Medicine - Institutions > Army health reports and medical documents > Scientific memoirs by officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the Government of India > Number 37 - Investigations on Bengal jail dietaries > Part I > Chapter III - Report on six months' use of special diets in Puri Jail
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weight is quite up to the average even when the total bulk of the jail diet is
considerably diminished by a decrease of 8 ozs. in the amount of rice, 2 ozs. in
the amount of dal—but when 4 ozs. of fish is added to the daily ration. This is
strong evidence that the new diet is sufficient and meets all the physiological re-
quirements of the body. We know that the level of nitrogenous exchanges is
very greatly raised, the excessive carbohydrate element largely curtailed and the
percentage of nitrogenous residue in the bowel much decreased by the substitu-
tion of a diet of this type for that laid down in the Jail Code; the whole ten-
dency of the recent researches on metabolism is to show that these are the ends
to be aimed at in the framing of diet scales which are based on proper physio-
logical and rational principles.
Class B.
Wheat Ata Diet.
(i). Total prisoners on this diet for a period up to one month=240.
| Of | these | 138 | increased | in | weight | by | an | average | of | 2.6 lbs. |
| " | " | 55 | decreased | " | " | " | " | " | " | 1.9 lbs. |
| " | " | 47 | remained stationary. | |||||||
| =57 per cent. gained in body-weight. | ||||||||||
(ii). Total prisoners on this diet for a period up to two months= 99.
| Of | these | 60 | increased | in | weight | by | an | average | of | 4.2 lbs. |
| " | " | 22 | decreased | " | " | " | " | " | " | 2.0 lbs. |
| " | " | 17 | remained stationary. | |||||||
| = 60 per cent. gained in body-weight. | ||||||||||
(iii). Total prisoners on this diet for a period exceeding two months=25.
| Of | these | 16 | increased | in | body- | weight | by | an | average | of | 4.8 lbs. |
| " | " | 5 | decreased | " | " | " | " | " | " | " | 2.6 lbs. |
| " | " | 4 | remained stationary. | ||||||||
| = 64 per cent. gained in body-weight. | |||||||||||
These results show that with a diet in which 4 ozs. of wheat ata replaces 8 ozs.
of rice and 2 ozs. of dal of the ordinary jail diet, the percentage of prisoners who
gain in body-weight is actually higher than is found to be the case on the jail diet.
Summary.—We may conclude from the evidence obtained from the Puri
experiment that a diminution in the bulk of the present type of diet is
urgently called for, and that by the substitution of a more assimilable form of
protein in the form of fish or wheat ata for the excess of rice and dal, the general
well-being and physical condition of the prisoners will be increased and placed
on a higher level. The results also show that a change in the dietary, such
as we have suggested, can be quite simply and easily carried out, and that, in
a very short time, the early feeling of emptiness complained of passes away,
the dilatation of the stomach so commonly met with in a rice-eating people
becoming distinctly diminished.
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| Description | With some observations on the influence of dietary on the physical development and well-being of the people of Bengal by D. McCay. |
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| Shelfmark | IP/QB.10 |
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| Description | 61 volume new series covers bacteriological research work from 1902-1913 by Indian Medical Service staff. Laboratory experiments are recorded in detail. Many are accompanied by illustrations showing microscopic views and features of plant and animal matter. (Calcutta : Supt. of Govt. Print., India, 1885-1901.) |
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| Shelfmark | IP/QB.10 |
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| Description | 12 titles describe the health and sanitary conditions of the army in India. Lists British, European and Indian troops plus families of military personnel. 3 volumes of army regulations included. 73 volumes make up the Scientific Memoirs series, a journal by Indian Medical Service staff. |
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| Description | The Institutions collection consists of 106 volumes from British India, dating from the 1860's to the 1940's. Divided into reports on medical institutions, army health, and lock hospitals. Education of indigenous medical students and maintenance of troop health shown in annual reports and statistical tables. |
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| Description | The India Papers collection contains publications of the central (Imperial) Government and many Indian states. Most states came under British rule. Much of the collection dates from between the post-Mutiny re-organisation of the Indian Government and Indian Independence in 1947. Some items published in London by John Murray. |
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