382 
preserved. On the other hand, according to F. J. Allen (quoted by 
Halliburton), borax delays or prevents the rennin coagulation of 
milk. An excellent resume of the earlier pharmacological work on 
boric acid and borax is given by Liebreich (32). We gather from 
the data which are there presented that since its introduction into 
medicine in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries there have 
been occasional accidents and deaths from boric-acid poisoning. In 
these instances, which were comparatively rare, very large doses of 
boric acid and borax were employed, and in certain instances, at 
least, the bad results reached through the employment of these sub- 
stances as drugs could be explained as resulting from a marked 
idiosyncrasy on the part of the patient, and in certain other instances, 
as pointed out by Liebreich, death and the bad effects following the 
use of these compounds were in all likelihood traceable to other 
causes. Among those who have observed bad effects following the 
administration of boric acid and borax may be mentioned Gowers, 
Evans, Molodenkow, Lemoine, Brazelius, Warfwinge, Rasch, G. T. 
Welch, and others. (See Liebreich (32).) On the other hand, boric 
acid was early recognized as a mild antiseptic, and was recom- 
mended in surgery as a dressing for wounds by Lister, Godlee, and 
others. Particularly good results were obtained through its use by 
Cane, so that to-day the value of boric acid as a mild antiseptic 
wash and dressing powder is fully recognized and its use in these 
directions is extensive and far-reaching. It is concerning its effects 
on the system when taken internally, however, that the greatest 
differences of opinion prevail. Opposed to those who have described 
bad effects and even death following the administration of boric 
acid and borax, we have the testimony of other medical authorities 
regarding the harmless character of boric acid preparations. Lie- 
breich (32) cites the cases described by Polli in Legendre’s “Traite 
practique d’Antiseptique applique a la Therapeutique et l'Hygiene” 
of a soldier who swallowed 25 grams of boric acid 'without bad 
results. Polli cites the cases of eight persons who took 2 grams of 
boric acid in milk daily for forty-five days and 4 grams daily for 
twenty-three days without showing the slightest abnormal symp- 
toms. Also the great Virchow, having observed his own urine to be 
abnormal, kept himself on an alkaline regimen for three months by 
the use of large doses of borax followed in the morning by Carlsbad 
water. The results reached are best given in his own words: “Ich 
fuhr 3 Monate lang mit meinem alkalischen Regime fort, und bis auf 
den heutigen Tag habe ich niemals weder Eiter abgesondert, noch 
Albumen, noch Cylinder producirt; mein Harn ist so klar wie der 
einer Jungfrau.” Binswanger also conducted a series of tests upon 
himself with the view of determining the effect of boric acid. During 
