146 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



3.8 per cent in the preservative period, and 3.6 per cent in the after 

 period. Of the total calories in the food, 3.2 per cent appears in the 

 feces in the fore period, 3.8 per cent in the preservative period, and 

 3.7 per cent in the after period. These rather incomplete data indicate 

 a tendency on the part of the preservative to diminish the absorption 

 of the nitrogen, the phosphoric acid, the fat, and the calories. 



SERIES V. 



In some respects this is the most important of the series by reason 

 of its long duration and for the further reason that the quantity of 

 preservative administered during this period is approximately that 

 which might be taken in the regular consumption of foods preserved 

 with borax or boric acid. The data of this series also are little 

 affected by reason of illness or extraneous causes during the progress of 

 the work and are, therefore, reasonably full and continuous. 



The fore period of this series begins on April 24 and continues until 

 May 1, inclusive. The preservative period begins on May 2 and con- 

 tinues until June 20, inclusive. The after period begins June 21 and 

 continues until June 29, inclusive. The quantity of boric acid given 

 during this period to each subject is one-half gram per day, with a few 

 exceptions. This is given in capsules and with the precautions which 

 have already been noted. 



No. lJ. N. 



In the case of No. 1, of Series V, it is seen that the moisture in the 

 feces during the fore period is 79.68 per cent, during the preservative 

 period 80.33 per cent, and during the after period 78.08 per cent. 

 There is evidently a slight tendency in this case for the preservative to 

 increase the quantity of water in the feces. The dry matter in the feces 

 is 28 grams per day for the fore period, 33.6 grams per day for the pre- 

 servative period, and 43.2 grams per day for the after period. There 

 is a progressive increase noticed in this case which is very marked dur- 

 ing the after period. The percentage of nitrogen in the food appear- 

 ing in the feces during the fore period is 7.1, during the preservative 

 period 7.9, and in the after period 10. The increase in the percentage 

 of nitrogen in the feces appears to be of the same magnitude as the 

 increase in the total quantity of dry substance and seems to have little, 

 if any, relation to the administration of the preservative. Of the phos- 

 phoric acid in the food, 51.2 per cent appears in the feces during the 

 fore period, 52.9 during the preservative period, and 60.4 during the 

 after period. The same rate of increase in the percentage eliminated is 

 found as in the case of nitrogen and of the solid matter in the feces. 

 Of the total fat in the food, 3.1 per cent appears in the feces in the 

 fore period, 3.8 per cent in the preservative period, and 5.7 per cent 

 in the after period. Of the total calories in the food, 3.4 per cent 



