Dietaries and Rations. 



starch, and the starch-equivalent of the oil. A complete nutrient- 

 ratio is -of course much more complex than the ratio which the 

 albuminoids bear to the starch. It will include the water and 

 the saline or mineral matter as well as the albuminoids, the oil, 

 and the group of the carbohydrates. In fact, a further distinc- 

 tion would have to be made as to the several constituents of 

 the dietary. For example, the proportions of potash, phos- 

 phoric acid, lime, magnesia, and especially of common salt, 

 comprised in the " mineral matter " would have to be defined. 

 The carbohydrates, too, must not wholly consist of sugar, 

 although to starch, as a sole constituent, there is no objection. 

 But, in practice, there is no necessity for such extreme precision, 

 provided only that a sufficient supply of necessary nutriment be 

 given. This end will be accomplished if due regard be paid, 

 in framing a dietary, to the general principles laid down in this 

 part of the present Handbook. The due admixture of food- 

 grains belonging to different classes will secure the necessary 

 mineral ingredients, provided an allowance of at least 230 grains* 

 of common salt be added to the daily ration of a man having a 

 body- weight of 105 lbs. The fat or oil, added to, or naturally 

 present in the food-staples, should stand to the albuminoids in 

 a proportion of not less than i to 2, and to the starch of i to 9 

 — at least these proportions are found to give satisfactory results 

 where moderate work only is demanded, although a further 

 increase of the oil or fat, and a corresponding diminution of 

 the amount of starch, may often be made with advantage. 

 European model or standard dietaries generally contain a higher 

 proportion of oil or fat, mainly owing to the very large use 

 therein made of animal foods. For instance, it has been shown 

 that a first-rate average daily diet for a European adult performing 

 moderate labour may be advantageously constituted, in 100 parts, of 



Albuminoids ... 3-9) /Water 81-5 



vith J 



Starch, Sugar, etc.... io-6 V with ^ Common Salt 07 



Oil or Fat... ... 3'o I ( Phosphates, Potash Salts, etc. 0-3 



* The amount of salt consumed per head per day in the Bombay Presidency 

 just exceeds yi ounce ; in Sind it is calculated to be little more than ^ ounce. 



