BORIC ACID AND BORAX. 243 



during the fore period, extending from April 24 to May 1, is 590 grams, 

 of which 25.6 grams appear in the feces and 80.814 in the feces and urine. 

 The percentage of solids eliminated in the feces is 4.3 and in the feces 

 and urine 13.7. The average daily balance is 509.186 grams. During 

 the first subperiod, extending from May 2 to 13, the percentage of 

 solids eliminated in the feces increased from 4.3 in the fore period 

 to 4.6. During the second subperiod, extending from May 14 to 25, 

 inclusive, the percentage of solids eliminated in the feces remains the 

 same as in the first subperiod, namely, 4.6. During the third sub- 

 period, extending from May 26 to June 6, the percentage of solids 

 eliminated in the feces rises to 4.9. During the three subperiods, 

 from May 2 to June 6, the percentage of solids eliminated in the feces 

 is 4.7. These data, although they do not include the latter part of the 

 preservative period nor any of the after period, show, as in the other 

 cases, a slight tendency on the part of the preservative to restrict or 

 limit the activity of the digestive ferments. 



The third summary includes six men and the period of observation 

 extends from April 24 to May 25, inclusive. During the fore period, 

 extending from April 24 to May 1, the average quantity of solids in 

 the foods is 578 grams, of which 25.1 grams are recovered in the feces 

 and 79.906 grams in the feces and urine. The percentage of solids in 

 the food eliminated in the feces is 4.3 and in the feces and urine 13.8. 

 The average daily balance is 498.094 grams. In the first preservative 

 subperiod, extending from May 2 to 13, inclusive, the percentage of 

 solids in the food eliminated in the feces rises to 4.6. It remains the 

 same during the second subperiod, at which time the comparison of 

 the six men ceases. These data again show a slight tendency on the 

 part of the preservative to increase the percentage of the solids in the 

 food eliminated in the feces. 



COMPARISON OF SOLIDS BALANCES. 



In the general summaries it is indicated that the total solids excreted 

 during the preservative periods are somewhat higher than during either 

 the fore periods or the after periods. The effect on the total solids 

 is similar to that on the phosphoric acid. The increase in total solids 

 excreted is due chiefly to their excess in the feces. 



The total number of complete individual observations included in 

 each series is as follows: Series I, 6 men; Series III, 4 men; Series 

 IV, 3 men; Series V, 3 men. 



These men completed all the periods of the different series. The 

 average daily quantity of solids in the foods during the fore periods 

 in these cases is 631.5 grams. The average "quantity appearing in the 

 feces is 25.6 grams, and in the feces and urine 86.699 grams. The 

 average percentage of the total solids in the food appearing in the 

 feces is 4.1, and in the feces and urine 13.7. The average daily bal- 



