110 DIET NUTRITION AND EXCRETION IN SINGAPORE. 



The former does less work. Gentlemen, who have controlled labour 

 both in this city and in Europe, have no doubt that the European 

 labourer has better physique and is capable of heavier work than 

 the tropica] Asiatic. Undoubtedly climate plays an important 

 part in this matter. The continuous heat and moisture of the 

 atmosphere in Singapore,, do not readily allow escape of heat from 

 the body. Work and food increase body heat, so that the natural 

 remedy is to Lessen these. One docs occasionally see coolies doing 

 very heavy work but they do not keep this up for any length of 

 time. 



Returning to Table I. it will be observed that the uric acid, 

 phosphate and chloride are also present in smaller quantities in the 

 local labourer's kidney excretion than in that of the European. 

 This is due to the fact that the diet of the former contains smaller 

 quantities of the substances from which these are derived. 



In all cases the ammonia co-efficient for the local Asiatic is 

 higher than that of the European. This is due to the fact that the 

 former excretes a smaller amount of nitrogen. 



No reference has been made to the nitrogen excreted by the 

 skin. This is not sufficient to interfere greatly with the results 

 obtained. 



Conclusions. 



I. As far as these experiments go, the figures obtained show 

 that on the whole the amounts of kidney excretions for local 

 labourers diner considerably from the standard amounts given for 

 Europeans in Europe. 



II. The total nitrogen varies from 7.2 to 11.4 gramimes, 

 the urea from 13.4 to 21, the uric acid from 0.43 to 0.65, the am- 

 monia from 0.61 to 1.09, the chloride from 2 to 7. and the phosphate 

 from 1.25 to 1.8. 



III. The local labourer uses less protein and fat, but more 

 carbohydrate than the European. The metabolised food of the 

 former has a smaller calorific value. Two reasons, closely con- 

 nected with one another may be given for this. They live in a 

 continuously hot and moist climate. They do less work. 



The author is indebted to the following for assistance in this 

 work — V. Gopalan, Lee Kek Soon, Y. Thainbar, Tham Ying 

 Knew, H. bin Tyeb and Mr. Hale, the Assistant Surgeon at the 

 Gaol. 



liEEEKEXCES. 



1. Campbell. J. Argyll, Journ. Straits Branch E. A. Soc, Xo. 76, 



1917. 

 f Sutherland, G. S., " A System of Diet & Dietetics," 1908. 



2. -J Leach, Albert E., "Food Inspection & Analysis;" 1911. 

 [>Schafer, E. A., " Text Book for Physiology," 1898. 



3. McCay, The Philippine Journal of Science. B. Medical, Yol. 



Y. p. 163, 1910. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



