BORIC ACID AND BORAX. 231 



fore period. During the first and second subperiods there is a decrease. 

 During the first, second, and third and also during the first, second, 

 third, and fourth subperiods the amount of fat absorbed in the body is 

 very much less than during the fore period. During the after period 

 the fat balance is slightly increased. 



COMPARISON OF FAT BALANCES. 



Bringing together the data for Series III, IV, and V, for the sake of 

 a general comparison, we have the following tabular statement, taken 

 from Table LXXV: 



Grams. 



Fore periods 106. 96 



Preservative periods 100. 37 



After periods 101. 86 



The data indicate, when the averages for the fore periods and pre- 

 servative periods are compared, a considerably decreased combustion 

 of the fat, with a tendency to return during the after period to the 

 normal for the fore period. 



PERCENTAGE ELIMINATED. 

 SERIES II. 



The expression of the relation between the fat consumed and the fat 

 eliminated is, as has been alread}^ intimated, more conveniently given 

 in the form of percentages. If the quantities of fat consumed in the 

 various periods of each series had been absolutely the same, then the 

 expression of percentages of fat eliminated would have had the same 

 relative increase or decrease in magnitude as the expression for the 

 fat balances. This, however, has not always been the case. 



The expression for the percentage of fat eliminated by Nos. 7, 10, 

 and 12 for the fore period of Series II, January 19-27, inclusive, is 

 4.2; for the first preservative subperiod, January 28-31, inclusive, 

 5.6; for the second subperiod, February 1-4, inclusive, 5.4; for the 

 first and second subperiods together, January 28 to February 4, inclu- 

 sive, 5.5; for the third subperiod, February 5-8, inclusive, 6; for the 

 entire preservative period, January 28 to Februar}^ 8, inclusive, 5.6. 



The percentages for Nos. 7 and 10 are as follows: For the fore period, 

 4.6; first preservative subperiod, 6.1; second subperiod, 5.8; third sub- 

 period, 6; entire preservative period, 6. 



There was no after period, on account of the illness of all the mem- 

 bers of the class. 



These data would seem to indicate that the influence of the borax 

 upon the combustion of the fat is slightly restrictive, the percentage 

 of fat eliminated having increased during the administration of the 

 preservative. The data, however, are not conclusive, on account of 

 the lack of the after period. At any rate the influence, even if it 

 exists, is not significant. 



