390 
instances, which were comparatiTely 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 substances 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, Bruzelius, TTarfwinge, Kasch, G. T. AVelch. and others. 
(See Liebreich (33).) On the other hand, boric acid was early 
recognized as a mild antiseptic, and was recommended 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 full}" recognized and its use in these directions is extensive and far- 
reaching. It is concerning its effects on the system when taken inter- 
nally, 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 char- 
acter of boric acid preparations. Liebreich (33) cites the cases 
described by Polli in Legendre's Traite practique dhkntiseptique 
applique a la Therapeutique et THygiene ’’ 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 symptoms. 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 alka- 
lischen Pegime fort, und bis auf den heutigen Tag habe ich niemals 
weder Liter 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 one day he took 18 decigrams with- 
out effect, except possibly to increase his appetite. IVhen he took 
two doses of 3.654 grams in two hours vomiting set in, and when he 
took the third dose later in the same day he again vomited, but after 
two hours regained his normal condition. G. T. IVelch quotes 
Gaucher to the effect that the fatal dose of boracic acid is 2.5 ounces, 
continued for at least ten days. On the basis of these observations 
and also certain observations on himself and from results reached in 
his study of the effects of boric acid and borax on animals, such as 
