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ounce of milk and gave her own supply of cod liver oil to the babies-a teaspoonful once a week to each baby. I don't know how many babies there were, but there were a number born in camp at the local hospital. The maternity ward was behind a screen at one end of a large room full of other patients. Mothers were allowed to stay about five days, but the hospital was so overcrowded that few patients remained longer than that time. Later a clinic was established for examination of all the children. Babies were allowed 15 oz. of milk a day, children up to six, 5 oz. For a time a little milk was given to older children in school. There was a morning school of about 100 children. It was surprising how well they managed with little paper, books mostly picked up from the ground, etc. The teachers were to be congratulated. I supplemented our family's diet with pine needles, either picking the tender ones and eating them fresh, or boiling them in water and drinking the brew. We also ate nasturtium leaves and seeds. There was a canteen which opened on uncertain days and which meant queuing at 7 a.m. in order to get something before 5 p.m. Our family took turns in standing in for each other. Even Celene would take her turn for an hour. Later they organized a system of tickets so that our turn came once in five or six weeks. Then we were only allowed to buy a limited quantity of one article in each of a number of sections. For instance:
Section A
Half pound raisins
70 cents
$1.20 $1.20
Half pound dried apricots Half pound dried apple rings
Section B
Quarter pound tea Quarter pound cocoa
$1.50
90 cents
Section C
One tin bully beef One tin mutton
$2.00 $2.50
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