Henry A. Moyer (Mot)

November 10, 1917

No complaints regarding diet. Notices hunger at 8 or 9 o'clock at night and 11 or 12 o'clock in morning; otherwise not particularly hungry. Has had hunger pains a few times, more at beginning, and had to go to bed; has not noticed it much this last week. Thinks it more psychological than physiological. Difficult to say what article of diet he likes best; likes everything. If allowed to order without restrictions would order soup, fish, some sort of vegetable, and probably pie for dessert.

November 12, 1917

Feels poorly in stomach (after free Sunday).

February 2, 1918

Only time during week noticed hunger very much was after day in which he received double portions and gained in weight; the next day his food allowance was "cut in halves" to reduce his weight. Inconvenienced by extreme desire for food just before midday meal and supper. Speaks of great difference between periods when weight was actually being reduced by low rations and when diet was sufficient to hold the weight or to allow slight gain in weight; the latter period caused almost no difficulty. Has been in habit of eating between meals a good deal and noticed difference in having to give this up.

February 6, 1918

Ate extra large helping of food at dinner. Ate lightly at night.

February 8, 1918

States that Monday and Tuesday he felt "logy" and sleepy, probably from overeating. "Sunday had an ordinary dinner; I tried not to overeat. Tuesday evening I had a 'big feed' at Mr. Peckham's and after it I felt very uncomfortable, but I had no stomach-ache or indigestion." States that during the diet period when he was hungry he found it most satisfactory to run the typewriter or do some such work rather than try to study; could do as much on Sunday after his full dinner as during the rest of the week, or at least this was his impression.

May 21, 1918

Is at present eating only two meals a day - breakfast and dinner; did this particularly when writing his thesis, in order to save time and also some money, and because he was convinced he did not need supper. Probably has been eating a little heavier dinner, but not any heavier breakfast. For breakfast has two glasses whole milk, two shredded-wheat biscuits, two slices of bread with butter, and fruit, if there is any. Is sure he is eating very much less food than he did just after the close of the experiment, and thinks he is eating somewhat less than he did normally before the experiment. Between meals during the day sometimes eats three or four chocolates, sometimes not any. Is rather surprised that, since leaving off supper, he does not seem to have a particularly keen appetite for breakfast or dinner.

R. Wallace Peckham (Pec)

October 27,1917

"I am very happy to be on the diet squad".

November 10, 1917

"The amount of food seems mighty small." Has a gnawing pain of hunger about 3 hours before eating; noticeable first 10 days and increased in severity last 2 days, due to fact he had been trying to lose weight by increased physical exercise. Everything tastes good to him, shredded wheat more than anything else. Craves salad, pie, doughnuts, and Rhode Island johnny cakes, probably explained in part by the fact that his family has them at home on the table and he sees them.

November 18,1917

Prefers after to-day to leave out of the diet all or part of meat and get more bulky food instead.

November 26, 1917

" Had a pretty good feed Sunday. Look at my face! See, all the wrinkles are gone!"

December 6,1917

Reported as having made the following remark two days before: "We fellows must have reached a pretty bad place when we are ready to cry from hunger".

December 19,1917

" I feel fine as silk. Nothing difficult for me now and with this food I have more life and snap".

January 7,1918

Reports he has abstained from food completely for two days (Saturday and Sunday, January 5 and 6) to reduce weight.

January 12,1918

"No hunger pains now".

January 26, 1918

"I have dreams at night about food".

February 2,1918

With present diet feels no keen sense of hunger. Dreams of food, but thinks it due to approaching end of experiment and that then he will live at home again; is naturally looking forward to it.

February 6, 1918

Squad A went to Pec's to a turkey dinner and everyone "stuffed to the limit." Pec had second helping of ice cream.

February 8, 1918

"I think the men should have been brought back to normal and not allowed to come end over end. Nearly everyone has had difficulty such as diarrhea. In my case it has been very extreme. I ate toast and tea and bran bread, but it continued from Monday evening, February 4, until to-day, February 8. Monday forenoon I was down town. During the period of the experiment I have often noticed in the windows exhibits of food for sale. It always looked most attractive. I went into a shop and bought two doughnuts with apple jelly inside and ate them. It was indiscreet to eat them, but otherwise I was very careful and did not overeat. At noon I had some steak and johnnycake. In the evening some more johnnycake, and that evening suffered intensely with much gas. Tuesday I ate nothing, but in the evening when we had the banquet I took a small meal. It was a turkey dinner with all the fixings. I had to pay the penalty, and think it was because of the doughnuts, which were eaten first. All the members of the squad took their pulse at the banquet; the rate ranged from 72 to 104." On many evenings during the diet experiment it was necessary for the subject to go to bed immediately after supper, because he was so hungry he could not study satisfactorily.