European standards on height, weight, centres of ossification and date of onset of puberty are not applicable to Asiatic girls in Malaya. " Asiatics " could not be grouped together, racial groups showed differences, especially the three main groups-Chinese, Indians and Malays. Nine tables are furnished showing the average and maximum and minimum heights and weights of the four main groups examined, as well as of some of the minor groups, arranged according to ages from 5 years to 19 years. The conclusion is drawn that the European standard of height and weight is higher than that of any of the Asiatic races in Malaya; a greater difference is noted in the weight than in the height and there is a much greater range in the weight of Asiatics but a smaller range in the height. Onset of menstruation tended to be earlier in the local Asiatic groups than in Europeans. The date of eruption of permanent teeth appeared to be earlier among Asiatic races. No deciduous teeth were found at the age of 12-13 years, the lower second molar was seen in all those examined at that age and the whole lower set was present, excluding the third molar. Earlier efuption of the canine teeth was also noticeable. Details should be consulted in the original by all those interested in medico legal work in tropical countries. P. A. Clearkin.
1. Using ordinary clinical thermometers resting oral temperatures were taken in 4,463 schoolgirls between the ages of 6 and 20 years. 2. From 2,500 readings in clinically healthy and apyrexial girls charts were made to show temperature variations. 3. It was demonstrated that in the age group 6-10 the mean temperature was 99.5 F. That in the age group 10-14 the mean temperature was 99.3 F and in the age group 14-20 the mean temperature was 99.1 F. 4. For all age groups the majority fell within the limit of 98.9 – 100 F. 5. It is not uncommon to encounter a temperature of over 100º and up to 100.8º of no pathological significance. 6. Temperature readings are not a reliable guide in the clinical assessment of children unless the above considerations are borne in mind.
(1) The use of the thiochrome method for the estimation of thiamine in human milk is discussed, with special reference to the possible production of an artefact, following the incubation of the milk with pepsin, in addition to the use of takadiastase (clarase). No evidence could be found to suggest that an artefact resembling thiamine was produced by the method of analysis described.
(2) The thiamine content of 91 samples of full lactation human milk from apparently "normal" Malay, Chinese and Indian women in Malaya is recorded. The mean milk thiamine level of 11.3 ug/100 ml. found is considerably lower than the levels recorded for milk samples from apparently "normal " women in the United Kingdom and the U.S.A.; and slightly lower than that recorded in Australia. The results suggest that the dietary
intake of thiamine in Malaya is inadequate to maintain optimum thiamine levels in the milk of lactating women.
(3) No significant difference was found in the mean thiamine content of milk from women of the three principal racial groups in Malaya ; nor was any significant difference found to be associated with the parity or age of the women or, in the case of full lactation milks, with the time after parturition at which the sample was collected. No significant difference was found in samples collected from the same woman at different times of the day or before and after a main meal.
(4) Marked differences were found in the thiamine content of samples of milk from individual women, and the possible reasons for this are discussed.
(5) The examfnation of 48 samples of milk collected during the first month after parturition confirmed previous recorded observations that the thiamine content of such milks, initially low, gradually increases to reach "normal" levels towards the end of the first month of lactation.
(1) The effect has been studied of the oral administration of supplementary thiamine on the thiamine content of milk from sixteen women, whose initial thiamine content was low ; and of the parenteral administration of thiamine to ten women, some of whom initially showed mild, clinical symptoms of beriberi.
(2) The response in the milk content of thiamine to supplementary thiamine, administered either orally or by injection, showed marked variation in different women. While comparatively small doses taken by mouth evoked a marked response in some women, fairly large doses administered by injection failed to produce much response in others.
(3) In some women, a marked increase in the thiamine content of their milk occurred soon after the administration of thiamine, either orally or parenterally. In others, the response was slow and meagre.
(4) The highest thiamine level obtained in a sample of milk was 38.9 ug./100 ml., after the injection, twice daily, of 20 mg. thiamine for six days — a total intake of 240 mg. of thiamine parenterally. The initial milk thiamine level in this case was 2.3 ug./100 ml., but had increased to 16.2ug./100 ml., by the supply of a good diet alone, before the course of injections was commenced.
(5) It would appear, that, in cases where the thiamine content of the milk is low, initial parenteral administration of thiamine must be supplemented by a continued intake of additional thiamine, if a satisfactory level of thiamine in the milk is to be maintained.