157

SECTION 5.

( i ) Relative value of Burma and Country rice.

     This subject will be found referred to in the work recorded on prisoners in the
Presidency jail, Calcutta, and Buxar jail.

     In the Presidency jail, Calcutta, where the prisoners have been getting Burma
rice only from the time of their incarceration, the protein absorption from the
different diets containing Burma rice was on the average higher than that observed
in Puri jail, where locally grown rice was always in use.

     Further, on placing two batches of prisoners in the Presidency jail on abso-
lutely similar diets, but replacing the Burma by country rice, there was a distinct
fall in the actual amount of protein absorbed from the diet. Thus a batch of 10
healthy Bengali prisoners on a diet of Burma rice, mixed massur and arhar dal and
vegetables, gave an average nitrogenous metabolism of 7.60 grms., while the same
prisoners under exactly the same conditions, save that country rice replaced the
Burma rice, showed a fall in nitrogenous metabolism to just 7.00 grms.

     This would appear to mean that the protein of Burma rice is more easily ab-
sorbed than that of country rice—at least in those who are accustomed to its use.

     On the other hand, we have given evidence that in Behar jails the country
product is accompanied by the better protein absorption—see comparative Charts
IX and XIII. There were other factors, however, to be taken into consideration,
so that the difference in the rice may not be the whole explanation of the better
absorption from diets containing country rice.

     We are inclined to believe that to those accustomed to it, the Burma variety
is distinctly superior to the country rice as placed on the market. We think that
a good. deal of the inferiority of country rice is due to its very dirty condition, and to
bad cleaning. There is no doubt, however, that the prisoners prefer the home-
grown product, ard, as we have seen, this is an asset not altogether to be neglected.

     That Burma rice, when properly treated, is just as likely to maintain
the prisoners in health as is the Indian variety, is shown by the health returns of
prisoners in the Presidency jail, Calcutta, where nothing but Burma rice has been
used for the past three years. From our results as to its relative nutritive
value we have no hesitation in recommending the more extensive use of Burma
rice in Bengal and Behar jails.

(ii) The relative value of the different dals.

     We have practically nothing to add to what will be found under the work re-
corded in Tables II, III and XIII. Given in what we have called the optimum.