1362 



INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



Regarding the use of rice in the treatment of Diabetes, see 

 my brochure " Diabetes and its Dietetic Treatment," (8th 

 Edition, 1917). B. D. B. 



During the expedition to Egypt the soldiers were fed 



almost exclusively on rice and their health suffered in no way. 



It transports easily, and keeps well as shown by analyses after 



12 years, and is therefore an advantageous food material in 



times of peace and war. 



Decorticated rices from the principal localities, Carolina, India, Java, 

 Japan, Piedmont, Saigon (Cochin-China), show a percentage composition 

 varying between the extremes quoted below : — 



Ash. 



Maximum ... 

 Minimum ... 



Water. 



Proteids. 



Fat. 



Amyloids. 



Fibre. 



1600 

 10-20 



8'82 

 5-50 



•75 

 15 



81-35 

 75-60 



•42 

 •18 



•58 

 •42 



Crude rices contain a higher proportion of nitrogenous and fatty subs- 

 tances and ash, the limits being as follows : — 





Water. 



13*30 

 11-20 



Proteids. 



Fat. 



Amyloids. 



Fibre. 



Ash. 



Maximum ... 

 Minimum 



9-05 

 6-18 



2-50 

 1-85 



75-60 

 73-85 



2-38 

 •03 



2'20 

 1-20 



Balland found that there was no connection between the size of the 

 grain and the proportion of nitrogenous matter, and demonstrated from his 

 analyses that rice has more value as a food than is commonly supposed. 



The proteins or albuminoids of rice have recently been studied by 

 O. Rosenheim and S. Kajuria. These chemists find 7 per cent, of total 

 protein present in rice, of which 0*14 is a globulin, 0*04 an albumin, and the 

 remainder a protein which like the glutenin of wheat is soluble in dilute 

 alkali. The name oryzegenin is suggested for it. 



Unmilled rice contains between 2 and 3 per cent, of oil, but in the process 

 of polishing most of this oil is removed with the aleurone layer. The bran 

 from rice mills in Rangoon and elsewhere contains a considerable amount of 

 oil which frequently amounts to 20 per cent., and for this purpose is exported 

 from India to Europe for supplying a material in soap manufacture. On 

 account of the presence of an enzyme in the bran, the oil extracted has 

 usually a high acidity. A recent analysis of rice oil has been published by 

 M. Tsujimoto (1911) recording the following physical and the chemical 

 characters : Specific gravity at 15°. 0-927 ; acid value, 34'75 ; saponification 



