BORIC ACID AND BOBAX. 137 



functions during this period, diminishing the appetite and cutting 

 down almost one-third the quantity of all the food administered. The 

 higher percentage absorbed, therefore, must be construed in connec- 

 tion with this diminution in the supply. In regard to the character of 

 the feces, there was a diminution in the weight of the moist feces dur- 

 ing the preservative period due to illness and consequent diminished 

 quantity of food. The quantity of water in the feces remains reason- 

 ably constant during the whole series. There is no tendency to 

 diarrhea. 



It might be advisable in the above case to eliminate entirely the 

 second preservative subperiod from consideration. The disturbing 

 factors, in any case, are so evident as to render necessary the interpreta- 

 tion of the data in such a way as to show their dependence upon the 

 disturbed conditions which obtain. 



jVb. 3 W. S. 0. 



The percentage of nitrogen in the food eliminated in the feces during 

 the fore period in the case of No. 3 is 10, during the preservative 

 period 8.5, and during the after period 8.6. The administration of the 

 preservative, therefore, appears to have increased the percentage of 

 nitrogen absorbed. The percentage of phosphoric acid in the food 

 which is voided in the feces is 26.6 for the fore period, 24 for 

 the preservative period, and 25.5 for the after period. There 

 appears, therefore, a tendency in this case on the part of the 

 preservative to increase the quantity of phosphoric acid absorbed. In 

 the case of the fat, the percentage in the food excreted in the feces is 

 4.9 for the fore period, 4.2 for the preservative period, and 5.6 for the 

 after period. Again, there appears in this case a tendency on the part 

 of the preservative to increase the absorption of the fat, which, how- 

 ever, is not continued through the after, period. In respect of the 

 calories, it is found that 4 per cent of the total calories in the food is 

 excreted in the feces during the fore period, 3.6 per cent during the pre- 

 servative period, and 4.T per cent during the after period. Here, again, 

 we see a tendency on the part of the preservative to increase the absorp- 

 tion of the calories in the food. The weight of the moist feces varies 

 somewhat, falling in the preservative period and slightly falling in the 

 after period, but rising above the preservative period. The quantity 

 of water in the feces remains practical^ constant during the series, 

 being slightly greater in the preservative period. The variations in the 

 quantity of dry feces follow closely the variations in the weight of 

 the moist feces. No tendency to diarrhea is manifest at any time dur- 

 ing this series. 



No. 4E. C. S. 



The percentage of nitrogen in the food eliminated in the feces in the 

 case of No. 4 is 7.9 during the fore period, 10.8 during the preserva- 



