18 



The variations of the metabolic processes, from the normal, as indi- 

 cated in this series of experiments, were never of a character favora- 

 ble 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 dis- 

 tinguished, are of a prejudicial character. There is no evidence what- 

 ever 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 effects upon the metabolic processes, but, on the other hand, 

 exerting deleterious and harmful effects. The conclusion, therefore, 

 is inevitable that as a whole the changes produced in metabolic activ- 

 ity by the administration of sulphur in the forms noted above in the 

 comparatively short time covered by the experiments are decidedly 

 injurious. The verdict which must be pronounced in this case is 

 decidedly unfavorable to the use of this preservative in any quantity 

 or for any period of time, and shows the desirability of avoiding the 

 addition of any form of sulphurous acid to products intended for 

 human food. 



[Cir. 37] 



