10 



in its specific gravity, and an increase in the total solids in the pre- 

 servative period followed by a decrease in the after period. 



In the case of the subjects who received benzoate of soda there is 

 also observed a slight decrease in the volume of the urine during the 

 preservative period, but the volume in the after period remains prac- 

 tically unchanged as compared Avith the preservative period. The 

 specific gravity is slightly higher in the preservative period than in 

 either the fore or after period. 



The total solids in the urine of those receiving benzoate of soda are 

 markedly increased during the preservative period, and fall again 

 in the after period, but do not reach the figure obtained in the fore 

 period. The data show but little influence upon the volume of the 

 urine due to the preservative, especially as during the progress of the 

 experiment the weather was growing warmer, and this naturally 

 .would cause a slight decrease in volume. There is, however, a marked 

 tendency shown to increase the amount of total solids excreted under 

 the influence of the preservative. 



It is evident that neither benzoic acid nor benzoate of soda has any 

 diuretic effect, but their influence in promoting the degradation of 

 the tissues of the body that is, in increasing katabolic activity is 

 plainly marked by the increase in the total solids excreted in the 

 urine, although the volume of the urine is slightly diminished. 



SULPHUR. 



Under the administration of the preservative in both forms there 

 is a slight tendency to decrease the excretion of sulphur and phos- 

 phoric acid in relation to the quantity of nitrogen excreted, while no 

 effect is produced upon the excretion of sulphates in the urine as 

 compared with the nitrogen excreted, due to the fact that the inor- 

 ganic sulphates and the nitrogen in the urine increase in about the 

 same ratio. 



In general, there is practically no difference in the effect produced 

 by the preservative in the two forms on the excretion of sulphur in 

 the urine. A slight tendency is manifested in both cases to increase 

 the katabolic activities as shown by the greater excretion of metab- 

 olized sulphur in the preservative period. This increase is the more 

 pronounced when the diminution in the sulphur ingested is consid- 

 ered. The amount of neutral sulphur eliminated decreases through- 

 out the observation, while the ethereal sulphates are remarkably con- 

 stant. It is evident, therefore, that the increased excretion of total 

 sulphur is entirely in the inorganic form, which, considered in con- 

 nection with the decrease in body weight, would lead to the conclusion 

 that the preservative tends to increase sulphur katabolism. 



[Cir. 39] 



