558 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PEESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



to inorganic sulphates determined as well as the ratio of the sulphur 

 in different forms to the nitrogen in the urine. The particular object 

 in view was to determine whether or not the total quantity of sulphur 

 in the urine was affected by the administration of the preservative 

 and whether the kinds of sulphur, as related to each other, were 

 changed in any definite proportions. This required the determination 

 of the total nitrogen in the urine, the total sulphur, total sulphur as 

 SO 3 , neutral sulphur as SO 3 , total sulphuric acid as SO 3 , ethereal sul- 

 phates as SO 3 , inorganic sulphates as SO 3 , the ratio of the ethereal 

 sulphates to the inorganic sulphates and the calculation of the per- 

 centage relations of the various kinds of sulphur to the total sulphur, 

 namely, the percentage of neutral sulphur as SO 3 , total sulphur as 

 SO 3 , and ethereal sulphates as SO 3 . 



The importance of the urine as an index of changes in metabolic 

 activity is fully realized and, without minimizing the importance of 

 the constitution of the feces or of the other excretions, it is sufficient 

 to call attention to the greater magnitude of the urine excretions and 

 to their greater significance in relation to the metabolized products of 

 the food elements. 



The individual and summarized data on the relation of the pre- 

 formed sulphates to the ethereal sulphates and neutral sulphur are 

 given in Table X. 



INDIVIDUAL DATA. 



No. 1. 



Inasmuch as the quantities of sulphur in the food vary slightly in 

 the different periods, it is best to base the discussion upon the per- 

 centage of the total sulphur occurring under the various forms rather 

 than upon the ratios alone. The quantities excreted, however, and 

 the ratios which have been determined are stated in the table, so that 

 full information respecting the whole matter may be available. In 

 the case of No. 1 the percentage of sulphur occurring in the neutral 

 state is diminished in the preservative period, while it is very notably 

 increased in the after period. The percentage of total sulphur occur- 

 ring as sulphates is slightly increased in the preservative period 

 and notably diminished in the after period. The percentage of total 

 sulphur occurring as ethereal sulphates is increased in the preserva- 

 tive period and somewhat diminished in the after period, but not to 

 the minimum of the fore period. The percentage of total sulphur as 

 inorganic sulphates is the same in the preservative period as in the 

 fore period and is slightly diminished in the after period. 



No. 2. 



In the case of No. 2 there is an increase in the percentage of neutral 

 sulphur in the preservative period and a still further increase in the 

 after period. This is attended with a decrease in the percentage of 



