BOKIC ACID AND BOKAX. 135 



the two individuals is 10.5 and during the preservative period 11.5. 

 In the case of phosphoric acid it is seen that 42.4 per cent is elimi- 

 nated daily for the fore period and 40.1 per cent for the preservative 

 period. The average percentage of fat found in the food voided in 

 the feces during the fore period is 4.6 and in the preservative period 

 6. The average percentage of calories in the feces for the fore period 

 is 4.4 and in the preservative period 4.9. 



These data seem to show a slight inhibition on the part of the pre- 

 servative to the absorption of the nitrogenous elements of the food 

 during their passage through the alimentary canal. There appears to 

 be on the whole a slight increase in the quantity of phosphoric acid 

 absorbed during the preservative period over the fore period. The 

 absorption of fat is slightly diminished by the operation of the pre- 

 servative. There is also a slight decrease in the absorption of the 

 heat-forming elements of the food during the administration of the 

 preservative. As regards the water in the feces, it is somewhat 

 greater in the preservative period than during the fore period. 



SERIES III. 

 No. 1J. N. 



The percentage of nitrogen eliminated in the feces during the fore 

 period is 8.2; during the preservative period, 7.2, and during the 

 after period, 6.6. In this series there is a progressive diminution of 

 the percentage of nitrogen eliminated in the feces. There is, moreover, 

 a marked decrease in the quantity of feces during the preservative 

 period, the weight of dry feces falling from 31.4 grams daily in the 

 fore period to 28.5 grams daily in the preservative period and rising 

 only to 29.1 grams daily in the after period. By reason of the inter- 

 ference with the digestion and consequent diminution of appetite, the 

 quantity of nitrogen in the food diminishes during the preservative 

 period, falling from 18.19 grams daily in the fore period to 17.69 

 grams daily in the preservative period, rising again, however, after 

 the cessation of the administration of the boric acid to 19.5 grams in the 

 after period. These important facts must not be lost sight of in judg- 

 ing of the effects of boric acid upon the absorption of the nitrogenous 

 elements of the food. While it is evident that a larger percentage 

 of nitrogen in the food is absorbed during the preservative periods, 

 the total quantity of nitrogen in the food is less. 



In the case of phosphoric acid, 50 per cent of the total amount in 

 the food is eliminated in the feces during the fore period, 37.4 per 

 cent during the preservative period, and 45.8 per cent during the after 

 period. 



In this case the administration of the boric acid appears to have 

 increased to a marked degree the absorption of the phosphoric acid 

 from the alimentary canal. 



