4
The next paper to which we wish to refer is Surgeon-Major T. B. Lewis's Memo-
randum * on the Dietaries of Labouring Prisoners in Indian Jails. This is a most
important and comprehensive discussion of the whole subject of Indian jail diet-
aries. Dr.Lewis evidently clearly foresaw the importance of the absorbability of
a diet, for in discussing the nutritive value of the diet scales of labouring prisoners
he says: " There are practical difficulties in deciding the equivalent values of these
various food-stuffs, not only because the chemical analyses which have been made
of many of them are not so complete as desirable, but there is also a want of definite
knowledge as to their exact position as true aliments based on their adaptability for
being assimilated."
This valuable memorandum traces the history of the different scales of diet for
Indian prisons and gives their values in the principal alimentary constituents.
Thus the Government of Bengal in 1860 adopted certain scales on the recom-
mendation of Dr. Mouat. The interesting point regarding these diets for labouring
and under-trial prisoners is that animal food was included. These diets appear to
have been in force in Lower Bengal for eighteen years. Their chief constituents
are worth recording :—
| Rice | 20.5 | ozs. | Rice | 20.5 | ozs. | ||
| Meat | 4.1 | „ | (4 days). | Fish | 4.1 | „ | (4 days). |
| Dal | 4.1 | „ | Dal | 4.1 | „ | ||
| Vegetables | 4.1 | „ | (8.2 ozs. 3 ays). | Vegetables | 4.1 | „ | (8.2 ozs. 3 days). |
Computed by Lewis to be equivalent to practically 14 grammes of nitrogen
or 87.50 grammes of protein daily.
When compared with the scales of diet which have been adapted from the
English local prison scale for men of an average weight of 110 lbs., it will be found
that the amount of nitrogen in each day's food in the scale for Bengalis is precisely
the same as is contained in the "adapted " maximum scale, 205 grains. The
amount of carbon is greater by over 800 grains.
The diet scale for natives of Behar is considerably more liberal as 10 ozs. of
wheat was substituted for 8 ozs. of rice. The chief constituents of these diets are
also of interest :—
| Rice | 12.3 | ozs. | Rice | 12.3 | ozs. | ||
| Wheat Ata | 10.2 | „ | Wheat Ata | 10.2 | „ | ||
| Meat | 4.1 | „ | (4 days). | Fish | 4.1 | „ | (4 days). |
| Pulse (Dal) | 2.0 | „ | (4 days). | Pulse (Dal) | 2.0 | „ | (4 days). |
| 6.1 | „ | (3 days). | 6.1 | „ | (3 days). | ||
| Vegetables | 4.1 | „ | Vegetables | 4.1 | „ |
Computed by Lewis to be equivalent to 16.80 grammes of nitrogen or 105
grammes of protein daily.
*loc-cit.