Assignment:
The Strange Case of BeriBeri"
In 1887 a strange nerve disease attacked the people in the Dutch East Indies. The disease was beriberi. Symptoms of the disease included weakness and loss of appetite, victims often died of heart failure. Scientists thought the disease might be caused by bacteria. They injected chickens with bacteria from the blood of patients with beriberi. The injected chickens become sick. However, so did a group of chickens that were not injected with bacteria.
One of the scientists, Dr. Eijkman. noticed something. Before the experiment, all the chickens had eaten whole-grain rice, but during the experiment. the chickens were fed polished rice. Dr. Eijkmaks researched this interesting case. He found that polished rice lacked thiamine. a vitamin necessary for good health.
Answer the questions and follow instructions below
1. State the Problem.
2. What was the hypothesis? Include any background information that related to the formation of this hypothesis.
3. How was the hypothesis tested? Include any methods or materials that the scientist used in the experiment.
4. Should the hypothesis be supported or rejected based on the experiment? Include the results of the experiment and any discussion you feel that is relevant to support or deny the hypothesis.
5. Conclusion: What should be the new hypothesis?