CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PAPERS. 



51 



average fuel value was found to be 3923 calories, with a nutritive 

 ratio of proteids and carbohydrates of about 1 to 8. This showed 

 the fuel value to be high ; that is, there was too much starch and 

 sugar consumed for the class of work done. Three thousand calories, 

 as has been previously stated, is considered sufficient for those who 

 are not engaged in very active muscular work. 



It is a significant fact that in the Southern states there is a still 

 greater tendency to use too much fat, starch, and sugar, and too little 

 lean meat. According to the statement of the club steward in the 

 above, Kansas seems to have the Southern tendency. Less pork and 

 corn-meal ( substances rich in fats ) should be used, and more lean 

 beef, oatmeal, peas and beans — substances rich in proteids. 



The cost of the food in this club was 19| cents per day per capita, 

 or $1.36 per week. There were twice as many females in this club as 

 males, but it was the observation of the steward that the amount of 

 food eaten was not diminished by this fact, although authorities reckon 

 that a woman eats four-fiths as much as a man. 



Much valuable food is thrown away, even when it is purchased at a 

 high price. When we eat more than is good for us, we throw away 

 food. Cases are mentioned in ordinary domestic life in which 7.6 per 

 cent, of the food was thrown away with the kitchen waste, and as this 

 waste was taken largely from the protein and fat, it was estimated 

 that .1 of the protein and fat and .04 of the carbohydrates purchased 

 were wasted. The fact is, then, we waste a greater proportion of the 

 protein, which is the most expensive and the most needed form of 

 nutriment. 



More recently, through the courtesy of a steward of one of the 

 clubs in the University, I have been able to make another comparison 

 of food, with estimate of cost. In this club there were twenty-two 

 persons, and the records are given for sixty-five days. The following 

 is the reported value of the different kinds of food : 



