1917-18.] A Further Study of Labouring Class Dietaries. 43 
owing to the father’s ill health, it was in great straits during the recent 
study. In family M. 112, as the mother was earning 21s. weekly, and the 
father was at sea, the income was more certain, and the diet shows an 
increase in energy value. 
In N. 150 a rise of wages had been accompanied by a fall in the energy 
value of the diet, but this may be apparent rather than real, as at the 
recent study the children aged 2 A and 1 \ years were taken as equivalent 
to ‘4 and '3 of a man respectively, while in February the older, being just 
over two years, was taken as equal to '3 of a man, and no allowance was made 
for the younger, as it was breast-fed. The total number of Calories con- 
sumed by this family throughout the week was slightly greater than it 
was during the earlier studies. In a small family such as this, a slight 
difference in the allowance made for any of the children will, of course, 
have a greater influence on the result of the study than in a larger family. 
This was one of the reasons why families with a large number of children 
were chosen. 
The most marked improvement in income took place in M. 65, and 
Table I shows that here the greatest change in the value of the diet has 
taken place. This change is chiefly due to an increased consumption of 
bread (see Table II). When the father enlisted as a motor driver the 
separation allowances, increased by a proportion of the man’s former income 
given by the Glasgow Corporation, amounted to 7 Is. This increase was 
not immediately accompanied by a great increase in food consumption. 
Probably for a time the additional income was devoted to paying debts 
or purchasing furniture and clothing. A further increase of allowances 
and the earnings of the eldest girl brought the weekly income up 
to 90s. The improvement in the appearance of this family is remark- 
able. All are much stronger, and the four youngest, who were rickety, 
have learnt to walk. The mother took the whole family to the coast 
in summer. 
The other unusually generous diet is that of N. 31. The figures relating 
to this family show very clearly the dependence of the food purchased on 
income and prices. At the first study (in 1915 before the excessive rise 
in the price of food) the weekly income was 36s., and the energy value of 
the diet 4174 Calories per man per day. In February, while the father 
was still at home, and had had practically no advance in wages, it was only 
3112 Calories per man per day, an amount which the mother said did not 
satisfy the children, although she was spending as much on food as she 
could possibly afford. The father is now in the army, thus reducing 
the requirements of the family and giving an allowance of 36s., and the 
