larger quantities of the preservatives. This experiment, Series V., con- 

 ducted as it was for a period of fifty days, was a rather severe test, and 

 it appeared that in some instances a somewhat unfavorable result attend- 

 ed its use. On the whole the results show that one-half g-ram per day 

 is too much for the normal man to receive regularly. On the other hand 

 it is evident that the normal man can receive one-half gram per day of 

 boric acid, or of borax expressed in terms of boric acid, for a limited 

 period of time without much danger of impairment of health." 



"It is, of course, not to be denied that both borax and boric acid are 

 recognized as valuable remedies in medicine. There are certain diseases in 

 which these remedies are regularly prescribed, both for internal and external 

 use. The value which they possess in these cases does not seem to have 

 any relation to their use in the healthy organism except when properly 

 prescribed as prophylactics. The fact that any remedy is useful in dis- 

 ease does not appear to logically warrant its use at any other time." 



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

 tinuously administered in small doses for a long period, or when given 

 in large quantities for a short period, create disturbances of appetite, of 

 digestion and of health." 



In 1899 the British Government appointed a departmental committee 

 ot experts to investigate the whole question of the use of preseivatives 

 and coloring matters in food.* This committee examined many witnesses, 

 and certain members performed a large number of experiments. The 

 conclusions arrived at by the committee relating to the use of preserva- 

 tives in dairy products are of sufficient interest to be quoted here in full : 



"The medical evidence, speaking generally, comprises for the mo5t 

 part opinion arrived at after a general consideration of the issues in- 

 volved, but such opinion was not always based directly upon fact. The 

 physiological evidence consists of the citation of the results of n<ore or 

 less exact physiological experiments. But, unfortunately, in the majoiity 

 of cases the conditions under which the experiments have been made have 

 only partially imitated those conditions which obtain in the actual taking 

 of preservatives by the human subject to all ages for indefinite periods of 

 time." 



"Further, even supposing that we were to assume that the physio- 

 logical experiments which have been laid before us did imitate with suffi- 

 cient exactness the actual conditions obtaining in the inquiry in point, they 

 would certainly do so only in so far as relates to the use of one preser- 

 vative during a given period of time. The facts, however, show that in 

 ordinary life what actually occurs is the simultaneous ingestion of more 

 than one preservative. A further condition almost impossible of imita- 

 tion by the physiological investigator is the consumption of these pre- 

 servatives by all classes of invalids and by suckling. The absolute effect 

 of these substances upon sucklings is at present unknown, and it is also 



•Renort of the Departmental CommitteQ appointed to enquire into the use of Pre- 

 servatives and Coloring Matters in the Preservation and Coloring of Food— 1901. 



