156

       With fish available, if it be found economical we would suggest that 5 ozs. of
fish be given twice a week, replacing 2 ozs. of wheat or makkai ata and 1 oz. of dal.

THE SUGGESTED SCALES.
General diet. Diet on two days a week.
Burma or country rice   12 ozs. Burma or country rice 12 ozs.
Wheat ata     10 Wheat ata     8
or     or    
Makkai ata       12 Makkai ata     10
Various dal available   5 Various dal available   4
Vegetables       6 Fish       5
  Vegetable     6

       The general diet offers in round numbers:—

Protein                       93 grms.
Carbohydrate                     550
Fat                         32

which is superior in practically all its constituents to the dietary of Lower Bengal,
and, being partly made up by wheat, is very much more assimilable. The impor-
tant part, however, is that the protein absorption obtainable from this diet is a
good deal higher than that from the full Behari diet at present in force; so that less
residue remains to provide for micro-organismal growth. The carbohydrate
element is still too high for natives of a hot climate from whom hard labour is
not demanded; nevertheless, it is decidedly superior in this respect to the ordinary
jail standard. If the suggested supply of fish meets with approval it will cause a
reduction of the carbohydrate to more nearly a proper amount and, at the same
time, increase the percentage of assimilable protein very considerably.

       We need hardly say that, if it is decided to add a little animal protein to the
diet, and fish is not available, goat's flesh will do equally well. The expense of
this, however, we are afraid will be considerable, if not entirely prohibitive.

       The fish diet two days a week offers in round numbers:—

Protein                       100 grms.
Carbohydrate                     480
Fat                         30

a very superior diet, as a high percentage of its constituents is assimilable.

       Nothing now remains with regard to the work done on the nutritive value of
the dietaries of Lower Bengal and Behar jails, but to discuss a few of the questions
that have cropped up during the enquiry—these we have tabulated under Section
(5)—and to give our general conclusions.

       We shall now take up the relative value of the different forms of food-stuff
in use.