814 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



tendency to increase the volume of the urine during the preservative 

 period. During the after period the quantity of the urine excreted 

 diminished to even a smaller figure than in the fore period. The 

 specific gravity of the urine decreased during the preservative period 

 and was restored to a little higher than the normal during the after 

 period. The total quantity of solids excreted daily is 66.1 grams in 

 the fore period, 69.6 grams in the preservative period, and 64.7 grams 

 in the after period. These data show a notable increase of 3.5 grams 

 in the preservative period, while in the after period the quantity 

 excreted is 1.4 grams less than in the fore period. The diuretic effect 

 of the preservative is very marked in this case. 



SUMMARIES. 



The summaries for Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, are complete, with the 

 exception of the fourth preservative subperiod. The average daily 

 volume of urine for the six men is 1,092 cc in the fore period, 1,139 cc 

 in the preservative period, and 1,076 cc in the after period. The 

 specific gravity is practically the same in the three periods. The 

 average daily quantity of solids excreted is 1.2 grams greater in the 

 preservative period and 1.9 grams less in the after period than in the 

 fore period. These data show a slight diuretic effect, the total 

 increase in the volume of the urine in the preservative period being 

 47 cc daily. 



For Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 complete data are available for a sum- 

 mary. In these cases the average daily increase in the quantity of the 

 urine excreted under the influence of the preservative is extremely 

 great, amounting to 207 cc daily. This diuretic effect is continued 

 in the after period, though with diminished intensity toward its close. 

 The quantity of solids excreted daily in the preservative period 

 remains practically unchanged, and in the after period the quantity 

 is only 0.7 gram greater than in the fore period. 



The general effect of the administration of sulphurous acid upon 

 the volume, specific gravity, and total solids in the urine is therefore 

 seen to be to increase the volume of the urine, to increase the total 

 quantity of solids eliminated, and to decrease the specific gravity. In 

 so far as the volume is concerned the diuretic effect is more marked 

 in the cases where the preservative is given as sulphurous acid (Nos. 

 8 to 11) than when it is given as sodium sulphite (Nos. 1 to 6). These 

 data indicate plainly a disturbance of the metabolic activities pro- 

 duced by the preservative, in both forms. 



