e food, and
often the food is blamed when the trouble is due primarily to other
causes. The fact that a diseased digestive tract is unable to utilize
some foods is no valid reason why these foods should be discarded in the
dietary of persons in normal health, particularly when the food is in no
way responsible for the disease.

Some diseases are most prevalent in the case of a restricted diet. A
change in the dietary of the Japanese navy greatly improved the health
of the sailors.

"The prevalence of kakke or beriberi in the navy turned the
attention of many medical specialists toward the problem of
nutrition.... It was generally believed that there was some very
close connection between the disease and the rice diet.... One
outcome of these investigations was the passage of the food supply
act of the navy in 1884. The ration provided in accordance with
this act was sufficient to furnish an abundance of protein and
energy.... Following the change of ration in 1884, the prevalence
of the disease was very materially diminished, and at the end of
three years cases of kakke were practically unknown among the
marines."[83]

256. Dietary Studies in Public Institutions.--Dietary studies in
public institutions, as prisons, and asylums for the insane, show that
it is possible to secure greater variety of food containing a larger
amount of nutrients, and even at a reduction in cost.[84] In such
institutions it is important that the food should be not only ample in
amount, but wholesome and nutritious, as many of the inmates respond
both physically and mentally to an improved diet. For humanitarian as
well as economic reasons institutional dietetics should more generally
be placed under the supervision of skilled dietists.

CHAPTER XVIII

RATIONAL FEEDING OF MAN

257. Object.--Rational feeding of man has for its object the
regulation of the food supply in accord with the demands of the body. It
is based upon the same principles as the rational feeding of animals; in
each, the best results in the way of health, amount of labor performed,
and economy are secured when the body receives nutrients sufficient for
the production of heat and energy and for the repair of worn-out
tissues. Rational feeding is simply regulation of the food, both as to
kind and amount, to meet the needs of the body.[72]

258. Standard Rations.--In human feeding, as in animal feeding, it i