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5.
and milk were given as additions to the poor rations. Later, gelatine and dried fruits, cocos, oranges, sweets, honey, peanuts
and peanut butter were supplied at intervals. Over the last
eighteen months it became increasingly more difficult to maintain
this standard, and much to its regret the Committee were forced
to discontinue this distribution. From that point it became
apparent in the half-yearly surveys that the children were not keeping up a normal rate of growth, as measured in height and
weight, as a consequence of the inadequacy of the Japanese rations.
Three Baby Kitchens were established in different parts
of the Camp.
The Japanese rations, with the addition of milk,
flavourings, sugar, honey, cornflour, fruit, etc. were
cooked in such a way as to be suitable for infants. This service
came to an end about nine months before the end of internment as
the amount of firewood supplied by the Japanese was insufficient to allow of cooking subsidiary to the general kitchens. Fruit juices, shank liver oil and calcium continued to be administered,
however.
(c) Sick Fersons
Three Diet Kitchens functioned,in conjunction with the Baby Kitchens, for the supply of adequately cooked meals for the chronically sick as well as the temporarily, "sick in quarters" patient. Fluid diets consisting of soya bean or fresh milk (when available from Dr. Selwyn-Clarke or the International Red Cross), strained vegetables, soups and congte were cooked for the
many cases of gastro-enteritis which occurred; rice was cooked
milk and substantial
in a more careful manner than was possible in the general kitchens for the gastric and duodenal ulcer patients;
puddings and other extras were given to many suffering from
debility and gross under-weight.
Besides supplying the extras to the Diet Kitchens, the Committee distributed similar items of foodstuff to the Hospital for the patients, for whom the rations were quite unsuitable.