GENERAL CONCLUSIONS.' 



In the conclusions based upon the general observations the same 

 conservatism must be observed and the same general reservations 

 made as are found in Part I concerning boric acid and borax. While, as 

 described in the borax report, the attempt has ,been made to control, 

 as far as possible, all the conditions of the experimental work, the 

 difficulties attending the task are so enormous that it is not possible 

 that complete success should be secured. There has, however, been no 

 attempt made to discriminate in the choice of data, all the observations 

 being recorded and the discussion of the individual data based upon 

 the tabular statements being given without prejudice and without bias. 

 The general assumption has been made, as in the previous case, that, 

 by reason of the regular habits of life which were imposed upon the 

 subjects, the amount of energy developed and the quantity of nourish- 

 ment expended therein are reasonably constant throughout the experi- 

 mental period. If these factors vary, as they necessarity must to a 

 certain degree, it is evident that they vary uniformly above or below 

 the average, and hence these variations could not possibly produce any 

 notable effect upon the final result. 



There has been a general consensus of opinion among scientific men, 

 including the medical profession, that salicylic acid and its compounds 

 are very harmful substances, and the prejudice against this particular 

 form of preservative is perhaps greater than against any other 

 material used for preserving foods. This is due not only to the 

 belief in the injurious character of salicylic acid, but perhaps is 

 especially due to the fact that it has in the past been so generally 

 used as an antiseptic. That salicjdic acid should be singled out 

 especially for condemnation among preservatives does not seem to be 

 justified by the data which are presented and discussed in this bul- 

 letin. That it is a harmful substance, however, seems to be well 

 established by the data taken as a whole, but it appears to be a 

 harmful substance of less virulence than has been generally supposed. 

 There is no doubt of the fact that salicylic acid is a drug which is often 

 indicated in diseases well established and also perhaps in certain con- 

 ditions which, while verging on disease, might still be regarded as a 

 state of health. But the administration of salicylic acid as a medicine 

 should be controlled exclusively by the medical profession, and while 

 it is a remedy well established in the Pharmacopoeia and especially 



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