BORIC ACID AND BORAX. 237 



April 5-9, inclusive, 5.9; for the first, second, and third subperiods, 

 March 28 to April 9, inclusive, 6.3; for the fourth subperiod, April 

 10-14, inclusive, 5.9, and for the first, second, third, and fourth sub- 

 periods, March 28 to April 14, 6.2. The percentage eliminated during 

 the after period is 6.2. 



Here again we find but little disturbance in the percentage of calo- 

 ries eliminated by reason of the administration of the borax. 



In the cases of Nos. 11 and 12 the observations were irregular in 

 time by reason of their illness during the fore period. They were first 

 placed under observation March 31 and April 3, respectively, for a 

 fore period which lasted only four and three days, respectively. The 

 percentage of calories eliminated in the fore period is 6.3; in the pre- 

 servative period, 6; in the after period, 6.3. These data show but 

 little effect produced on food combustion, but that little is to increase 

 it during the administration of the preservative. 



SERIES V. 



Only three members of the class, viz, Nos. 1, 3, and 5, completed 

 the entire series, and the following data refer to them alone. 



During the fore period, extending from April 24 to May 1, inclu- 

 sive, the percentage of calories eliminated is 6.3; during the first pre- 

 servative subperiod, May 2 to 13, it is 6.1; during the first and second 

 subperiods, May 2 to 25, inclusive, 6.2; during the first, second, and 

 third subperiods, May 2 to June 6, inclusive, 6.5, and during the first, 

 second, third, and fourth subperiods, May 2 to June 20, inclusive, 6.7. 

 During the after period the percentage of calories eliminated is 7.7. 

 These data show a growing tendency to diminish the combustion of 

 the foods under the administration of the preservative, and this tend- 

 ency is greatly increased during the after period. If the decrease in 

 the calories balance during the preservative period is due to the effect 

 of the borax, it should have ceased with the withdrawal of the preserv- 

 ative, unless digestion was so impaired as to result in a continuing 

 effect. 



COMPARISON OF PERCENTAGES OF CALORIES ELIMINATED. 



Collecting the average data showing the percentage of calories 

 eliminated for the third, fourth, and fifth series of observations by 

 periods, we have the following statement, taken from Table LXXXIV: 



Per cent. 



Fore periods 6. 4 



Preservative periods . . . ^. 6. 6 



After periods 7. 



These data show a slight tendency on the part of the borax to 

 diminish the percentage of combustion of the foods. On the removal 

 of the preservative from the food the decrease in combustion continues 

 and in a more marked manner. The data are not wholly decisive, but 



