The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-02-28
Scientific Dietary Regime i'm Prison.


pense account of the prison every quarter.
l do not believe that the public at large are
aware that the actual food expense for each
man here is, of necessity. but eleven cents
a day. only three and two thirds cents per
meal! The state legislature expects the
prison officials to furnish the inmates with
good, wholesome food at this ridiculous
figure: food that will enable them to do a
full days work and at the same time with
stand the rigOrs of enforced confinement
One of the first things that should be done,
is to increase the appropriation so as to al
low at least twenty cents a day for the food
supply of each man. Do we not earn this
much? But dealing with the question as it
now stands is it possible to take advantage
of the modern scientific researches and dis.
coveries in the province of food economy
and by SO doing increase the amount of nu-
triment for each man without increasing
the cost?
Some foods are what may be termed mus
Gle producers, that is. the chemical ngredi-
entS OF the food are such as a muscle re-
QuireS. Other foods are essentially fat pro-
ducers: and third general class provides
nutriment for brain and nerve. The foods
most commonly consumed contain all of
the above ingredients. but certain of them
contain SO great proportion of one kind
as to authorize the divisions as above
given. 1t is not the intention of the writer
to enter upon an exhaustive treatise of the
chemical composition OF the various foods
and their relation to the hum ali economy.
but to briefly compare the various foods
and show how little knowledge of chemistry
would be of the greatest value in feeding
large number of persons where economy is
OF so great an Importance as here.
The best food for producing muscle is
rich in the nitrates; the brain requires phOs-
pilates; and the fat producing foods con-
tain large percentage of the carbonates.
Of the first class, beans stand at the head
at 100, peas 80. cabbage and salmon at IS,
oatmeal IS. eggs and veal 70, and beef 60.
Omittlng the second class as less essential.
we find. that of the carbonates. butter
heads the list at 100, rice 80, corn and rye
70, wheat &c. oatmeal 66. peas so, beans
81. and cabbage 46. This list comprises
the most ordinary of foods. 1t is of course
necessary and advisable during this cold
weather to furnish foods rich in carbOnateS
and ntrateS. OF the latter beans head the
list, then let us have beans. l would sug-
geSt that good, hot bowl of bean soup.
with plenty of beans. would be valuable
addition to the morning meal. Other soups
could be added for the sake of variety. such
as barley, pea. rice or beef. These
soups might profitably replace the coffee
during the cold weather if the state could
not afford both. Butter is the greatest fat
producer. and will here explain that fat.
in this connection. is almost synonymous
with heat Butter. of course. is expensive:
but when we consider its chemical value in
producing heat. and its small percentage of
waste. is it not cheaper than many other
foods apparently cheaper but containing far
less heat producing material and large
percentage of waste? 1t is very plain to be
seen that the cOarser cereals are OF great val
ue also. We should have corn bread Oftener
than once a week. and graham and rye
bread should often replace the wheat. Dat
meal and cOrnmeal mush, the former boiled
the latter fried could also be wisely added
to our bill of fare. HOminy and rice, from
their great food value, should be prepared
palatably and appear regularly; In pro-
ducing food cheaply it should never be at
expense of palatableness. Sanitary science
not only teaches us to select our diet, but it
also has plain and stringent laws governing
its preparation. The palmer and coarser
the food. The more is it necessary to use
great care in its preparation that it may be
appetizing, or else you are practicing econ
Omy at a ruinOus sacrifice of health and
strength.
l have been only able to give very cur
sorry glance at this important question. but
l would suggest that a careful study of it
would be productive of much good, and
would doubtless result in radical change
i'll our diet without an increased cost. To
give substantially the same diet in midwin
ter and mid summer is manifest absurd
ty.
To my felow-prisoners l would give this
important advice: 1. The mere eating of
food cannot make muscle. The muscles
must be called into vigorous daily exercise.