BORIC ACID AND BORAX. 133 



the fat consumed in the food 4.4 per cent is voided in the feces dur- 

 ing the fore period and 6.5 per cent during the preservative, period. 

 Of the total calories in the food 4.6 per cent is voided in the feces 

 during the fore period and 5.5 per cent during the preservative period. 

 The percentage of water in the feces in the fore period is 74.65 and 

 during the preservative period 78.75. No data have been collected on 

 the feces for the after period by reason of the general illness and 

 indisposition of all the members of the table. 



These data, in the case of No. 7, show a tendenc}^ on the part of the 

 preservative to decrease the amount of nitrogen absorbed from the 

 alimentary canal and to increase very slightly the amount of phos- 

 phoric acid absorbed. There is also a marked tendency shown to 

 interfere with the digestion and absorption of the fat and, in a like 

 manner, with the general digestion and absorption of those elements 

 which when oxidized furnish heat. In other words, in this case there 

 was a marked tendency, in every one of the factors compared, on the 

 part of the preservative to interfere slightly with the processes of 

 digestion and absorption, with the exception of phosphoric acid. 



In regard to the constitution of the feces as concerns their moisture 

 content, there is a notable increase in the quantity of water during 

 the preservative period, but this increase is in no case large enough to 

 induce symptoms of diarrhea. 



No. 8 (J. H. E.) and No. 9 (E. B. D.}. 



The data on Nos. 8 and 9, because of continued illness, are so incom- 

 plete that they are not regarded as profitable for further study. The 

 next member of the class therefore to be considered is No. 10. 



No. 10 W. J. J. 



In this case the average percentage of nitrogen eliminated in the 

 feces in the fore period is 9.1 and in the preservative period 9.2. In 

 regard to the phosphoric acid, 41 per cent appears in the feces during 

 the fore period and 36.4 in the preservative period. Of the fat 

 ingested in the food, 4.7 per cent appears in the feces in the fore 

 period and 5.4 in the preservative period. Of the calories consumed 

 in the food, 4.1 per cent appears in the feces in the fore period and 

 4.3 in the preservative period. In regard to the percentage of moist- 

 ure in the feces, it is found to be 75.74 per cent in the fore period and 

 74.75 in the preservative pefiod. 



These data indicate that the preservative is almost without influence 

 in respect of the absorption of nitrogen from the food in passing 

 through the alimentary canal. The quantity of phosphoric acid 

 absorbed is increased, while the amount of fat absorbed from the ali- 

 mentary canal is slightly diminished. More of the heat-producing 

 elements of the food are excreted from the body during the preserv- 



