inorganic sulphates, while the ethereal sulphates remain practically 

 the same throughout. For those subjects who received the preserva- 

 tive after it had stood in milk for two days there is seen an increase in 

 the quantity of neutral sulphur excreted amounting to about 1.4 per 

 cent, accompanied by a slight decrease in the inorganic sulphates, 

 while again the ethereal sulphates remain constant. 



These data alone show evidence of an increased sulphur metabolism 

 in the case of Nos. 1 to 6 and a retardation in the case of Nos. 7 to 12, 

 though the excretion of total sulphur shows practically no change. 



NITROGEN METABOLISM. 



A remarkably uniform tendency is manifested, in regard to the 

 metabolism of the nitrogen of the food, to increase slightly its assimi- 

 lation and to retard the breaking-down processes in the cells. The 

 stimulating of assimilation is in accordance with the observations of 

 numerous authors who ascribe to formaldehyde the power of exciting 

 digestive secretions, its influence on the pancreatic and biliary secre- 

 tions being very marked. On the other hand, formaldehyde has a 

 retarding effect on the digestive enzyms, which in this case appears 

 not to have been so marked as the stimulating effects exerted on the 

 digestive juices themselves. The decrease in the metabolized nitrogen 

 excreted in connection with the loss of weight contraindicates any 

 increase in the anabolic processes. Apparently the same effect is 

 produced by the formaldehyde on the nitrogen metabolism when it 

 is added directly to the milk and when it has stood in contact with 

 it for two days, though in the latter case it is somewhat more marked. 



PHOSPHORIC ACID METABOLISM. 



There is an unmistakable tendency shown to derange the metabol- 

 ism of phosphoric acid, which again is manifested to practically the 

 same extent under the two conditions of the experiment. There is a 

 slightly increased absorption of the phosphorus compounds from the 

 alimentary canal, accompanied by a marked increase in the excretion 

 of metabolized phosphoric acid, amounting to over 4 per cent. There 

 is only one exception to this increased excretion in the individual 

 data, namely, No. 7, in which case an abnormal excretion of phos- 

 phoric acid was recorded in the fore period. 



The balances are decreased in all cases except No. 7 a condition 

 which is quite abnormal in the case of phosphoric acid and can not be 

 regarded as other than an unfavorable effect, which would ultimately 

 produce harmful results. 



[Cir. 42] 



