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On all three ships Beri-Beri was present from Batavia homewards, but did not
develop seriously on the "War Tiger." On the "War Hero "the condition is said to
have been at its worst before Port Said and again just before arrival in England. On
the" War Wolf" there appears to have been a progressive incapacity amongst the crew,
which became very acute after leaving the coast of East Africa.
From amid the broken English of a "War Wolf" boatswain who on a Japanese
sailing ship had been one of the four survivors of an epidemic of Beri-Beri, it was
gathered that on a line of steamers carrying Japanese crews and sailing to England,
and utilising English food, there Avas no Beri-Beri during his three years' experience,
and that on the "War Wolf" Japanese food was considered to be the cause of the
condition.
It any weight is to be given to the striking alternative name for the wholemeal
Muji volunteered on the "War Tiger"—namely, Beri-Beri medicine—it is a
matter for congratulation that the aleurone layer in wheat comparable to that on the
Muji, and on rice before polishing, was during the War finding its natural place in
bread in Britain.
The salient points elucidated in connection with the inquiry are(l) the use of
Muji; (2) the conditions of catering under which the crews shipped. These appear
to me to be determinants of the comparative health conditions found.
In especial the catering for long voyages should not be at the indiscretion of
the crew.