366 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



reported upon the preservative properties and toxic effects of benzoic acid and 

 the effects of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate upon the heart, the red cor- 

 puscles, and blood pressure. The results of digestion experiments, including 

 tests in vitro, with small animals and man, and of metabolism experiments 

 with man are presented. 



The conclusions which the author reached were in effect as follows : 



Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate, even in quantities as low as 1 to 1,000, 

 acted as a preservative with chopped meat, and also prevented mold formation 

 on oleomargarine for 52 days. 



Cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals (frogs and rabbits) were able to 

 bear, even for a long period, considerable quantities of benzoic acid and sodium 

 benzoate supplied in different ways. When 1 gm. sodium benzoate per kilo- 

 gram of body weight was injected into rabbits for 12 days no loss in body 

 weight was noted. Larger doses temporarily lowered body temperature. No 

 effect was noted on respiration and pulse. When 2.2 gm. or more of sodium 

 benzoate per kilogram of body weight was used the animals died. When 5 gm. 

 benzoic acid, or 7 gm. sodium benzoate, was fed at a time with 500 cc. of milk 

 to a dog of medium weight, respiration, pulse rate, and body temperature were 

 not noticeably affected. 



In an experiment of which the author himself was subject 10 gm. benzoic 

 acid taken within 3* hours produced no noticeable effect upon respiration, 

 body temperature, digestion, or general condition. 



When from 0.5 gm. to 1 gm. sodium benzoate per day was taken for 44 con- 

 secutive days no effects were noted and body weight remained normal in all 

 the subjects. Respiration, pulse, and body temperature were not noticeably 

 affected when 1 or 2 gm. benzoic acid or sodium benzoate was taken. 



Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate affected the red blood corpuscles in the 

 same general manner as acids and salt solutions, respectively. 



Injections of 4 cc. of a 5 per cent solution of sodium benzoate had no effect 

 upon the heart frequency of a frog, nor did the injection of 1 cc. of a 20 per 

 cent solution given within an hour. 



Sodium benzoate intravenously injected into a suspended frog heart had less 

 effect than sodium chlorid solution of equal concentration. The same was 

 found to be the case in experiments with surviving cat heart. In the case of 

 rabbits the blood pressure was influenced only very slightly and temporarily. 



As shovrn by the experiments reported, neither gastric juice, trypsin, nor 

 diastatic ferments were affected by the addition of benzoic acid or sodium 

 benzoate. In the case of a dog with a Pawlow fistula no effect upon the quan- 

 tity supplied or the digestive power of the gastric juice was observed when 3 

 gm. benzoic acid, or 5 gm. sodium benzoate, was taken. 



As shown by a test breakfast, withdrawn after an hour, the author himself 

 being the subject, 0.5 gm. benzoic acid, or 1 gm. sodium benzoate, did not in- 

 fluence the amount of free hydrochloric acid, the total acidity, or digestive 

 power. 



No effect was noted upon the protein condition of the body or the digestibility 

 of protein and fat in experiments with men, when 1 gm. benzoic acid, or 1.5 

 gm. sodium benzoate, per day was taken for 6 days. 



Daily doses of 1 gm. benzoic acid taken for 82 out of 86 and 88 out of 92 

 days did not cause any noticeable effect upon general condition, body weight, 

 etc. At the conclusion of the test it was found that benzoic acid taken either 

 with a mixed diet or with a vegetable diet was fully converted into hippuric 

 acid. 



The literature of the subject is discussed at length and a bibliography is 

 appended. 



