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       We, therefore, get the following information from this series—

Constants. Varying amounts
of. Arhar dal.
Diet of
scheme.
Amount of
N. metabolism
per man daily.
Country rice   12 ozs. + Arhar dal   7 ozs. Diet I. 10.28 grms.
Wheat ata   10    „      „   6   „ Diet II. 10.49    „
Vegetables   6    „      „   5   „ Diet III.   9.63    „

       That is, we have evidence that an increase in the quantity of arhar dal of the
prisoners' diet scale is not accompanied by an increase—but by a diminution—in the
actual quantity of protein absorbed and assimilated from the diet . We further
learn that the quantity sanctioned for the jail diet is the amount from which the
maximum absorption takes place—that is, when combined with the quantities of
rice and wheat ata from which we obtained the maximum absorption—12 ozs. of
rice and 10 ozs. wheat ata.

       It is quite possible and highly probable that other combinations of rice, wheat
or makkai ata dal could have been obtained from which an equally good absorp-
tion of protein would have followed: as for instance one containing

14 ozs. of rice, or 14 ozs. rice,
10  „    of wheat ata 12  „    of makkai ata,
4  „    different dals, 4  „    of arhar dal,
6  „    vegetables, 6  „    of vegetables,

but, while combinations such as these are possible and worthy of investigation, we
were guided in our researches by what was observed during the dieting experiments.
As before stated, it was with difficulty that we could get 16 ozs. of Country rice eaten,
and impossible to get 16 ozs. of Burma rice consumed by prisoners. It therefore
appeared a clear indication that rice was the part of the diet in excess of
requirements, especially as there never was any difficulty in getting the 10 ozs. of
wheat ata or 6 ozs. of dal daily completely consumed. Although 12 ozs. of makkai
ata were eaten in the majority of experiments in Bhagulpur—where that amount
was given—it was always with some difficulty that we got it consumed for seven
days consecutively, and therefore increase in its amount is not practicable.

       Another point to which we may draw attention and one that affords further
evidence that the quantities of rice, wheat ata and dal, which we have suggested
are those from which the best absorption will take place, is the high co-efficient of
absorption obtained for the protein of arhar dal when Diets II and III of this table
are contrasted. Thus—

Diet II—protein absorption from constant + that from 6 ozs.
              Arhar dal gives 10.49 grms. nitrogen per man daily.
Diet III—protein absorption from constant + that from 5 ozs.
              Arhar dal gives 9.63 grms, nitrogen per man daily.