Page 185 - Mediterranea-ricerche storiche, n. 48, aprile 2020flip

To contain and control: work organization and poor government in the... 185

Table 6. Synopsis of Mexico City Poor House daily food ration
Meal Description
Breakfast Chocolate with atole (corn beverage) and sugar; ½
pound of bread
Lunch (regular) 8 ounces of meat; 1 pound of bread
Dinner (regular) 8 ounces of meat; ½ pound of bread
Lunch (Lent) Peas, Beans lentils
Lunch (religious Extra meat or fried shrimps or eggs and sweet rice
holidays) with milk.
1 ounce = 28, 755 g.; 1 Pound = 460 g.
Source: Agn, Bandos, vol. 10, Exp. 18.

The scheme clearly shows the richness of the diet, compared to the
constraints to which the vagabonds and the humblest parts of the
urban population were subjected. The diet was based on a mix of
carbohydrates and proteins with a substantial amount of meat, well
above what a member of the urban proletariat could afford. This
further explains the large influx of volunteer inmates who chose the
rigors of the Poor House discipline for insured meals and
accommodation .
32

Table 7. Mexico City Poor House. Sources of funding 1803 (in pesos)
Income
Royal Lottery 12.000
Tablas de carniceria 2.500
Interests income 2.817
Rental (from 2 houses) 926
Funeral attendance 2.100
Sale of cloth 951
Zuñiga’s estate 1.300
Zuñiga for infirmary 3.020
Regular pledges 3.317
Pensions 934
Alms 500
Total 30365
Difference (positive) 4657
Source: Agn, Historia, vol. 44, Estado del Real Hospicio de Pobres de Mexico en 31 de
diciembre de 1803.

32 S.M. Arrom, Containing the poor. The Mexico City Poor House cit., pp. 89-92.

Mediterranea - ricerche storiche - Anno XVII - Aprile 2020
ISSN 1824-3010 (stampa) ISSN 1828-230X (online)