3 



rejected for similar reasons. This criticism, therefore, is of the most 

 preposterous character and shows to what extremes those who are 

 dissatisfied with the results of these experiments may go in order to 

 prejudice the public against their value. 



EXAMINATIONS AND ANALYSES MADE. 



Each one of the young men was carefully examined for organic 

 or other troubles and no one was admitted to the table who was 

 not perfectly sound physically and who had not been free from any 

 serious illness for at least a year. As much or even greater care was 

 exercised in this case than is given to the examination of candidates 

 for life-insurance policies. Each young man was subjected to care- 

 ful medical control during the entire period of the experiment in 

 regard to his temperature, rate of pulsation, and character of any 

 symptoms of disease of any kind which were developed. A daily 

 record was made of this clinical and medical history, which was 

 made the basis of a general discussion concerning these points. 

 The weight and water content of the feces and the volume and 

 specific gravity of the urine were determined each day, and these 

 excreta were subjected to careful chemical analysis. 



These analytical data, combined with the analytical data obtained 

 for the food products, established the basis for the chemical study 

 of the changes in the metabolic activities of the young men during 

 the progress of the investigation. An elaborate study was also 

 made of the sulfur occurring in the urine in regard to its distribu- 

 tion in different sulfur compounds and especially in relation to the 

 content of nitrogen. Microscopic examinations of the urine were 

 conducted at all periods for the purpose of ascertaining what influ- 

 ence, if any, the exhibition of salicylic acid had upon these bodies. 

 In a similar manner a microscopic examination was made of the 

 blood, including the estimation of the number of corpuscles, both 

 red and white, contained therein. All possible precautions, in view 

 of the magnitude of the work, were observed in securing a complete 

 chemical and clinical control of each one of the young men engaged 

 in the experimental work. By reason of illness and other unavoid- 

 able incidents only nine of the young men engaged in the work are 

 admitted to the general comparison. The fragmentary and unsatis- 

 factory data of the other three, while they are recorded, are not 

 included" in the general discussion. These data, however, are of a 

 character which, had they been included in the general discussion, 

 would not have altered the general conclusions derived therefrom. 

 There can be no fault imputed to the final conclusions due to the 

 exclusion of these fragmentary data. The results of the work are 

 offered to the medical profession, to the officials in charge of National 

 and State food control, and to the public with the hope that the 



