?37
"No. 16 OF 1883-84.
Chemical Analyser's Office,
Bombay, 5th April 1883.
FROM
THE CHEMICAL ANALYSER TO GOVERNMENT;
To
DEPUTY SURGEON GENERAL HEWLETT,
ON SPECIAL DUTY,
Bombay.
SIR,
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 263 of 26th ultimo with enclosure from Staff Surgeon, Ridout, R. N., herewith enclosed, and beg to forward the following
statements showing the nutritive values of the various articles of diet supplied to the British
soldier in India and to the men of the Royal Navy serving in the East Indian station :-
2. DIET OF THE BRITISH SOLDIER IN INDIA.
Nutritive Value in Ounces Avoirdupois and in 10ths of Ounces.
Articles.
Daily
quantity.
Water.
Nitrogenous Substances.
Fat.
Carbohydrates.
Salts.
Meat (1/5th bone)
12 Oz.
9·60
1·91
1·07

·210
Bread 
16 “ 
6·50
1·18
·24
7·87
·208
Potatoes
12 “ 
8·88
·18
·01
2·81
·015
Onions (as mixed vegetables)
4 “ 
 3·64
·08
·02
·23
·025
A. Rice
4 “ 
·42
·02
·03
3·33
·020
B. Flour
4 “ 
·60
·44
·08
2·81
·068
Tea
5/7 “ 





Sugar
2 1/2” 
·08


2·40
·019
Salt
2/8 “ 




·666
Total quantity A
55·88
29·12
3·55
1·37
16·64
1·164
 “ “ B
55·88
29·30
3·79
1·32
16·12
1·212

Total Nitrogen in the foregoing diets 
 
 A 244·95 grains.

 B 261·51 " 
Total Salts 
A 511·0 "

B 530·21 "
Carbon in Albuminates 
A 827·15 "

B 883·07 "
" Fats
A 473·47 "

B 456·19 "
" Starches
A 3,231·49 "

B 3,130·50 "
Total Carbon in 
A 4,532·11 "

B 4,469·76 "
Remarks.-In the above statement two values of the diet are indicated, in A the value
when rice is taken, in B when flour is taken as part of the diet. In both the total nitrogen is
deficient and is below the quantity in the standard average diet of a European which contains about 316.5 grains. Carbon is also below the average standard (4,862 grains). The
proportion of carbon is too large for the nitrogen. Fat is very deficient, and all the carbon
mostly is yielded by the carbo-hydrates and not by the fat. Diet would be improved by
the addition of a small quantity of oil or butter with peas or beans. Accessory foods are
deficient. Vinegar has been strongly recommended as an addition. The salts in the diet
are sufficient. Greater variety is required for perfect health so as to suit the peculiarities in
taste of the men. In India the diet is probably insufficient for even light labour and is altogether insufficient for soldiers undergoing severe exertion in the field.
BRITISH SAILOR ON EAST INDIAN STATION-DIET IN HARBOUR.
Nutritive Value in Ounces Avoirdupois and in 10ths of Ounces.
Articles.
Daily
quantity.
Water.
Nitrogenous
Substances.
Fat.
Carbohydrates.
Salts.
Fresh meat (1/5th bone)
16 Ozs.
9·60
1·91
1·07

·210
Vegetables
8 "
7·28
·16
·04
·46
·050
Soft Bread
20 "
8·00 
1·60
0·30
9·84
·260
Sugar
2 "
0·06


1·93
·010
Total quantity 
46 Ozs.
24·94
3·67
1·41
12·23
·531

Total Nitrogen 
252·23 grains.
" Salts 
231·875"
Carbon in Albuminates 
 855·11 "
" Fat 
 487·29 "
" Carbo-hydrates 
 2,375·06 "
Total Carbon 
 3,717·46 "
B 357-10