312 WILEY— INFLUENCE OF PRESERVATIVES [April 25, 



borax and boric acid in those proportions may be explained in some 

 cases by other causes, chiefly grippe. 



The administration of borax and boric acid to the extent of one 

 half gram per day yielded results markedly different from those 

 obtained with larger quantities of the preservatives. This experi- 

 ment. Series V, conducted as it was for a period of fifty days, was 

 a rather severe test, and it appeared that in some instances a some- 

 what unfavorable result attended it. ( )n the whole, the results 

 show that one half gram per day is too much for the normal man to 

 receive regularly. On the other hand, it is evideiH 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 for both 

 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 disease does not appear to logically 

 warrant its use at any other time. 



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

 tinually administered in small doses for a long period or when given 

 in large quantities for a short period, create disturbances of appe- 

 tite, of digestion, and of health. 



Salicylic Acid and Salicylates. — In the conclusions based upon 

 the general observations the same conservatism must be observed 

 and the same general reservations made as are found in Part I 

 concerning boric acid and borax. While, as described in the borax 

 report, the attempt has been made to control as far as possible, all 

 the conditions of the experimental work, the difficulties attending 

 the task are so enormous that it is not possible that complete suc- 

 cess should be secured. There has, however, been no attempt made 

 to discriminate in the choice of data, all the observations being 

 recorded and the discussion of the individual data based upon the 

 tabular statements being without prejudice and without bias. The 

 general assumption has been made, as in the previous cases, that, 



