rendered familiar without working any hardship, these arguments 

 seem to have no force whatever in justifying the continuation of the 

 use of sulphurous acid in foods. It may be the part of wisdom in 

 the administration of food laws to tolerate existing methods of manu- 

 facture for a certain length of time looking to their amelioration or 

 change, but that is a question with which this investigation is not 

 concerned. 



There is reason to believe, therefore, as a result of the present 

 studies, which have shown that the use of sulphurous acid in foods is 

 deleterious, that a rapid change will be made in the processes of manu- 

 facture, looking to the complete and somewhat speedy suppression of 

 its employment. The use of sulphurous acid and sulphites never 

 adds anything to the flavor or quality of a food, but renders it 

 both less palatable and less healthful. Every fact which has been 

 brought out, therefore, in the investigation tends to accentuate the 

 justness of the conclusion, namely, that the use of sulphurous acid in 

 foods should be suppressed. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE EXPERIMENT. 



The organization of the work in general was practically identical 

 with that of the previous investigations as reported in Parts I and II 

 of Bulletin 84 and summarized in Circulars 15 and 31. 



The experiments were conducted on twelve young men from the 

 Department of Agriculture and a local medical school, who voluntarily 

 assumed the obligations imposed by work of this kind. They pledged 

 themselves to abide by the rules and regulations guiding their conduct 

 during the period of the observation, to indulge in no unusual exer- 

 cise or study, to pursue the ordinary tenor of their daily lives without 

 any more variation than is incident to regular habits. They further 

 undertook to eat only the food which was given them at the hygienic 

 table, to collect and deliver for analysis the excreta of their bodies, 

 to observe regular hours respecting sleep and work, and to report 

 the quantity of water which was drunk away from the hygienic table. 

 The young men were not placed under surveillance, but simply were 

 trusted with their pledge that they would not violate any of the rules 

 of conduct prescribed. The diet was varied so as to give a choice of 

 meats, vegetables, fruits, and cereals, with bread, butter, milk, and 

 coffee. Food of the best quality was purchased, free of any added 

 preservative or coloring matter and in a perfect state of preservation, 

 and every precaution was used to have the food and all the appurte- 

 nances of the table perfectly sanitary. 



[Cir. 37] 



