668 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



"The first effect of a moderate dose [of allyl sulphid] is an excitation of 

 the central nervous system, followed by the usual compensation, viz., depres- 

 sion. . . . 



"Allyl sulphid taken in the form of garlic, onions, or leeks, immediately be- 

 fore retiring at night may produce either an excited or depressed state of the 

 nervous system, or both in succession, according to the dose." 



General results of the investigations showing' the effect of sulphurous 

 acid and sulphites upon digestion and health (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Vhcni. 

 Circ. 37, pp. 18). — The extended series of experiments summarized were made 

 with 12 young men who volunteered as subjects. They were 40 days under 

 observation, the experimental period of 20 days being preceded and supple- 

 mented by periods of 10 days each. The preservative was administered as 

 sodium sulphite in capsules or as an aqueous solution of the gaseous sul- 

 j)hurous acid. 



From a consideration of the individual data and summaries of results it 

 appears that sulphurous acid, thus administered, " is objectionable and pro- 

 duces serious disturbances of the metabolic functions and injury to digestion 

 and health. This injury manifests itself in a number of different ways, both 

 in the production of clinical symptoms which indicate serious disturbances, 

 malaise, or positive suffering, and also by inducing certain changes in the meta- 

 bolic processes which are not manifested in the way of (n'dinary clinical symp- 

 toms, and are only detected by careful chemical and microscopical study of the 

 excretory products." 



The sodium sulphite and sulphurous acid under the experimental condi- 

 tions produced a marked influence of an unfavorable character upon metabo- 

 lism. The assimilation of food materials containing organic phosphorus was 

 retarded and there was evidence of increased sulphur katabolism. This in- 

 volves an increase in the amount of work performed by the kidneys. 



" The fact that the microscopic crystalline and amorphous bodies in the 

 urine are increased in number under the influence of the added sulphur is 

 another indication of the extraordinary demands made upon the kidneys in 

 such circumstances. . . . While there might be no distinguishable lesion of 

 the kidneys produced during a period of 20 or 30 days, or even longer, it is 

 plain that, sooner or later, lesions of a very serious character, producing 

 organic diseases, possibly of an incurable type, would be induced. The further 

 observation that there is a marked tendency to the production of albuminuria, 

 although of an incipient character, is an indication of the unfavorable results 

 of the administration of the sulphurous acid. It is, thex'efore, evident that 

 by increasing the burden upon the excretory organs, the administration of 

 sulphur in the form mentioned is highly detrimental to health." 



The sulphurous acid also exercised a bleaching effect on the color of the 

 blood and produced a diminution of the number of red and white corpuscles, a 

 matter which is considered of serious concern. 



" The variations of the metabolic processes, from the normal, as indicated 

 in this series of experiments, were never of a character favorable to a more 

 healthy condition of the system, but, on the other hand, all these variations, 

 in so far as the effect of the changes could be distinguished, are of a preju- 

 dicial character. There is no evidence whatever that the sulphur added to the 

 foods in the form of sulphurous acid or sulphites takes any part in the 

 nutrition of the tissues of the body containing sulphur, namely, the proteids; 

 hence no claim of food value can be established for these bodies. The evidence 

 all points to the fact that they are purely drugs, devoid of food value, having 

 no favorable effect upon the metabolic processes, but, on the other hand, 

 exerting deleterious and harmful effects. The conclusion, therefore, is Inevi- 



