In the casual wards of workhouses the dietary is plainer, consisting of 8 oz. of bread, or 6 oz. of bread and one pint of gruel or broth for breakfast; the same for supper; for dinner 8 oz. of bread and 1½ oz. of cheese or 6 oz. of bread and one pint of soup. The American poor law system is based broadly on that of England, and the methods of relief are much the same. Each state, however, makes its own regulations, and there is considerable diversity in workhouse dietaries in consequence. The German system of poor relief is more methodical than those of England and America. The really deserving are treated with more commiseration, and a larger amount of outdoor relief is given than in England. There is no casual ward, tramps and beggars being liable to penal treatment, but there are “relief stations,” somewhat corresponding to casual wards, where destitute persons tramping from one place to another can obtain food and lodging in return for work done.
In the British navy certain staple articles of diet are supplied to the men to the value approximately of 6d. per diem—the standard government ration—and, in addition, a messing allowance of 4d. per diem, which may either be expended on luxuries in the canteen, or in taking up government provisions on board ship, in addition to the standard ration. The standard ration as recommended in 1907 by a committee appointed to inquire into the question of victualling in the navy is as follows:—
Service Afloat.
| 1 ℔ bread (or ¾ ℔ bread and ¼ ℔ trade flour). ½ ℔ fresh meat. 1 ℔ fresh vegetables. 1⁄8 pint spirit. 4 oz. sugar. ½ oz. tea (or 1 oz. coffee for every ¼ oz. tea). ½ oz. ordinary or soluble chocolate (or 1 oz. coffee). ¾ oz. condensed milk. 1 oz. jam or marmalade. 4 oz. preserved meat on one day of the week in harbour, or on two days at sea. Mustard, pepper, vinegar, and salt as required. |
Substitute for soft bread when the latter is not available—
½ ℔ biscuit (new type) or 1 ℔ flour.
Substitutes for fresh meat when the latter is not available:—
| On alternate days. | (1) Salt pork day:— | |
| ½ ℔ salt pork. | ||
| ¼ ℔ split peas. | ||
| Celery seed, ½ oz. to every 8 ℔ of split peas put into the coppers. | ||
| ½ ℔ potatoes (or 1 oz. compressed vegetables). | ||
| (2) Preserved meat day:— | ||
| 6 oz. preserved meat. | ||
| 8 oz. trade flour | } or 4 oz. rice. | |
| ¾ oz. refined suet | ||
| 2 oz. raisins | ||
| ½ ℔ potatoes (or 1 oz. compressed vegetables). | ||
On shore establishments and depot ships ¼ pt. fresh milk is issued in lieu of the ¾ oz. of condensed milk.
In the United States navy there is more liberality and variety of diet, the approximate daily cost of the rations supplied being 1s. 3d. per head. In the American mercantile marine, too, according to the scale sanctioned by act of Congress (December 21, 1898) for American ships, the seaman is better off than in the British merchant service. The scale is shown in Table III.