COISrVICT LABOR FOR ROAD WORK. 165 



that these should be served regularly and in suitable amounts. With- 

 out their use the diet will become one-sided, and the consequences 

 previously mentioned in connection with insufficient protein will 

 follow. 



In all southern convict camps it is the endeavor to serve fresh 

 meat, usually beef, either once or twice a week. This forms a very 

 valuable addition to the diet in the way of protein food, and is a 

 pleasing variation from the regular bill of fare. The proportion of 

 fresh meat used is, of course, very small as compared with the amount 

 furnished in the diets of the eastern and western camps. It is 

 estimated that in the average diet in the southern camps beans and 

 peas furnished about 22 per cent of the total proteins and 8 per cent 

 of the total energy, while in the ordinary diet of the free working 

 man beans and peas form from 3 to 4 per cent of the total proteins 

 and 1 per cent of the total energy, the difference being made up 

 largely of the higher priced animal protein of fresh meat. 



It is well known that the protein constituents of fresh meat and 

 fish are more like the human body in composition, and so are more 

 thoroughly digested and assimulated than the protein of peas and 

 beans, and a common experience after eating these latter foods in any 

 quantity is the occurrence in the intestines of what is known as 

 flatulence or gas. Convicts at hard labor on the roads, however, 

 seem to experience little difficulty in digesting these foods and in 

 assimilating a high percentage of their proteins. The fact that peas 

 and beans are furnished as a regular part of the ration, and in com- 

 bination with such other foods as salt pork, bread, vegetables, salt 

 fish, molasses, and coffee is important, because it probably makes 

 their digestion and assimilation more thorough. At most convict 

 camps the ration of dry peas or beans seldom exceeds 4 ounces. 

 This is an amount which experience has shown to be reasonable in the 

 diet of a man at hard labor, but it is doubtful if the quantity should 

 be exceeded except under extraordinary circumstances. 



That the food provided is satisfactory in general is best shown by 

 the testimony and state of nutrition of the convicts themselves. 

 They do not complain of the food, although perfectly free to find 

 fault with other conditions. Save an occasional longing for a lemon, 

 a pickle, a piece of cake, or some ice cream, they have no suggestions 

 to offer in regard to the diet, and express themselves as being well 

 satisfied. 



Negro convicts at work on the roads were serving sentences of from 

 10 days to life, and although the majority were perhaps short-term 

 men, a number of prisoners who had lived in the camps for periods 

 of from one to s(!Von years came und(!r obs(^rvation. These men were 

 almost invariably well nourished and in good condition as far as the 



