Photograph of the soldiers taken at the close of the experiment
As just stated, the amount of proteid food was gradually reduced, three weeks being taken to bring the amount down to a level somewhat commensurate with the estimated needs of the body. This naturally resulted in diminishing largely the intake of meat, though by no means entirely excluding it. Effort was constantly made to introduce as much variety as was possible with simple foods, though the main problem with this group of men was to keep the volume of the food up to such a point as would dispel any notion that they were not having enough to eat. A second problem, which at first threatened trouble, was the fear of the men, as they saw the proportion of meat gradually drop off, that they were destined to lose their strength; but fortunately, they very soon began to realize that their fears in this direction were groundless, and a little later their personal experience opened their eyes to possible advantages which quickly drove away all further thought of danger, and made them quite content to continue the experiment. We may introduce here a few samples of the daily food given to the men after they had reached their lower level of proteid intake:
January 15.
Breakfast.—Wheat griddle cakes 200 grams, syrup 50 grams, one cup coffee[62] 350 grams.
Dinner.—Codfish balls (4 parts potato, 1 part fish, fried in pork fat) 150 grams, stewed tomato 200 grams, bread 75 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams, apple pie 95 grams.
Supper.—Apple fritters 200 grams, stewed prunes 125 grams, bread 50 grams, butter 15 grams, one cup tea 350 grams.
Total nitrogen content of the day’s food = 8.560 grams.
January 16.
Breakfast.—Soft oatmeal 150 grams, milk 100 grams, sugar 30 grams, bread 30 grams, butter 10 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.
Dinner.—Baked macaroni with a little cheese 200 grams, stewed tomato 200 grams, bread 50 grams, tapioca-peach pudding 150 grams, one cup coffee 350 grams.