136 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



In the case of the fat, 7.2 per cent is excreted in the feces during 

 the fore period, 4.7 per cent during the preservative period, and 3.7 

 per cent during the after period. In this case there seems to have 

 been a very marked increase in the percentage of fat absorbed during 

 the administration of the boric acid. This increased absorption of 

 the fat also continues during the after period. 



In regard to calories, it is seen in the case of No. 1 that 5.3 per cent 

 of the total heat value of the food is excreted in the feces during the 

 fore period, 3.2 per cent during the preservative period, and 4.5 per 

 cent during the after period. Here, also, the administration of the 

 boric acid appears to have increased to a slight extent the absorption of 

 the heat-forrning elements of the food during its passage through the 

 alimentary canal. 



In regard to the weight of feces, in the case of No. 1, it is found 

 that the total weight is slightly increased during the preservative 

 period due to the increase in the quantity of water therein. There is, 

 however, no evidence of any tendency to diarrhea during the admin- 

 istration of the preservative. 



No. 2F. C. W. 



In the case of No. 2 the percentage of nitrogen excreted in the feces 

 during the fore period is 8.2. There is a slight diminution in the per- 

 centage excreted during the first preservative subperiod, and a very 

 marked diminution in the percentage excreted during the second sub- 

 period, the percentage falling to 3.2. It rises again above the normal 

 of the fore period during the third preservative subperiod, reaching 9 

 per cent, the mean for the three preservative subperiods being 6.7 per 

 cent. During the after period it rises to 7.8. Here, again, we see a 

 tendency on the part of the preservative to increase slightly the quan* 

 tity of nitrogen absorbed from the alimentary canal. In the case of 

 the phosphoric acid, the percentage eliminated during the fore period 

 is 34.7. There is a slight diminution during the first preservative sub- 

 period and a very marked diminution during the second subperiod, 

 due doubtless to the illness of the subject and diminution of the food 

 suppty. During this period the administration of the preservative 

 was discontinued. This is followed by a great increase during the 

 last preservative subperiod. The mean for the three preservative sub- 

 periods is 31.4 and for the after period 38. The percentage of fat in 

 the food excreted in the feces during the fore period is 4.2, for the 

 preservative period 2.4, and for the after period 2.1. The percent- 

 age of calories in the food excreted in the feces during the fore period 

 is 3.9, during the preservative period 3.2, and during the after period 

 3.5. In all these cases it is noted that a marked difference exists 

 between the second preservative subperiod and the other periods of 

 this series, This is due to a profound disturbance of the digestive 



