400 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVII. No. 950 



diet containing sodium benzoate were ob- 

 served through a period of four months. 



These studes covered lengthy observa- 

 tions on the general metabolism of the men, 

 the qualitative changes in the urine, the 

 effects on the blood, effects on the intestinal 

 flora, and daily clinical observations on the 

 weight and general condition of the men. 

 Under the head of metabolism determina- 

 tions were made of the nitrogen balance 

 and utilization, the distribution of nitro- 

 gen, the distribution of sulphur and the 

 utilization of fat. From the data of Chit- 

 tenden and myself, which were fuller in 

 detail than those of our colleague, certain 

 facts are clearly shown. In Chittenden's 

 series of experiments the doses of benzoate 

 were administered as follows: 



Days 



Fore period 14 no benzoate 



Low benzoate period 62 300 mg. daily 



After period 10 no benzoate 



Medium benzoate period . . 7 600 mg. daily 



First high benzoate period . 7 1,000 mg. daily 



Second high benzoate period 7 2,000 mg. daily 



Third high benzoate period 7 4,000 mg. daily 



After period 10 no benzoate 



Total f24 71.8 grams 



This is an average dosage of 718 milli- 

 grams daily, for dosage periods. In my 

 series of experiments the amounts were as 

 follows : 



Days 



Fore period 25 no benzoate 



Low benzoate period 60 300 mg. daily 



Medium benzoate period . . 14 600 mg. daily 



High benzoate period 18 1,000 mg. daily 



After period 7 no benzoate 



Total 12^ 44.4 grams 



This is equivalent to an average dosage 

 of nearly 483 milligrams daily for the 

 dosage periods. In either case the dosage 

 more than covers the practical consump- 

 tion and is doubtless better adapted to 

 throw light on the subject than are the 

 excessive doses previously given. Larger 



ingestions of benzoate are no more suited 

 to prove its practical physiological action 

 than would 150 grams of sodium chloride, 

 kilograms of sugar or half liters of vinegar 

 daily be suitable for these substances. 

 With such large ingestions even the com- 

 mon food substances or condiments might 

 be made to appear highly injurious. 



Time will not permit me to go into de- 

 tails with reference to all these experi- 

 ments. It is sufficient to say that no effects 

 whatever were observed which pointed to a 

 modification of the nitrogen or fat utiliza- 

 tion, the nitrogen balance or distribution, 

 the sulphur metabolism, the body weight 

 or the hemoglobin content and red and 

 white counts in the blood. The order of 

 nitrogen distribution remained always the 

 same in the period averages, and it was 

 only when doses of 4 grams of benzoate 

 daily were given that Chittenden noticed a 

 slight, but to be expected, percentage de- 

 crease in the urea excretion. 



Qualitative Changes in the Urine. — In 

 all of our work frequent examinations were 

 made for the appearance of sugar or other 

 reducing bodies, traces of albumin, casts, 

 aromatic oxyacids, or other things which 

 might indicate a change in the nature of 

 the excreted bodies. There was never any 

 indication of an alteration in this direc- 

 tion. The occasional appearance of a 

 trace of albumin or of a hyaline east was 

 no more frequent in the dosage periods 

 than in the fore periods, and was without 

 practical significance. 



During the progress of the work fre- 

 quent determinations were made of the so- 

 called normal reduction of the urine of the 

 men working in my laboratory, by means 

 of a delicate ammoniacal copper solution. 

 No definite changes were noted which could 

 be connected in any way with the benzoate. 

 After the conclusion of the 124 days of 



