The Starch Equivalent Theory

Abstract

The account given by Wood and Yule of their investigation of the records of British Feeding Trials and the Starch Equivalent Theory in part 2 vol. VI of this Journal is a valuable and timely paper. It contains abundant material for reflection. Consideration of the data suggests that there is room for doubt in regard to the conclusions for which a claim to “certainty” has been advanced. It is not, however, the immediate purpose of this article to discuss these conclusions—though incidentally certain points in the investigation come under review—but rather to discern, as far as possible, the direction in which the methods and arguments employed lead, and more particularly what is their bearing on the starch equivalent theory as a practical system.