108 DIET NUTRITION AND EXCRETION IN SINGAPORE. 



whilst in the bakery. The total nitrogen was 8.3 grammes. The 

 ammonia, 1.04 grammes, was high and therefore, so was the ammo- 

 nia co-efficient, 10.3%. The reason for this is not clear. Probably 

 further experiments will elucidate the problem. The amount of 

 chloride was 5.1 grammes and of uric acid 0.48 gramme. 



The diet consisted of rice with small quantities of pork, beef 

 and fish. 



Tamil Gardeners. — Fourteen observations wore made from 

 material furnished by two Tamil gardeners, working at the Medical 

 School Hostel. The average amounts of kidney excretions were 

 nitrogen 7.2 grammes, urea 13.4, uric acid 0.49, ammonia 0.73. 

 chloride 7 and phosphate 1.25 (Table I). Their average weight 

 was 101 lbs. and their average age 23J years. The average diet con- 

 sisted of bread 224 grammes/ condensed milk 2, sugar 12, butter 13, 

 boiled rice 1376, fish 84, green vegetables 213. This contains 

 76 grammes of protein, 19 of fat and 468 of carbohydrate. The 

 heat value is 2407 kilocalories. Judging from their nitrogen ex- 

 cretion they metabolised only 45 grammes of protein, so that they 

 did not metabolise all their food (Table II). 



Malay Gardener. — This man worked at the school; two obser- 

 vations were made with his kidney excretions. His average figures 

 were nitrogen 7.9 grammes, urea 15, uric acid 0.6, ammonia 0.61, 

 chloride 5 and phosphate 1.5 (Table I). Bice was his chief food, 

 but no details were obtained. He weighed 120 lbs. 



Chinese Rickshaw Runner. — This runner was employed private- 

 ly by the author. One specimen of kidney excretion was obtained 

 when a full day's running (about 15 miles) was done. His figures 

 were, nitrogen 9.8 grammes, urea 20.4 uric acid 0.54, ammonia 1.06, 

 chloride 2 and phosphate 1.8 (Table 1). His diet consisted chiefly 

 of rice with small quantities of beef, pork and fish, but no details 

 were obtained. 



Chinese Rubber Estate Coolies. — Five weeders and tappers 

 working on a local rubber estate, owned by a student's father, sup- 

 plied material for fifteen observations. On an average they excreted 

 by the kidney 10.4 grammes of nitrogen, Which is equivalent to the 

 metabolism of 65 grammes of protein. Their daily allowance of 

 food contained 86 grammes of protein, 17 grammes of fat and 611 

 grammes of carbohydrate, the diet being rice (weighed uncooked) 

 728 grammes, pork 14, fat 7, fish 112, dried peas 56, green vege- 

 tables 224. This gives a heat value of 3015 kilocalories (Table II). 

 It is evident that they did not metabolise all this allowance, only 65 

 out of 86 grammes of protein in the food being accounted for in 

 the kidney excretion. 



The figures for the other excretion were urea 19.4 grammes, 

 uric acid 0.65, ammonia 1.09, chloride G.G and phosphate 1.78 (Table 

 I). The average age was 32 years and the average weight 122 lbs. 



Jour, Straits Branch 



