Uniformity of workhouse dietaries : report to Gathorne Hardy of Edward Smith / [Edward Smith].

  • Edward Smith
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Uniformity of workhouse dietaries : report to Gathorne Hardy of Edward Smith / [Edward Smith]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    diet, unless spice or sapid food be iron with it. There is mucli more difference in the flavour and price of different kinds of rice than in their nutritive value, and for workhouse dietaries tlie lower priced and slightly- coloured rice should be selected. In the absence of fresh vegetables rice might occasionally be eaten with meat, but the use of bread or peas would be more economical. Sa0, tapioca, and arrowroot are used exclusively for the sick. As Sago, &c. they are composed almost entirely of starch there is reason to believe that they are imperfectly digested and assimilated when cooked Avith water only. When used they should be cooked Avith milk or beef tea ; but in nutritive value, CA^en for young children, they are far inferior to Avheaten flour, and incomparably less economical. Their use should be kept Avithin the narroAvest limits. Fresh Vegetahles, Of all kinds of fresh vegetables none ean compare in general utility Fresh Avith the potato. The flavour is agreeable, and by repeated use it never vegetables, disgusts ; it is readily cooked, and can be obtained in good condition nearly all the year round ; it is the most nutritive of its class, and it can be eaten without injury by persons of all ages. The cost has increased of late years, Avhilst that of Avheaten flour has been reduced, and at the present time, Avhen its cost and nutriment are considered together, it is more than tAvice as dear as bread. When, hoAvever, it is grown on the Avorkhouse land, and Avith the labour of the inmates, its cost is very small, and it may then be strictly an economical food. It has already been stated that fresh A'cgetables in some form are its true necessary to good nutrition, and consequently, if the potato Avei-e dearer than other food, it Avould be false economy to Avithhold it Avheu it could be obtained ; but at the season of the year Avhen it is scarce, and not good, it Avould be economical to supplant it in chief part by bread, and in other part by other A'egetables. When potato is bought, as in tOAAms, its use might and should, on grounds of economy, at all seasons be restricted Avithin narroAver limits than at present, and the deficiency made good by bread ; for in no case is it needful to giA’e 1 lb. or CA^eii ^ lb. of potato daily. The present plan of giving a large qua,ntity of potato in Avorkhouse and other dietaries Avas established 30 years ago, before the occurrence of the potato disease, AAdien the cost of potato Avas scarcely lialf of the present price, and AAdien flour Avas one-fourth higher in price than at present. The chief advantages of having land to the extent of several acres Advantages under cultivation in connexion Avith a country AAmrkhouse are, firstly, that it affords both healthful and profitable occupation for the inmates, and is a good industrial training for boys ; secondly, that it may yield an abundant supply of vatious kinds of garden vegetables for the use of the inmates. Many Avorkhouses groAV their Avhole supply of potato on their OAAmland, in addition to a certain quantity of green vegetables, but some, on grounds of apparent economy, use a large portion of their land for the groAvth of grain, Avhich is either sold or ground for use, Avhilst their crop of vegetables is insignificant. This I think false economy, and it Avould be much better that all the land should be devoted to the groAvth of potato and green vegetables, so that an abundant supply of both may be afforded at all seasons of the year. The more abundant use of carrots, turnips, cabbage, greens, &c., AA^ould give great pleasure to the inmates, and gi-eatly improve their health, and they should be given in their season sotnetifiies in addition to and in lieu oj a part of the potato, as Avell as in lieu of the Avhole potato Avhen that vegetable is not good. I have
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