CVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP AGRICULTURE. 



results of the nutrition investigations of this Department were explained 

 to a considerable number of teachers of domestic science from dif- 

 ferent regions, and others who have engaged to a greater or less extent 

 in the teaching of nutrition, bacteriology, and kindred subjects in the 

 agricultural colleges and other institutions. 



As stated in my previous report, it is verv desirable to extend the 

 nutrition investigations through a systematic stud}^ of dietaries in pub- 

 lic institutions. Plans for beginning this work have already been made 

 and considerable material, including summaries of results of early 

 investigations, has been collected. Through an arrangement with Dr. 

 A. B. Richardson, superintendent of the Government Hospital for 

 the Insane in the District of Columbia, dietar}' studies will be made in 

 that institution during the current j^ear in accordance with plans fur- 

 nished b}" this Office. 



In early times the idea was prevalent that the diet of prisoners and 

 other delinquent classes should be so poor and inadequate that it con- 

 stituted a punitive measure. This is now recognized as wrong, and 

 most civilized nations endeavor to feed such persons adequately. The 

 food requirements obviously vary with the amount of work performed, 

 and in most cases it is essential that the cost of the food be moderate. 

 Food investigations are required in prisons and other institutions in 

 order that satisfactory dietary standards may be formulated, and also 

 to compare the rations actually fed with proposed standards. The im- 

 portance of such studies has been often recognized in the past; for 

 instance, under the authority of the institutions"' commissioner in 

 Boston, Mass., dietary investigations were carried on in a number of 

 reformatories, etc., in that city. Studies have also been made at the 

 reformatory at Elmira, N. Y., some of which had the special object 

 of determining whether it was possible to favorabl}^ affect the moral 

 welfare of inmates through their diet. 



Under special government autliorit}" the diet in Scotch prisons has 

 been recently studied, and mention ma}' also be made of recent work 

 of a similar nature in Berlin. In many cases it has been found that it 

 is possible to furnish a more satisf actor}" diet and at the same time 

 diminish the cost. 



Nutrition investigations have also been made in almshouses, orphan 

 asylums, and similar charitable institutions in times past in this and 

 other countries — Germany having taken the lead. The importance of 

 providing a proper diet for inmates of such institutions has received 

 government recognition in Great Britain, and investigations bearing 

 on the subject have been undertaken there. An adequate diet should 

 unquestionably be supplied to all who are dependent on charity of this 

 sort. The numerous studies which have been made show that with 

 proper care good food may be provided at a reasonable cost. While 

 the diet in many institutions is undoubtedly satisfactory as regards 



