214 INFLUENCE OF FOOD PRESERVATIVES ON HEALTH. 



SERIES III. 



The data for this series are more satisfactory, only two of the sub- 

 jects, Nos. 2 and 6, failing to complete the course, they having suc- 

 cumbed to an attack of grippe after the fore period. No. 2 completed 

 the metabolism of the series, but failed to take the full amount of pre- 

 servative. 



In this series in the fore period there was a notable difference 

 between the subjects in regard to the daily nitrogen balance, it being 

 a minus quantity of 0.43 gram in the case of No. 1 and a plus quantity 

 of 1.86 in the case of No. 5. For the four who completed the pre- 

 servative period the average daily balance is 0.83. 



In the first preservative subperiod, 1 gram administered daily, 

 the average daily balance for five men is 1.12 grams, and for the four 

 1.01; in the second, where 2 grams were given, for the four it is 1.36; 

 in the third, in which 3 grams were administered, the average daily 

 balance is minus 0.37. For the three periods for the four who com- 

 pleted the test the daily balance is 0.66. 



In the after period, extending over eight days, the average daily 

 balance for the four is 2.92. 



These data show that the administration of the boric acid had very lit- 

 tle effect upon the metabolism of the nitrogen during the period, and 

 what effect was manifested was irregular. The first, and second pre- 

 servative subperiods showed a slightly reduced excretion of nitrogen, 

 while the third showed an increased excretion of nitrogen and the 

 after period a diminished excretion. The maximum difference, how- 

 ever, between any two of these periods is about 3 grams of nitrogen 

 per day. 



SERIES IV. 



In the fore period of Series IV the average daily balance is 0.98 gram 

 for Nos. 8, 9, and 10, the largest balance being found in the case of No. 8, 

 18.17, and the smallest, a negative quantity, in the case of No. 10, 5.61. 



In the first preservative subperiod, where one-half a gram was admin- 

 istered, the average daily nitrogen balance is 0.93. In the second and 

 third subperiods, in which 1 gram was given, the average daily balance 

 is 1.31. The mean daily balance for the first, second, and third sub- 

 periods, March 28 to April 9, inclusive, is 1.28. In the fourth 

 subperiod, in which 2 grams were given for four days and 3 for one 

 day, the average daily nitrogen balance is 2.29. 



For the entire preservative period namely, from March 28 to April 

 14, inclusive the mean daily balance is 1.56. 



For the after period, April 15 to 22, inclusive, the mean daily balance 

 is 0.83. 



In the cases of Nos. 8, 9, and 10 of the fourth series it is seen that 

 the effect of the borax upon the excretion of the nitrogen was not 



