918 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



* The average percentage amount of phosphoric acid eliminated in 

 the urine for these men in the preservative period is 58.82 per cent, 

 which is only 1.21 per cent less than in the fore period. 



This same general condition is seen in the cases of Nos. 8, 9, 10, 

 and 11, but not to such a marked extent. There is an increase of 

 4.32 per cent of phosphoric acid in the feces in the preservative 

 period over the fore period as compared with 6.41 per cent for Nos. 

 1 to 6. In the urine there is a decrease in the preservative period 

 for Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 of only 0.81 per cent from the fore period. 



In the after period the data do not agree quite so well, though 

 the same tendency is manifested in each case. In the cases of Nos. 

 1 to 6 the percentage amount eliminated in the feces is the same 

 as in the fore period, with a less amount eliminated in the urine 

 than in the preservative or fore periods. For Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 

 the excretion of phosphoric acid in the feces in the after period is 

 less by 0.47 per cent than in the preservative period, but exceeds 

 the amount in the fore period by 3.85 per cent. In the urine in 

 the after period there is less phosphoric acid excreted than in the 

 fore period and preservative period by 2.65 per cent and 1.84 per 

 cent, respectively. 



Considering that the data in the fore period represent the normal 

 excretion of phosphoric acid, it is seen in each case that under the 

 influence of the preservative a large amount of phosphoric acid is 

 not absorbed, but is excreted in the feces, and therefore does not 

 take any part in the metabolic processes. This is much more marked 

 in the case of the subjects (Nos. 1 to 6) who received the preserva- 

 tive in the form of sulphites than in those subjects (8 to 11) who 

 received it in the form of sulphurous acid. This difference is no 

 more than would be expected when the larger amount of SO 2 , 

 which was administered as sulphites, is compared with the amount 

 of SO 2 administered as sulphurous acid; that it occurs in both cases, 

 and to a less degree with the smaller amount administered, seems to 

 be conclusive evidence as to the effect produced by the preservative. 



There is only a slight diminution in the amount of phosphoric acid 

 excreted in the urine, while the total amount excreted in the preserv- 

 ative period is larger than in the fore period, though the amount of 

 phosphoric acid in the food is less in each case. 



In the after period this condition appears to have gradually 

 returned to normal in the cases of Nos. 1 to 6, showing at the same 

 time a retention" of phosphoric acid in the body. Nos. 8 to 11, on 

 the other hand, show the same tendency, but appear not to have 

 reached their normal condition at the conclusion of the experiment. 



It is therefore evident, and the conclusion can safely be drawn, 

 that the administration of the preservative, both in the form of sul- 

 phites and as sulphurous acid, inhibits the absorption of phosphoric 



