21 



544.701 grams, during the preservative periods 539.875 grams, and dur- 

 ing the after periods 530.123 grams. These data show a marked tend- 

 ency on the part of the preservative to increase the total solids excreted 

 in the feces and to decrease the total solids excreted by the urine. 

 There is a distinct tendency manifested by the preservative to interfere 

 with the processes of digestion and absorption. Inasmuch, however, as 

 the total quantity of solids administered in the food varied slightly in 

 the different periods, a fairer interpretation is obtained by comparing the 

 percentages of the total solids exhibited in the food eliminated by the 

 feces and urine respectively. In this comparison it is found that the 

 total percentage of solids in the food eliminated in the feces during 

 the fore periods is 4.1, during the preservative periods 4.6, and during 

 the after periods is 4.6. The percentage of solids in the food eliminated 

 in the urine during the fore periods is 10.2, during the preservative 

 periods 9.5, and during the after periods 9.1. These percentages indi- 

 cate also very strongly the influence exerted by the preservative men- 

 tioned above. It must be remembered, also, in this connection that 

 practically 80 per cent of the preservative administered is recovered in 

 He urine, increasing to that extent the total solids thus eliminated. In 

 spite of this, however, there is a marked decrease in the total solids in 

 Be urine and a marked increase in the total solids in the feces. 



EFFECT OF BORIC ACID AND BORAX UPON THE URINE. 



Elimination of nitrogen. The combined data of the four series 

 (excluding Series II) show that the percentage of nitrogen ingested in 

 Ibe food eliminated in the urine during the fore periods is 85.7, during 

 e preservative periods 85.1, and during the after periods 81.1 This 

 shows a tendency on the part of the preservative to diminish the per- 

 Bntage of nitrogen excreted in the urine, and this tendency is continued 

 m a very marked manner in the after periods. 



I Reaction. The data of Series II, III, and V show a marked tendency 

 on the part of boric acid to increase the acidity of the urine. In no 

 Rise during the administration of boric acid was an alkaline reaction 

 served. In the case of the urine the marked acidity imparted to it 

 by boric acid is continued in most cases throughout the after periods. 

 Kie data of Series IV and V-on the contrary show a marked tendency 

 ft the part of borax to diminish the acidity of the urine and in several 

 stances this substance imparted to the urine an alkaline reaction, 

 ftiese facts indicate that a large part of the borax and boric acid 

 l f administered is excreted unchanged in chemical composition. 



Quantity. Very little effect is produced by these preservatives upon 



I the volume of urine, although there is a slight tendency manifest to 



! decrease the amount. There is a slight tendency also manifested during 



the administration of the preservatives to decrease the total solids in 



the urine. In this connection, however, it must be considered that the 



