THE FOOD QUESTION. 95 



since food is one-half tlie price of life, it follows that three-tenths 

 of the entire price of life for ninet}^ per cent ol the population of 

 the United States is expended for animal products, provided peo- 

 ple on the average live as well as the factory operatives of New 

 England and the Middle States. I do not suppose that they do 

 live as well ; but we may say, I think with certainty, that by so 

 much as they eat less or poorer food they are inadequately served. 



This is not a high standard, — far from it ; but all observation 

 sustains Professor Atwater's scieutiflc analysis. It consists too 

 much of meat, and too much of fat. It is not a scientific ration. 

 A scientific ration quite as nutritious, quite as varied, and much 

 more wholesome can be purchased for from one-half to two-thirds 

 the money. The women in the Sherborn Prison are well nourished 

 at about one-half the expense which I have given, to wit : at about 

 thirteen cents a day ; and notwithstanding their customary bad 

 condition when sent to prison, and though remaining for terms 

 too short to admit of putting them in a condition of complete 

 health, they yet gain both in weight and strength, almost in- 

 variably. 



Computing b}" this standard of the factory operatives of New 

 England and the United States, we reach results in millions, that 

 are somewhat astounding. If each person in the present popula- 

 tion of the United States (counting two children of ten years or 

 under as one adult) is served in this proportion, the meat and fish 

 ration eaten b^- them costs each year . . $1,825,000,000 



The milk, J)utter, and cheese, at the rate of • 



one-half to two-thirds of a pint of milk per 

 day, one to one and one-fourth ounces of but- 

 ter, and a scrap of cheese, cost, at average 

 retail prices $912,500,000 



The eggs, at one for every other day, at 

 twelve cts. per dozen, amount per year to 

 over $91,000,000 



$2,828,500,000 

 Vegetable food, tea, coffee, etc., 1,825,000,000 



$4,653,500,000* 



*At the average of the ration of the working people of Massachusetts, 



