62 



DIETARY STUDY NO. 383— CHRONIC MALE PATIENTS AND 



IDIOTS. 



This stud}^ was made with 24 patients, all males, but of A^arying ages, 

 some being children and some old men. A few were fairly quiet and 

 orderly chronic patients while others were idiots or at least had very 

 little mental capacit}' . There were vei'y few disturbed patients. Five 

 of the men were classed as workers, but several others performed some 

 light work, usuall}' about the ward. 



This stud}^ was made at the same time as the two preceding and the 

 menu was the same. The total number of meals taken was 601, ec{uiv- 

 alent to 1 man for 167 days. 



The statistics of kinds and amounts of food are given in detail in 

 Table 35 of the Appendix. The quantities of nutrients and energy 

 per man per da}' in the food eaten and rejected are summarized in the 

 following table: 



Table 23. — Nutrients and energy In food eaten and wasted in dietary study No. 383. 



[Quantities per man per day.] 



The average food consumption, !>.5 grams of protein and 2,811 calories 

 of energy per man per day, in this stud}^ was practically equal to the 

 previously mentioned dietary standard for a man in health with seden- 

 tary occupation. Apparentl}' the patients were abundantly nourished, 

 though it may be that they ate no more than they needed. The quan- 

 tity of food which they rejected contained 10 per cent of the protein 

 and 11 per cent of the energy of the total food served. Large propor- 

 tions of man}' of the staple foods were returned to the kitchen during 

 this study, indicating that the amounts sent to the dining room were 

 considerably in excess of what was required. 



