1016 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



BODY WEIGHT. 



c 



The administration of the sodium sulphite was accompanied by a 

 slight average loss of weight during the preservative period, but the 

 full effect of the preservative in diminishing the weight of the body 

 was shown only toward the end of the preservative period, and there 

 was a continued loss in weight during the after period. 



It appears, therefore, that the administration of sulphurous acid in 

 the form of sulphite tends to reduce the weight of the body slowly, 

 and that this tendency is continued for a considerable time after the 

 withdrawal of the preservative. There was a very slight increase in 

 the average weight of the body under the administration of the sul- 

 phurous acid in the uncombined form, which increase continued in 

 the after period. The comparison of the weights for individuals and 

 for the summaries is best made by consulting the graphic charts (figs. 

 1 and 2). 



COMPOSITION OF THE FECES. 



The administration of the preservative showed a marked tendency 

 to increase the amount of water in the feces. This was not of suffi- 

 cient magnitude to warrant classing the preservative as a purgative 

 or cathartic, as the stools were not of a watery consistency. Further, 

 there was no tendency manifested to lessen the secretion of the urine, 

 in fact in general a diuretic effect was shown. It is of interest to 

 note this tendency in connection with that of other salts classified 

 as purgatives, and the other disturbances caused by the preservative. 



There was a larger quantity of dry matter excreted in the feces 

 under the administration of the preservative, showing a tendency to 

 decrease to this extent the absorption of the food from the intestinal 

 canal. There is thus manifested a tendency on the part of this pre- 

 servative to derange the metabolic process in so far as these changes in 

 the composition of the feces are concerned. 



, THE URINE. 



VOLUME AND ACIDITY. 



A notable effect of the preservative upon the urine in Series VII 

 was in the increase in volume, thus showing a slight tendency to 

 produce a diuretic effect. This tendency to diuresis is more marked 

 in the cases where sulphurous acid is given in a free state than when 

 it is combined as sulphite. The total solids in the urine were also 

 slightly increased, and there was a marked tendency to increase the 

 acidity, especially in the case of the administration of sodium sulphite. 

 It is evident, therefore, that sulphurous acid has a disturbing effect 

 upon the excretion of the urine and this effect in general is confirmed 

 by the special Series XIII, in which the sodium sulphite produced a 



