SULPHUROUS ACID AND SULPHITES. 



941 



During the preservative period for Nos. 1 to 6 the negative bal- 

 ance is 0.234 gram, while for Nos. 8 to 11 it is 0.015. There is, how- 

 ever, a much greater positive balance in the fore period in the case of 

 Nos. 8 to 11 than for Nos. 1 to 6. Also, the difference in the quantity 

 of preservative sulphur ingested as well as the diminished increase 

 in the amount of sulphur eliminated during the preservative period, 

 above that ingested in the .preservative, has caused this difference 

 in the magnitude of the negative balances. 



Considering the percentage elimination of sulphur in the preserv- 

 ative period, the total increase that is, in the feces and urine over 

 the fore period, is 25.03 per cent for Nos. 1 to 6, while Nos. 8 to 11 

 show 16.07 per cent. The increase in the after period is 1.61 per 

 cent for Nos. 1 to 6, making a total increase of 26.64 per cent, while 

 for Nos. 8 to 11 this increase in the after period is 6.90 per cent, giv- 

 ing a total increase for these subjects of 22.97 per cent. It will be 

 remembered that Nos. 9 and 10 of this summary show a. relatively 

 small increase of sulphur eliminated during the preservative period, 

 which probably accounts for part of this difference of 3.67 per cent 

 increased elimination of Nos. 1 to 6 over Nos. 8 to 11. There is a 

 possibility that some of the sulphurous acid gas may have escaped 

 soon after its ingestion, but from the general similarity and agree- 

 ment of the two summaries, bearing in mind the variations and con- 

 ditions already noted, there is seen a marked influence on the metabo- 

 lism of sulphur, namely, a decrease in its assimilation and an increased 

 excretion over the quantity ingested in the preservative. This is 

 more marked in the case of the men receiving sodium sulphite. 



