170 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PHESEBVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



administration of the preservative introduces into the observations an 

 element of uncertainty which must be taken into full consideration in 

 drawing conclusions from the data obtained. In the present case at 

 least three members of the table are affected to such an extent by 

 extraneous diseases as to render the data obtained in their cases of 

 small value. It does not seem advisable, however, in a discussion of 

 this kind, to omit any of the recorded data which can throw any light 

 whatever, either directly or by suggestion, upon the problem under 

 consideration-. Allowing full weight, therefore, to these disturbing 

 influences, we still have certain modifications of the urine which it 

 seems only fair to. attribute in part to the effect of the preservative 

 administered. In the case of Nos. 7 and 10, a more complete compari- 

 son can be made, since these men received the same quantity of pre- 

 servative extending over the same periods of time. 



The mean volume of urine secreted by Nos. 7 and 10 during the fore 

 period is 1,101 cc, and during the preservative period 1,196 cc. This 

 shows that the administration of the preservative did not tend notably 

 to increase the volume of the urine. The mean specific gravity of the 

 urine in the case of Nos. 7 and 10 during the fore period is 1.0258, and 

 during the preservative period 1.0235. This shows a slight decrease 

 in the specific gravity, more than would be accounted for by the 

 slightly increased volume. The mean daily quantity of total solids 

 excreted in the case of Nos. 7 and 10 during the fore period is 66.847 

 grams, and during the preservative period 66.874 grams, showing only 

 a very slight increase. 



SUPPLEMENTARY PRESERVATIVE PERIOD. 



For the purpose of determining what effect, if any, a daily progress- 

 ive increase in the quantity of preservative would have, the members 

 of the table in this series, with the exception of Nos. 7 and 10, were 

 placed upon a special period extending from February 16 to February 

 21, inclusive. In this period the quantity of preservative given the 

 first day was 1 gram, and this was increased by 1 gram daily until the 

 20th; on the 20th and 21st 5 grams a day were given. In the case of 

 Nos. 8, 11, and 12 the quantities of urine voided during this period 

 were very high, while with No. 9 the quantity was about normal. 

 With the increased quantities there was a marked decrease in specific 

 gravity, the average specific gravity falling in the case of No. 11 to 

 1.0166. The highest specific gravity is found in the case of No. 9, 

 namely, 1.0231. The quantity of solids excreted showed an increase 

 with the increasing quantity of preservative in the case of No. 8, with 

 the exception of the last day, when there was a decrease. In the case 

 of No. 9 the quantity of solids decreased, but not regularly. In the 

 case of No. 11 there seemed to be no marked relation between increas- 

 ing preservative and amount of solids excreted. In the case of No. 12 



