914 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



The data of the balance sheet show a marked effect on the metabolism 

 of phosphorus during the progress of the experiment. In the after 

 period there is a tendency to return to normal conditions, although 

 the decrease in the phosphorus eliminated in the urine continues. 



For No. 4 the quantities of phosphoric acid ingested during the 

 different periods remain fairly constant, being almost identical in the 

 fore and preservative periods and slightly increased during the after 

 period. The quantities excreted in the feces are also almost the same, 

 being slightly less in the after period, when the amount in the food is 

 greater, which causes a considerable difference in the percentage of 

 elimination. The quantities of phosphoric acid excreted in the urine 

 are increased slightly, both in the preservative and after periods. 



The total quantities excreted in the feces and urine gradually 

 increase with the three periods, rising from 4.108 grams daily in the 

 fore period to 4.356 grams daily in the after period. The percentages 

 of elimination remain fairly constant. The balance for the fore 

 period is 0.257 gram, for the preservative period 0.104 gram, and for 

 the after period 0.171 gram. The tendency is shown here in the pre- 

 servative period to increase the elimination of phosphoric acid, due 

 to an increased excretion in the urine, and thus to diminish the 

 magnitude of the positive balance.- 



The data for No. 5 are rendered incomplete by reason of the short- 

 ness of the fore period, which extends over only one subperiod, and 

 there is also a considerable variation in the quantity of phosphoric 

 acid exhibited in the food. These two facts somewhat decrease the 

 value of the comparative study of the data of the balance sheet. In 

 spite of the fact that the phosphoric acid ingested in the preservative 

 period was very materially less than in the fore period, the nonme- 

 tabolized phosphoric acid excreted was markedly greater in the pre- 

 servative period. This fact, taken into consideration with the slight 

 change in the elimination in the urine, indicates a tendency on the 

 part of the preservative to decrease the absorption of phosphorus. 



In the case of No. 6 the amount of phosphoric acid in the food 

 remains almost constant for the three periods. The excretion of phos- 

 phoric acid in the feces is considerably increased during the preserva- 

 tive period, rising from 1.180 grams daily to 1.400 grams daily. In the 

 after period a tendency is shown to return to the conditions of the 

 fore period in so far as the excretion of phosphoric acid in the feces is 

 concerned. The quantity of phosphoric acid excreted in the urine is 

 diminished during the preservative period, falling from 2.438 grams 

 daily to 2.282 grams. The quantity rises again in the after period, 

 being almost the same quantity as in the fore period. The sum of the 

 quantities excreted in the feces and urine is almost the same for the 

 three periods. The balance is positive and its magnitude in the fore 

 period is 0.583, in the preservative period 0.495, and in the after 

 period 0.689 gram. 



