THE DIET OF THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6945, 26 February 1890, Page 4

THE DIET OF THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

Considerable attention It being paid to » euljeot whlob has immense practical bearing in thii country— tbp molt efficient dietary for oar soldiers. In T/ie Army ami Navy Gazette, G*neml Mitchell hai told ts that the British soldier may be farorably gompared with any other. Bit in hi* dietetio habits much improvement might be made, economically and palatably. Three-quarters of a poun« of meat ('Deluding bone) is the daily allowance for each soldier ; if peas and other h'gbly-nutritious vegetable food were substituted for part of that allowanc«, the diet would be more palatable and the benefit more marked. In Dr Smith's report to (he Government on the relation of the kinds of food to health amoung different chsifs, we find that in general the greater the amount of animal food tb< less was the health and strength u> the consumer. Irish laborers, wh< used tbe least quantity of butobe* meat, were found te be the healthier and strongest men. Sootoh laborers oame next in these respects, thei j North of England worker*. If tbe matter of diet, in the light ol fcea tb and strength, be considered economically, we find that lean flesl> oontains 28 per cent of nutriment whereas diied peas and other flesb. forming vegetable food contains frou 89 to 92 per cent of nutriment. Now, this a startling oonolusioo ; and, whet* we know that such vegetables coM only one fourth ot tbe price of flesb, tbe oontrast is still more startling. Sir Lyon Playfair has been foi years investigating the matter ot military dietary in France, Prussia, and Austria, as well as in this country He considers tbat a man in good health rtquiies, every day, 4ozs ot fleub-formiog food and lO^ozs of heat, forming food. For the former putpose, he would require to consume 21* zs of animal food, or 13ozs of cbeett or 49ozs of bread, or 250z« of oatmeal, or 18i>zs of dried peas; tbe cost rang ing from lOd to 2d. For the ltittei purpose, be must consume 60izs oi animal food, or 32 zs of cneene, oi 42ozs of bread, or 77 zs of potatoes, oi 32izi of dried pea*, or 2<sozs of oatmeal ; tbe cost ranging from 2s 6d ti less than 2d. This shows tbat oatmeal contains all the elements of nourish meat which man requite* for healtl And strength, and is also by far tbt cheapest. Dr Samuel Johnson therefore unconnciouoly complimeuttd Scotch laborers when he said that oat was a cereal which was consumed bj '.Eoglibh horses and Scotchmen. Simplicity of diet seems to be most effectual for continued efforts. Evei tbe gladiatcrs lived on barley oaket and Oil. We are informed by D John Malcolm tbat daring tbe Crimes i War of 1854 Russian soldiers recovered from wounds and operaiionb ot the moot serious uature, whict earned off British and French soldiers So marked was the oomrast that u medical commission was appointed tt investigate tbe causes of tbia difference. Tbe report of this commission deoidedh accounted for it by reason of tht difference ( f food. While tbe alhec forces weie— exotpt during the terrible Itaivation ia tbe trenches — aaiplj supplied witb flesh meat and alooboli dunk*, tbe staple food of the Russian!) wa« coarse biead fcteeped in oil. Perhaps it is on account of the felt compuiative co'duevs after partaking ol nod using ivt a time abimai food i - stead of oatmeal or other beat-produc-ing diet tbat recourse is so frequently had by the bigber as well as the middle classes to preparations containing alcohol. Tbe British soldier runt quioker tban the Russian to tht canteen for beer or spirits in order t< supply him witb beat not otherwise given him. But tttts, through timt, i to paii s bis health and diminishes bib Strength and enduianoe. Travellers in different parts of tbe *orld corroborate tbese conclusions Tbe *» liters ot aooient history tell ut> ot tbe naming on tbe plainest food oi the wreetleis and boxers and soldier** ot Oieece and Rome, lhe principal dietaty of tbe gladiator was barley cakes and oil; yet who had greatet Strength or showed more euduriog power 1 Tbe statutory daily allowance to the Roman soldier was one pound of of barley, tbtee ounoes of oil, and a bint of thin wine ; yet lew could equal bun for prowess and nerve. No fle»L meat was consumed by tbe Spartaii patriots who defended tbe Paas ol Tbermopylss or conquered on tbe piaias of Marathon ; yet no soldiers in tbe world bave as a race equalled them in couiage, determination, and physical power. It would be well, then, for those in power, who rule tbe commissariat of our forces, to devote their attention to a relorm in tbe food of tbe at my, so us to insure a wholesome and strengthening dietary at tbe cheapest rate.