BORIC ACID AND BORAX. 221 



preservative caused only a small disturbance in the phosphoric acid 

 balance a disturbance of such a magnitude as to be readily accounted 

 for by the ordinary and necessary variations in the sampling and col- 

 lection of samples for analysis. Interpreted literally, it is seen that 

 in the first preservative subperiod the quantity of phosphoric acid 

 excreted is increased. In the second subperiod the quantity is dimin- 

 ished. In the third subperiod there was a slight increase in the 

 quantity of phosphoric acid excreted over the fore period. The after 

 period compared with the fore period shows a slight increase in the 

 amount of phosphoric acid excreted, while it is the same as the entire 

 preservative period. 



SERIES II. 



The value of the data obtained during the second series of experi- 

 ments, as was the case with the nitrogen balance, is almost completely 

 vitiated by the illness of the members of the table. Nos. 8, 9, and 11 

 were out of the experiment altogether on account of an attack of 

 grippe. Nos. 7, 10, and 12 finished the fore period and two preserva- 

 tive subperiods, Nos. 7 and 10 the three preservative subperiods, but 

 all were so ill at the end of the final subperiod that the after period 

 had to be discarded with Nos. 10 and 12, and was extremely incom- 

 plete for No. 7. The fore period is also incomplete in this respect 

 on account of the failure to get all the data for the excreta for Janu- 

 ary 19 and 20. For the rest of the fore period, considering Nos. 7, 10, 

 and 12, it is seen that the average daily balance per man for phosphoric 

 acid is 0.26 gram. The largest positive balance for the whole period is 

 found in the case of No. 12, namely, 5.16, and the only negative bal- 

 ance in the case of No. 1, 1.58. 



In the first preservative subperiod the data for No. 10 were irregu- 

 lar by reason of illness for two days, during which time the excreta 

 were not collected in such a way as to be of any value, and the data 

 were discarded. The average daily balance for this period is 0.20. 

 The largest positive balance for the period is in the case of No. 12, 

 namely, 2.17, and the only negative balance in the case of No. 7, 1.03. 



For the second subperiod the average daily balance is 0.04. The 

 largest positive balance is found in the case of No. 12, namely, 0.92, 

 and the only negative balance in the case of No. 10, 2.13. 



For the two subperiods of January 28 to February 4, inclusive, the 

 average daily balance is 0.07. 



The data for the remainder of the series include only Nos. 7 and 10. 

 For the third subperiod the'average daily balance is 0.06. The balance 

 of No. 10 is positive, namety, 1.45, and of No. 7 negative, 0.97. 



For the entire preservative period from January 28 to February 8, 

 inclusive, the average daily balance is 0.05. There is a positive 

 balance in the case of No. 10, namely, 0.17, and a negative balance in 

 the case of No. 7, 1.30. 



