11 



MICROSCOPICAL EXAMINATION OF THE URINE. 



The data relating to the microscopical examination of the urine 

 show that the relative occurrence of microscopic bodies in the fore 

 period, preservative period, and after period is represented by the 

 numbers 64.44, 75.24, and 59.13, respectively. These figures indi- 

 cate a tendency on the part of the benzoic acid and the benzoate of 

 soda to increase the presence of these microscopic bodies during the 

 preservative period. This is an indication of the effect of these 

 bodies to increase the renal activity. 



A general survey of the individual data does not show a marked 

 effect in the case of all these bodies, but the epithelial cells, mucous 

 strands, and mucous cylindroids are most markedly increased. The 

 activities of the kidneys are, therefore, undoubtedly greater during 

 the preservative period, owing to the additional amount of labor 

 which they are called upon to perform in eliminating the products of 

 tissue degradation. The microscopical examination of the urine, 

 therefore, further indicates the deleterious effects of both benzoic acid 

 and*benzoate of soda on metabolism. 



MICROSCOPICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BLOOD. 



In making the investigations in connection with the influence of 

 benzoic acid and benzoates no particular significance was attached 

 to the blood count, and for this reason the microscopical exami- 

 nations were confined to one test in each of the three periods 

 fore, preservative, and after. The results of the examinations, how- 

 ever, are so significant as to render necessary another study in 

 greater detail, which will be undertaken as soon as possible. The 

 limited data obtained show a marked tendency on the part of the 

 benzoic acid to diminish the number of red corpuscles in the blood 

 (an average decrease per man of 370,000 per cubic millimeter), while 

 on the contrary when administered in the form of benzoate of soda 

 the tendency is to increase the number of red corpuscles in the blood 

 to the same extent. There is also in the latter case a slight increase 

 in the number of white corpuscles. 



In one instance in the administration of benzoic acid the number 

 of red corpuscles was increased, while in two instances in the admin- 

 istration of benzoate of soda the number of red corpuscles was 

 decreased. Therefore, in the interpretation of the data these facts 

 must be kept in mind. While the general effect of the benzoic acid 

 appears to be to diminish the number of red corpuscles, and that of 

 the benzoate of soda to increase the number, there are marked ex- 

 ceptions in the individual data. It may be further suggested in this 



[Cir. 39] 



