banana, but I have reason to believe 
that it is superior to that of potato. I have given as rations to men 
employed at hard labour about 3 kilogrammes (63 lb.) of half-ripe bananas, 
and 60 grammes (2 ounces) of salt meat.” Of these green bananas he else- 
where states that 38 per cent. consisted of husk, and that the internal 
eatable part lost 56 per cent. of water by drying in the sun. The 66 
pounds, therefore, were composed of— 
Husk ‘ ‘ é P « 26 Ib. 
Water . e ; « 2S ie 
Heart dried in the sun. . o ED: og 
6°6 lb. 
so that less than two pounds a day of this dried banana fruit, which we may 
suppose to be equal in quality and composition to the sun-dried plantain 
meal, above described, with two ounces of salt meat per day, were found 
sufficient to maintain men, not slaves, at moderately hard labour. This was 
equal to 123 1b. dried eatable banana, and 1 pound of salt meat (query fish) 
per week. 
* * * * * 
The composition of the ash of the Plantain also bears a close resemblance 
to that of the potato. Both contain much alkaline matter, potash and soda 
salts, and in both there is nearly the same per centage of phosphoric acid and 
magnesia. In so far, therefore, as the supply of those mineral ingredients is 
concerned, by which the body is supported as necessarily as by the organic 
food, there is no reason to doubt that the banana, equally with the potato, 
is fitted to sustain the strength of the animal body. It must not be denied 
