40 INFLUENCE OF BORAX AND 



out influence upon proteid metabolism. Neither do they exert 

 any specific influence upon the general nutritional changes of 

 the body. Under no circumstances, so far as we have been 

 able to ascertain, does borax tend to increase body-weight or 

 to protect the proteid matter of the tissues. 



Large doses of borax, 5-10 grams daily, have a direct stim- 

 ulating effect upon proteid metabolism, as claimed by Gruber; 

 such doses, especially if continued, lead to an increased excre- 

 tion of nitrogen through the urine, also of sulphuric acid and 

 phosphoric acid. 



Boric acid, on the other hand, in doses up to 3 grams per 

 day, is practically without influence upon proteid metabolism 

 and upon the general nutrition of the body. 



Borax, when taken in large doses, tends to retard somewhat 

 the assimilation of proteid and fatty foods, increasing notice- 

 ably the weight of the faeces and their content of nitrogen and 

 fat. With very large doses there is a tendency toward 

 diarrhoea and an increased excretion of mucus. Boric acid, on 

 the contrary, in doses up to 3 grams per day, is wholly with- 

 out influence in these directions. 



Borax causes a decrease in the volume of the urine, changes 

 the reaction of the fluid to alkaline, and raises the specific 

 gravity, owing to the rapid elimination of the borax through 

 this channel. Under no circumstances have we observed any 

 diuretic action with either borax or boric acid. The latter 

 agent has little effect on the volume of the urine. 



Both borax and boric acid are quickly eliminated from the 

 body through the urine, twenty-four to thirty-six hours being 

 generally sufficient for their complete [removal. Rarely are 

 they found in the faeces. 



Neither borax nor boric acid have any influence upon the 

 putrefactive processes of the intestine as measured by the 

 amount of combined sulphuric acid in the urine, or by Jaffe's 

 indoxyl test. Exceedingly large doses of borax are inactive 

 in this direction, not because the salt is without action 

 upon micro-organisms, but because of its rapid absorption from 

 the intestinal tract. 



