As stated by Major Woodruff, the United States is the only nation in the world that in time of peace pretends to supply the entire ration. Soldiers living in densely populated European countries supplement their rations by local purchases from a mess fund or, as in Germany, from supplies from his home. In Austria bread alone is furnished as a peace ration, other food being purchased from a money allowance. At remote frontier posts in the United States a variety of local purchases is frequently unobtainable, and hence the attempt to supply the whole ration in kind.

The law allows one of the above complete rations to be used on any or each day of the week, or they may each be used in turn as convenient, in case it becomes necessary to vary the order prescribed elsewhere. Estimated average cost per capita per diem, thirty cents.

The following statement is from the New York Medical Record (1898):

" The naval full-diet table is as follows for one day in the week, the number after each article relating to ounces: Breakfast - coffee, 1; bread, 4; butter, 1; milk, 6; sugar, 1; oatmeal, 1; beefsteak, 6. Dinner - rice soup, 8; bread, 4; roast beef or roast or boiled fowl, 8; potatoes, 8; other vegetables, 6; pickles, 1; bread pudding with sauce, 6; or custard frozen, 8; fresh fruit, 6. Supper - tea, ¼; bread, 6; butter, 1; milk, 2; sugar, 1; cold roast mutton or cold roast beef, 4; stewed dried fruit or baked fresh fruit or apple sauce, 4. The staples - coffee, bread, butter, milk, sugar, and fresh and dried fruit - are the same for each meal, but there is a daily variety in meats and other articles for breakfast, dinner, and supper. The proportions are about the same, however, especially in the matter of meats, as in the specimen diet table given above. In addition to its use for convalescents, the table is now observed for all naval-hospital employees, and is gradually becoming the standard aboard ship and in the marine corps.

Its adoption was the result of most patient and thorough investigation by Surgeon I. D. Gatewood, who consulted all the leading: authorities on the subject".

Table Showing The Quantities Of The Different Articles Of The U. S. Navy Ration Which Are Required For One Man For One Year

Biscuit.............................................. 3193/8 pounds.

Biscuit (with flour)................................... 182 "

Cornmeal............................................ 52

Oatmeal............................................. 52 "

Rye flour or hominy.................................. 52

Wheat flour.......................................... 52 "

Salt pork............................................ 104 "

Beans............................................... 6½ gallons.

Peas................................................ 3i "

Salt beef............................................ 52 pounds.

Rice............................................... 26

Dried fruit.......................................... 13

Butter.............................................. 19½ "

Tomatoes........................................... 19½ "

Canned meal........................................ 78 "

Ham or bacon....................................... 39 "

Sausage or salt fish................................... 39 "

Coffee............................................... 26 "

Tea............................................... 4 7/8 "

Cocoa............................................... 19½ "

Sugar............................,................... 91¼ "

Pickles.............................................. 26 "

Molasses............................................ 3¼ gallons.

Vinegar............................................. 3¼ "

Canned vegetables................................... 39 pounds.

The British Navy ration contains one pound of fresh meat, one pound and a half of bread, or one pound and a quarter of sea biscuit.

In comparing navy with army rations it should be remembered that on shipboard a proper cooking range, utensils, and fuel are always obtainable, whereas wholly different conditions obtain with an army in the field.