Deficiency of which causes Beri-heri in Man. 



51 



roUer-mill, and may be regarded as free from germ. Birds receiving a ration 

 of 3 grm. every second day developed polyneuritis in the same time as those 

 upon an exclusive polished rice diet ; with 5 grm. every second day the onset 

 of symptoms was postponed for about two weeks. If the results of Table III 

 be compared with Table II one may regard the anti-neuritic value of 5 grm. 

 of broad bran as equivalent to 1'5 grm. germ. 



On general grounds it would seem not unlikely that what value the bran 

 possesses must be attributed to the aleurone-layer, which forms only a 

 small proportion of the whole. Hamill (1911) states that the aleurone-layer 

 forms about 4 per cent, of the grain and the pericarp about 15 per cent. He 

 gives no authority for these figures, and it is difficult to see that they can 

 be other than approximate. On this basis, the aleurone-layer would con- 

 stitute about one-fifth of the bran, and, weight for weight, be about equal to 

 the embryo as regards vitamine-content. 



It is interesting to note the greater anti-neuritic power of the broad 

 bran derived from stone-milled wheat (see Sample A, Table III). In 

 this case no separation of the germ is effected in the milling, and each con- 

 stituent issuing from the mill contains some of it. 



Table IV.— Influence of a Diet of " Straight Eun " White Wheat Flour in 

 Comparison with a Diet of Polished Eice. Sample of Flour " E.I.," 

 roller milled, free from germ and bran, from same wheat as Germ E.I. 

 and Broad Bran E.I. 



White 



iloUT 



ration, 

 daily. 



Polished 

 rice ration, 

 daily. 



No. 



of 

 bii-d. 



Time elapsing 

 before onset of 

 polyneuritis. 



Weight of bird. 

 Original. Final. 



Change in weight 

 during period of 

 experiment. 











mean, 









mean. 



grm. 



grm. 





days. 



days. 



grm. 



grm. 



per cent. 



per cent. 







About 40 



256 



15 





416 



387 



- 7 









257 



32 





450 



345 



-23 









258 



18 





455 



370 



-19 









259 



14 





449 



372 



-17 









262 



30 



22 



507 



365 



-28 



-19 



20-30 







260 



16 





506 



465 



- 8 









261 



28 





515 



402 



-22 









263 



13 



19 



485 



435 



-10 



-13 



Wlieat Endosperm. — In Table IV are given the results on pigeons of an 

 exclusive diet of " straight run " white flour, or starchy wheat endosperm 

 (after removal of the aleurone-layer), the sample employed, viz., E.I., 

 corresponding to bran E.I. (Table III) and germ E.I. (Table II). The birds 

 received 20-30 grm. daily, made into pills after mixing with a minimal 



