43 



16.— RICE., 



Nat. Oed. — GraminesB. 



Oryza sativa. 



This cereal, although only grown in tropical 

 and sub-tropical countries, is perhaps more 

 universally used as a food than any other grain. 

 As it is deficient in albuminoids and fat it is far 

 from being a perfect food, and requires to be eaten 

 with other substances containing a larger propor- 

 tion of those materials. 



Rice Starch, though exceedingly small, 

 possesses well marked characters. The granules 

 are even in size and distinctly angular in shape, 

 two marks which enable it to be easily distin- 

 guished from other Starches in common use. 

 This fact is all the more valuable, as Rice Starch 

 is often used as an adulterant. 



The Starch used in the preparation of the 

 various toilet powders generally consists of this 

 Starch, either alone or mixed with Maize Starch. 

 It is fast displacing Wheat Starch on account of 

 its cheapness. There is, moreover, no objection 

 to its use for this purpose. 



