LXXXII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 

 INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NUTRITION OF MAN. 



The investigations on the food and nutrition of man during the past 

 year have included dietary studies and cooking, digestion, and metab- 

 olism experiments. They have been conducted in various parts of 

 the United States in cooperation with the experiment stations, agri- 

 cultural colleges, and universities. Seven technical bulletins, two 

 farmers' bulletins, and a Yearbook article on these investigations have 

 been published during the past year. 



The evidences of popular and scientific interest in investigations on 

 the food and diet of man continue to multiply. The results of the 

 investigations of the Department are being incorporated in other inves- 

 tigations and in scientific works on this subject, and the apparatus and 

 methods devised by our investigators are being adopted both at home 

 and abroad. Our publications are being used in unusual extent in 

 connection with the courses of instruction in domestic science in schools 

 of all grades in this and other countries, and are also much sought 

 after by women's organizations interested in the promotion of home 

 economics. 



The lines and methods of investigation of the problems of the nutri- 

 tion of man have now been so far worked out that it seems desirable 

 that some features of this work should be conducted on a larger scale 

 than hitherto, with a view to a more definite application of their results 

 to practical affairs. For example, while a considerable number of 

 dietary studies have been made, these have by no means covered the 

 variety of conditions existing in different parts of this country and 

 among people of different occupations. A more systematic and thorough 

 attempt may well be made to collect reliable data regarding the food 

 habits of our people. We need especially to study the food consump- 

 tion of our farmers and rural and urban wage-workers in different 

 regions, with special reference to their hygienic and economic require- 

 ments. Again, it is believed that the results of nutrition investigations 

 already made may be practically and beneficially applied in a wide 

 way to the feeding of man wherever a considerable number of persons 

 are to be fed on a sj^stematic plan. This applies especially to boarding 

 schools, college clubs, reformatory and penal institutions, and hospitals 

 for the insane and other dependent classes. 



A beginning has already been made in this direction, but there is still 

 room for a large amount of investigation before definite suggestions of 

 general application can be made. The importance of this subject may 

 be illustrated by reference to the hospitals for the insane in the State 

 of New York, in which the special agent in charge of our investigations 

 has already made some studies under State auspices. The annual cost 

 of the food supply to these hospitals has been over $1,000,000. The 

 investigations already made show that not only may the total cost be 





