302 



Dr. A. Rattray on the Effects of 



[Feb. 16, 



siderably. Lime-juice was given; but the 36 days of salt meat doubtless 

 added to these results; and to make the experiment thoroughly satisfactory, 

 fresh meat should alone be issued — almost an impossibility in the present 

 transition state of naval dieting. Still the event is sufficiently decisive to 

 prove the prejudicial influence of tropical climates on the physique, at all 

 ages. Of 15 officers and men subsequently tested after 17 days more 

 prolonged and direct solar exposure, but with a larger allowance of fresh 

 (preserved) meat, 1 1 had lost from 1 to 9 lbs. (average 3^), 1 being un- 

 changed, while 3 had gained. Of the latter, one was a black (and there- 

 fore in his native climate), who increased 1 lb., the other two being healthy 

 boys who gained 1 and 2 lb. respectively. This shows that the wasting 

 effect of tropical weather in the adult white is not preventible even by a 

 iudicious regimen. 



Table II. — To show the effect of Tropical Climate and Salt-meat Diet 



on the weight . 



1st weighing, October 9, 1885, at Cape York, ) OQ „ „ „ , . „ , ■ 



2nd „ November 6, 1865, at Cape York, } 2& da ^' a11 s P snfc 111 til0 tx °P 1Crf ' 



Average temperature at Sydney G0° F., at Cape York 81° F. 



Food consumed per man daily. 



lb. 02. drs. 

 Average of first week ... 2 1 7 

 last „ ... 2 2 9 



Salt meat issued on 24 day 



(with 28 lime-juice days) 

 Fresh meat issued on 4 ,, 



Age. 



Total 

 number 

 weighed. 



Number 



and 

 percentage 

 unchanged. 



Number 

 and 

 percentage 

 who gained. 



Range 



of 

 gain. 



Ave- 

 rage 

 gain. 



Number 



and 

 percentage 

 who lost. 



Range 



of 

 loss. 



Ave- 

 rage 

 loss. 



15 to 25 

 25 „ 35 

 35 „ 45 

 45 „ 55 



33 

 33 

 7 

 3 



per cent. 

 3-9-09 

 2 = 6-06 



per cent. 

 6 = 18-18 

 2= 6-06 

 1 = 14-3 



lb. 



1-10 

 1-4 



lb. 



4 



2* 

 6 



per cent. 

 24=72-73 

 29=87-87 



6=85-71 



3 = 100 



lb. 



1-10 



1- 10 



2- 12 



3- 10 



lb. 



4 

 6 

 5 



5-66 















Totals 

 and per- 

 centages. 



76 



5 = 6-58 



9 = 11-84 



> 



1-10 



3-88 



62=81-58 



1-12 



4-18 



Y 



14 = 18*42 per cent. 



Table II., the results of another northward cruise, shows how much this 

 loss of weight is increased when the diet is one of salt meat*. The season 

 being the same (S.E. monsoon), though the exposure was shorter by 80 

 days, no fewer than 81 per cent, lost to an average of 4 lbs. — this, among 

 the boys and youths, being larger than before, even though their food was 

 increased ; which proves that a diet like this, not only highly salted but 

 too nitrogenous for warm climates, adds materially to the injurious influence 

 of tropical weather at all ages. After a more prolonged stay at Cape York 

 (one year), eleven marines, fed on a mixed, fresh and salt-meat diet, had 

 lost weight to the average extent of ll^lbs. 



* i. e. The ordinary sea dietary, in which 1 lb. of salt meat, beef and pork alter- 

 nately, forms the chief part of the dinner. 



