NUTRITION INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE INSANE. 507 



grams of protein, lOi grains of fat, 4:QG grams of carl^ohydrates, and 

 3,800 calories of euergy per mau per da}'. Considering patients and 

 emplo3^ees together, the average for the total number included in 

 these studies was 97 grams of protein, 112 grams of fat, 377 grams of 

 car])oh3'drates, and 2,870 calories of energy per man per day. This 

 food consumption is large for people with the average muscular 

 activity of the hospital population. 



Whether these figures would represent the diet for the whole insti- 

 tution it is impossible to state with certaintj', because there were 

 several wards in which studies were not made; but, from a superfi<!ial 

 observation of the patients and emplo3'ees in these wards, it was 

 believed that in respect to their phj'siological needs or actual food 

 consumption they did not diti'er materially from those included in the 

 studies. Since the number of persons included in the studies was 

 rather more than half of the total population of the hospital and rep- 

 resented most or all of the different classes of patients and employees, 

 it is pro))able that the average of the results obtained gives a fair 

 indication of the conditions for the whole institution. A comparison 

 of these results with those obtained in other institutions and with 

 conmionlv accepted dietar}?^ standards indicates that the ]:)atients and 

 employees at St. Elizabeths were certainly receiving adequate nour- 

 ishment. In the extended series of investigations just mentioned as 

 carried on in the New York State hospitals for the insane there was 

 every indication that the population was abundantly fed; it was found 

 that the food eaten averaged 73 grams of protein, 76 grams of fat, 

 317 grams of carbohj'drates, and 2,305 calories of energy per man per 

 day. The per capita ration allowance, to include both the food eaten 

 and a loss of 15 per cent from shrinkage and waste, proposed on the 

 basis of the results of these studies and the standard for food require- 

 ments of persons in health, was 100 grams of protein and 2,050 calories 

 of energv. It is noticeal)lc that the observed food consumption alone 

 at St. Elizabeths was ver}- nearly as large as this. 



It would hardly seem that the requirements of the patients in this 

 institution are larger than thoseof menatordinarysedentarj^ occupation, 

 since the majority of them had no active employment. A commonly 

 accepted dietar}^ standard in this case calls for 100 grams of protein 

 and 2,700 calories of energy. As shown ly the figures given above, 

 the food consumption of the patients was near enough to this to 

 warrant the assumption that it was sufficient to meet their bodily 

 needs. 



The employees included in the studies comprised olticers, clerks, 

 ward and dining loom attendants, waiters, and house girls. In 

 respect to food re(iuirements these ma}' perhaps be compared with 

 men at light to moderate muscular work, in which case a common 

 dietary stiuidard calls for 112 grams of protein and 3,040 ciilories of 



