840 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



over the fore period. Referring to the table of administration of 

 the preservative it is seen that 564 milligrams of SO 2 , equivalent to 

 282 milligrams of sulphur, were given in the form of sodium sulphite. 

 The feces, however, showed a marked decrease in sulphur during the 

 preservative and after periods (Table X), which might be thought to 

 account for the increase of sulphur excreted in the urine above the 

 amount exhibited in the preservative. The average data given in 

 Table X do not indicate, however, that such an influence was exerted. 



One point worthy of notice is the increase of neutral sulphur dur- 

 ing the preservative and after periods. This increase during the 

 preservative period amounts to 203 milligrams of SO 3 , or 81 milli- 

 grams of sulphur. There is a little over half this increase in the after 

 period over the fore period. Considering the sulphates determined 

 as such it is seen that there is an increase of 549 milligrams of SO 3 , 

 which is equivalent to 219 milligrams of sulphur. There is a decrease 

 in the after period to a quantity less than in the fore period. Fur- 

 ther, it is seen that this increase is entirely in the quantity of inor- 

 ganic or preformed sulphates, the quantity of ethereal or organically 

 combined sulphuric acid remaining remarkably constant in the case 

 of this subject throughout the period of observation. If, as is said 

 to be the case, the ethereal sulphates are an indication of putrefactive 

 changes taking place in the intestines, there seems no evidence of 

 such a condition in this instance. 



The average ratio of ethereal sulphates to inorganic sulphates is 

 commonly given as 1: 10. In the case of No. 1, this ratio in the 

 fore period is 1: 13.4, in the preservative period 1: 17.0, and in the 

 after period 1:13. Naturally the ratio would be greatly disturbed 

 when sulphur is exhibited in the preservative, but it is of interest 

 to note the magnitude of this disturbance in the individuals and that 

 it is due, in every case but two, to a large increase in the amount 

 of inorganic sulphates. 



The results expressed in percentage of the total sulphur eliminated 

 show a large increase of neutral sulphur in the preservative period 

 which is slightly increased in the after period. The total sulphates 

 show a gradual falling off during the observation which is quite 

 marked in the preservative period. The ethereal sulphates fall from 

 6.2 per cent in the fore period to 4.8 per cent in the preservative 

 period, rising again to 6.1 per cent in the after period, while the inor- 

 ganic sulphates gradually decrease in percentage amount throughout, 

 notwithstanding their large increase in actual amount eliminated. 



A point worthy of comment here is the increase in the actual and 

 percentage amount of neutral sulphur and the decrease in the per 

 cent of ethereal sulphates. Since the total sulphur is so largely 

 increased it does not follow that the decrease in the percentage 

 amounts of the other forms means a decrease in the actual amounts, 



