Beriberi.

  • Vedder, Edward B. (Edward Bright), 1878-
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Beriberi. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    346/464 (page 322)
    rice. JUit if the people turned to imported overmilled rice they would find it had been taxed in the country where it was produced and was therefore no cheaper. This would result in the desired end. The poor people of all countries, who are the ones that chiefly suffer from beriberi, would find the price of the overmilled rice beyond their reach and would be unable to buy it. The mills would be compelled to fur- nish the kind of rice that the mass of the people could buy, and trade would not be disturbed but would go on as before, except that all the rice of trade would be underniilled instead of overmilled.* But it must be emphasized that such a tax to be successful must be such as to make overmilled rice prohibitive in price to the poorer people. In other words, the tax will not be actually collected and it is not intended that it should be. It will raise no revenue. If it were collected and revenue were thereby raised it would simply indicate that the people were purchasing the same overmilled rice at a higher price than before. This would not improve sanitary conditions, but would constitute a heavy tax upon the main staple of food. The effect of such a law on the millers of rice should also be con- sidered. Many in this business would at first oppose such a law because they would fear the disturbance of their business. However, the law would not in any way affect the volume of their trade. A certain quantity of rice is grown and it must be milled, that is husked, cleaned, picked over and separated into grades. It would simply mean that the milling process would not be carried so far. Xo changes in machinery would therefore be required, and no change in method except that the milling process would not be carried so far. It seems, therefore, that such a law would not affect the millers adversely. It is difficult to see how trade would be disturbed provided this tax were imposed by all countries using or producing rice at the same time. There is one more jDoint that must be considered, namely, the adop- tion of a standard by which it can be determined whether a rice should be classed as overmilled or undermilled. For most purposes this can be determined readily on sim])le inspection by anyone who is familiar with the two varieties of rice, or by staining the rice with iodine, ac- cording to the method described in Chapter A'. P)Ut when it becomes a question of imposing a tax on a given rice it is apparent that a fixed * .\ very snial] (|uaiitity of highly milled rice may .still be produced for l'Zuroi)eans or those natives who prefer this variety and are able to pay the price. These people who can afford this luxury will also be able to afford a varied diet, and would not have beriberi in any case. Provision should be made in the law to exempt from tax tlu' overmilled rice produced for consumption in Europe and North .-Nmcrica. since there is pr.ictically no beriberi in those countries.