SULPHUROUS ACID AND SULPHITES. 895 



the balance is slightly increased in the preservative period, notwith- 

 standing the increase in the percentage elimination of nonmetabo- 

 lized nitrogen. 



It is now possible to compare the summary for Nos. 1 to 6, inclu- 

 sive, who received sodium sulphite, and that for Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 

 11, who took free sulphurous acid. In respect of the influence of 

 the preservative upon the excretion of nitrogen in the feces, it is seen 

 that there is an increase of 0.16 gram daily in the amount excreted 

 in the preservative period in the case of Nos. 1 to 6. In the after 

 period, on the contrary, the amount excreted is 0.08 gram less than 

 in the fore period. This increase in the amount of nitrogen excreted 

 in the feces is the more pronounced in the preservative period when 

 it is noticed that the quantity of nitrogen in the food is greater *by 

 0.35 gram during the fore period than during the preservative period. 

 When we compare these data with the summary for Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 

 1 1 , we see a similar increase in the preservative period of the nitrogen 

 excreted in the feces, this increase amounting to 0.11 gram daily. 

 Unlike the summary for Nos. 1 to 6, however, there, is no diminution 

 of this amount in the after period. On the contrary, the increase is 

 greater, amounting to 0.20 gram per day. As is the case with the 

 summary for Nos. 1 to 6, this increase in the amount of nitrogen 

 excreted in the preservative period is attended with a decrease of 

 nitrogen in the food of 0.25 gram per day. It is therefore even more 

 significant than appears from its actual magnitude. 



If the excretion of nitrogen in the urine be taken into consider- 

 ation, it is noticed that there is a slight increase in the preservative 

 period over the fore period for Nos. 1 to 6, amounting to 0.07 gram 

 per day, while there is a marked decrease in the after period, amount- 

 ing to 0.38 gram per day. 



The same data in the summary for Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show a 

 decrease in the amount of nitrogen excreted in the urine, amounting 

 to 0.46 gram per day in the preservative period, whereas in the after 

 period the amount excreted is restored almost to the original figure. 

 The agreement between the two summaries is found only in the case 

 of the feces. The conclusion, therefore, to be drawn is this: That 

 sulphurous acid, both in the form of sulphites and in the uncombined 

 state, tends to increase the excretion of the nitrogen in the feces. 

 The preservative in the form of sulphites has but little effect upon 

 the excretion of the nitrogem in the urine, though the tendency here 

 is also to increase the amount. On the contrary, when sulphurous 

 acid is administered there is a decrease in the amount of nitrogen 

 excreted in the urine, which is greater than could be accounted for 

 by the decrease of nitrogen in the food. 



The general results of the study of the nitrogen balance lead to the 

 conclusion that there is a measurable disturbance of the process of 



