practically impossible to infer with accuracy from facts at present ascer- 

 tained what would be the effect of, for instance, formic aldehyde upon a 

 patient suffering from uraemia." 



"A factor still more subtle in its influence upon the question before 

 us is idiosyncrasy. Certain individuals are extremely sensitive to certain 

 drugs, and it appears that among these drugs must be reciconed at least 

 one of the agents used as a preservative. Although legislation covering 

 all possible idiosyncrasies would be too complicated to be practical; 

 nevertheless, it must be pointed out that as matters are at present, an in- 

 dividual possessing idiosyncrasy with regard to the poisonous action of 

 boracic acid would not be able to profit even by his own experience. For 

 since the addition of this substance to foods is not declared he might be 

 continually made ill by the repeated involuntary consumption of articles 

 of food containing it." 



"The actual material upon which to base trustworthy conclusions 

 not existed heretofore, in that the declaration of preservatives, and also 

 a regulation of and notification of the amount thereof present in any pre- 

 served food must be regarded as a necessary preliminary to any accur- 

 ate observations or statistics upon the subject. Had declaration of pre- 

 servatives been in force during recent years, we should probably now 

 have been in possession of medical evidence more directly based upon 

 fact than that which we have had laid before us." 



"Nothwithstanding the fact that trustworthy data as to actual in- 

 jury are but few, there is evidence pointing to the probability that such 

 injury does at times accrue. We cannot overlook the danger to which 

 the uncontrolled use of drugs in the food of the population may be likely 

 to give rise." 



"Compounds of boracic acid have not been proved to be more hurtful 

 than saltpetre to the consumer, yet saltpetre has been used from time im- 

 memorial in curing bacon, etc. The modern use of borax and boracic 

 acid has enabled producers to dispense with a large proportion of common 

 salt formerly necessary, thereby rendering bacon far milder to the palate, 

 and protecting it from taint and fly-blow." 



"After very carefully weighing the evidence we have come to the con- 

 clusion that as regards the trade in fresh and cured meat, fish, butter, 

 margarine, and other food substances in the consumption of which but 

 small quantities of the antiseptic are taken into the system, there exists 

 no sufficient reason for interfering to prevent the use of boron preserva- 

 tives. Even butter, of which the imports from all countries except Den- 

 mark frequently contain boracic acid, is not consumed in such quantities 

 by individuals as to convey more than a very moderate daily amount of 

 the drug into the system. The evidence satisfies us that the amount of 

 preservative corresponding to 0.5 per cent, of boracic acid is sufficient 

 for the purpose of preserving butter." 



"But the circumstances and considerations affecting the milk traffic 

 are very different. Milk, a very perishable substance, peculiarly liable 



