BORIC ACID AND BORAX. 



163 



hand and of borax on the other, in so far as the influence of these 

 preservatives upon the action of the urine depends. These data show 

 that the average percentage of the samples strongly acid during the 

 fore periods of those series in which boric acid was taken was 13.9, 

 during the preservative period 47.1, and during the after period 51.2. 

 The percentage of samples returned as acid during the fore period is 

 66.1, during the preservative period 33.3, and during the after period 

 32.9. The number of samples returned as amphoteric in reaction 

 during the fore period is 19.9, during the preservative period 19.5, 

 and during the after period 15.9. In no case was an alkaline reaction 

 reported. These data show that the increase in the strongly acid 

 samples is generally at the expense of those marked acid. The data 

 further show that the tendency to a strongly acid reaction is continued 

 in these cases during the after period. (Table XXVII.) 



Turning now to the data when borax was administered, we find that 

 the average percentage marked strongly acid during the fore period 

 is 25, during the preservative period 18.9, and during the after 

 period 19.8. Of those marked acid, we find 54.2 per cent in the fore 

 period, 56.9 per cent in the preservative period, and 40.5 per cent in the 

 after period. The figures for amphoteric and alkaline reactions were 

 respectively as follows: Fore period, 20.8 and none; preservative 

 period, 23.2 and 0.9 per cent; and after period, 34. 7 and 5 per cent. 

 These data show a marked influence on the part of the borax to dimin- 

 ish the strong acidity and to increase, or rather create, the alkalinity. 

 As has before been stated, this would indicate that at least a large part 

 of the borax is excreted unchanged, whereas in the fifth series, where 

 only a small quantity was given, the possibility of its decomposition 

 and of its appearance as boric acid must be taken into consideration. 



TABLE XXIII. Reaction of urine in Series II. 

 [All members receiving boric acid.] 



