SALICYLIC ACID AND SALIC YLATES. 591 



nitrogen and a slightly increased quantity of metabolized nitrogen 

 excreted. In the after period a general tendency is shown to return 

 to the conditions of the fore period, but this return is only partial. 

 The percentage of nonmetabolized nitrogen eliminated in the after 

 period is greater than in the preservative period but less than in the 

 fore period, while the amount of metabolized nitrogen excreted is less 

 than in the preservative period but not so small as in the fore period. 



The balance shows a slightly decreased total excretion of nitrogen, 

 and this decrease is wholly in the nonmetabolized nitrogen. These 

 data indicate that the exhibition of the preservative tended slightly to 

 increase the digestibility and absorption of the nitrogen ingested. 



Had these phenomena been accompanied by an increase in weight, 

 the data would have all pointed in one direction, namely, to a stimu- 

 lation of the metabolic processes; but, in view of the considerable loss 

 in body weight, the question suggests itself, Can any part of the 

 increased excretion of metabolized nitrogen be due rather to increased 

 katabolic activity, i. e., destruction of tissue? It must be remem- 

 bered, however, that the excretion of nonmetabolized nitrogen de- 

 creased under the influence of the preservative even to a greater 

 degree than the excretion of the metabolized nitrogen increased, and 

 the balance indicates clearly increased digestion and absorption dur- 

 ing the preservative period, as already stated, although there appears 

 to have been a decrease in tissue formation. Unless, therefore, the 

 decrease in weight be ascribed to some cause beyond control such 

 as the advance of the winter season and effect of temperature, 

 psychological influences resulting from restraint, fear, etc. it would 

 appear that in the case of nitrogen the katabolic processes were stimu- 

 lated to a greater degree than the anabolic activities. It would not be 

 expected that a marked increase in appetite, as reported in the medical 

 notes, would, under the existing conditions, be accompanied by a loss 

 of weight. In Series XI, page 706, a special study of the nitrogenous 

 bodies in the urine is made which bears directly upon this point, an 

 effort being made to discover the significance of the appearance of 

 these bodies in the urine in various forms. 



