Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
THE CITY DlET|ClAh
New York Has a Woman Ex-
pert Official.
RULES THE KITCHENS
ORDERS WHAT THE SICK AND
POOR SHALL EAT.
Has Established New Dietaries in the
Municipal Hospital and
Infrmary.
RULES THE KITCHENS

Written for The Evening Star.
One of the most interesting young wo-
men in the working world of the American
metropolis is Miss Florence Corbett, dieti-
clan, whom Homer Folk. the commissioner
of public charities. has recently appointed
to rule over the department kitchens. Her
position does not conflict. as might be sup
posed. with that of the housekeeper or
stewards in the city institutions Though
she has general supervision of these de-
partments, the greater part of her time
is devoted to the question of cooking and
serving the food.
Miss Corbett is a remarkably pretty
young woman in the twenties. Her voice
is soft and low yet decisive and indicates
that. in spite of her girlishness and pro-
nounced femininity, she is well qualified to
conduct her branch of the department.
Seen at headquarters. where she has her
desk in the office of the deputy commits
sioner she looks attractive and business
like. gowned in a walking skirt or Drown
cloth and a smart white pique shirt waist.
A native of Manhattan. Kansas. and
graduate of the State Agricultural college
there. Miss Corbett came to her present
position through the natural turning or the
wheel of evolution. 1t was early her 1nten-
ton to be a detieian. and to this end she
made domestic science her special course
during her college days. AT the Kansas
college domestic science became an I'M
portant branch through Mrs. kedzie-noW
Mrs. Kedzie-Jones-who was the first teach,
er in that science in the west ana Is Wen
known throughout the country.
Botany for time threatened TO sWerVe
Miss Corbett from her chosen line. She
became proficient in making botancal
drawings. So valued were these thought 10
be that her botany instructor urged her 10
make that line of science her profession
and even went SO far as to apply TO the
Smithsonian Institution In washington 1or
a position for her. But domestic science
won the day. Through the influence OF
Mrs. Hudson Campbell. well known TN the
work Miss Corbett was transplanted TO the
Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn where she
took the two years course in six months
Has Had Experience.
While at the Pratt Institute week be-
fore commencement the charge OF the
dietary department of the Elizabeth, N.
J.. General Hospital was offered Miss Cor
bett, and she was permitted to leave TO
accept it. This position she later resigned
for one with the Kings County Hospital
and Almshouse. which are part of New
York's institutions.
DIR. Duryea, then, superintendent of the
Kings County Hospital. thought there was
a need of her line of work IN all the CITY
institutions and used his influence with the
civil service commissioners to have her
appointed under the title OF charity Gle.
tician They sanctioned the appointment
but not the title, evidently Supposfng the
new officer to- be nothing but a combina-
ton of housekeeperS and cook. At the end
of six months Miss Corbett proved her
practical value on lines so thoroughly scien-
tiflc that her right to a distinctive once
was recognized and the title OF dieticfan
was created for her.
Commissioner Folk who looks after the
welfare of Father Knickerbockers charity
1>Az al hA 20 TO h
fish a dietary in the institutions under his
control that will meet the physiological re-
quirements as now understood by the best
modern teaching on that subject-a dietary
that will give sufficient variety OF food
and the proper amount of each kind OF
foods. In speaking of his object in bring
ing Miss Corbett into the department he
said: ~
Looking for Food Values.
Zone of my principal reasons for appoint
ing dietician was that was confident we
could get a good deal better diet for the
money we were spending by purchasing ma
terials which. on account 'of conditions at
a given time might be cheaper than others
and of equal food value. Miss Corbett has
undertaken a general oversight over the
question of preparing food at the different
institutions, and seeing that 1t is served
hot whenever possible.
"She began by going through each In
stitution and carefully studying the whole
question of food from the time 1t Is ordered
of her Investigations and suggestions we
have taken the initial steps In the way Of
reform by establishing new dietaries at the
City Hospital and the tuberculosis Infirm-
airy on Blackwell's Island.
Eventually these improvements will
cover all the institutions in our department
and a dietary will be arranged for the
employees as we'll as the patients There
has never been any dietary for employees
and one is greatly needed, but necessarily
the patients must be our first care.
Miss Corbett has thoroughly studied the
whole question and shall leave her quite
free to work out the problems Of her de-
partment in her own way
Three Diets Served.
To the tuberculosis Infirmary Miss Corbett
has given deep study. AS everyone knows
consumption is wasting away of the It's
sues and to give the patients proteid or
muscle building foods Is of the utmost Inn
portance in arresting the disease. The diet
list as now arranged Is as good as at a
private institution. 1t includes a regular
special light and liquid diet. The regular
diet Is a menu covering the three meals
for the seven days of the week. There are
no two meals on the list alike. To get away
from the everlasting daily stew Miss Cor
bett has made variety by roast beef, pot
roast, cornbeef and boiled mutton. Steak
is included in the special diet for bed pa
TENTS who also have more than the regular
allowance of eggs and milk.
BY this treatment it is hoped, If not to
cure, at least to arrest the disease in a
great many cases.
At the City Hospital the new dietary ar
ranged by Miss Corbett differs from the
old in materially increasing the amount
and kinds of cereal foods. 1t also increases
somewhat the amount of milk and de-
creases the gross amount of beef. Variety
in the menu is feature.
Bedtime Milk.
A decided innovation is the glass of milk
served at o'clock I'm. to every patient.
| AS they eat their supper between 4 and 5.
| bedtime refreshment is acceptable This
| is probably the only one of the dietetic
! measures Of which they are aware.
| Miss Corbett's ideal is that there shall be
established eventually at every institution
building devoted exclusively to dietary pur-
poses. This would be erected near the main
building and consist of dining rooms
kitchens, pantries and storehouses
| Under the present arrangement in many
public institutions there Is one large din
ing room for the inmates, while in others
there is a dining room for each ward In
| yariably there Is only one kitchen, which