i28o The Cornell Reading-Courses 



nitrogenous foods are consumed. In the breaking down of the nitro- 

 genous tissues the kidneys are the chief organs for the excretion of the 

 debris. The addition of any further burden, therefore, no matter how 

 minute, is to be deplored." 



Concerning boric acid and borax. — " The medical symptoms of the cases, 

 in long-continued exhibitions of small doses or in large doses extending 

 over a shorter period, show in many instances a manifest tendency to 

 diminish the appetite and to produce a feeling of fullness and uneasiness 

 in the stomach which in some cases results in nausea, with a very general 

 tendency to produce a sense of fullness in the head, which is often mani- 

 fested as a dull and persistent headache. In addition to the uneasiness 

 produced in the region of the stomach there appear in some instances 

 sharp and well-located pains, which, however, are not persistent. Although 

 the depression in the v/eight of the body and some of the other symptoms 

 produced persist in the after periods, there is a uniform tendency mani- 

 fested after the withdrawal of the preservative toward the removal of 

 the unpleasant sensations in the stomach and head above mentioned. 



" It appears, therefore, that both boric acid and borax, when continually 

 administered in small doses for a long period or when given in large quanti- 

 ties for a brief period, create disturbances of appetite, of digestion, and 

 of health." 



Concerning the use of sulfurous acid and the sulfites. — " The use of 

 sulphurous acid and sulphites never adds anything to the flavor or quality 

 of a food, but renders it both less palatable and less healthful. The use 

 of sulphurous acid m foods should be suppressed. 



" From a careful consideration of the data in the individual cases, and 

 the summaries of the results, it appears that the administration of sul- 

 phurous acid in the food, either in the form of sulphurous-acid gas in 

 solution or in the form of sulphites, is objectionable and produces serious 

 disturbances of the metabolic functions and injury to digestion and health. 

 'An immense burden has been added to the already over-worked 

 kidneys. 



" It is reasonable to suppose that the continued use of a body which 

 produces such results would cause lesions of a histological character that 

 eventually would develop conditions which would give serious apprehension. 



" The verdict which must be pronounced in this case is decidedly 

 unfavorable to the use of this preservative in any quantity or for any 

 period of time, and shows the desirability of avoiding the addition of any 

 form of sulphurous acid to products intended for human food. 



" Sulphurous acid in some form is extensively employed in many tech- 

 nical operations in the preparation of foods. This is especially true in 

 the production of wine, in the preparation of evaporated or desiccated 



