1 Jury, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 55 
The fatalities from carbolic and nitric acids have given people stage fright 
when the simple word acid is mentioned. Yet no one hesitates to use acetic 
acid or vinegar, though the stomach can take less of it than of this mild boric 
salt. Corned beef is delightful, even though it be preserved in a saline fluid, 
commonly called brine, which the stomach takes readily, and borax or borie acid 
is no more harmful than this solution of salt. 
More than 10,000,000 lb. of cured meats treated with borax are eaten annually 
in Germany, and over 100,000,000 Ib.in England. Boron salt is very soluble. It 
will not store up. Jt centres chiefly about the bladder and kidneys. It has no 
effect upon these if they are healthy, and in certain quantities, has a healing 
effect upon them. Saltpetre scares no one, yet, as a matter of chemical fact, it 
is a more powerful drug than boric acid, and stimulates the kidneys even more 
than boracie acid. 
Dr. Thomas Bond, senior surgeon of Westminster Hospital, England, 
and Professor Attfield, theeminent chemist, who is editor of the “British 
Pharmacopoedia,” both say that 1 per cent., or even more, of boracic acid is 
absolutely harmless. That is, 1 Ib. of boracic acid to 100 Ib. of meat. 
Noven anp Dartne ExpertMenv. 
Dr. Bond made a novel and daring experiment with this salt. He kept a 
a child alive for a month in a solution of boracie acid. The patient sat all day 
in the bath, and was only taken out at night. The child took a large amount of 
the acid into its system. 
“Tf T had used the ordinary solution of carbolic acid,” observed the dis- 
tinguished surgeon when called to settle the question of the evils of boric 
acid in foods, ‘it would have poisoned her. If I had used the ordinary surgical 
strength of carbolic acid, that is 1 to 40, it would have poisoned the child, 
whereas saturated in a solution of boracic acid, as much as the child would 
absorb did no harm ; in fact, it did good. I give, internally, 10 grains of boracic 
acid to adults usually three times a day, sometimes four.” 
That is more boric acid than a whole quarter of beef would require upon 
it as an antiseptic, even if such a thing were used for that purpose. 
If there is a sceptic disease, boracic acid prevents any sceptic action going 
on. Under its action, water, instead of becoming alkaline, decomposed, and 
stinking, remains pure. 
Boric acid does not reduce the temperature. “I would rather go on with 
10 grains of boric acid continued,” remarked Dr. Bond in the important food 
case referred to, “than with 10 grains of nitrate of potash continued.” 
His purpose in taking a well-known substance like saltpetre is to minimise 
the evil. 
The court put this question point blank to Dr. Bond: Which would you 
ray was the healthier, a ham cured with boracie acid or one of the strong salty 
ams ? 
A.—Oh, I should say boric acid would be much more easily digested. 
Q.—Hams treated with boracic acid, doctor ? 
A.—Yes, I think go, sir. 
Q.—When you have 6 per cent. of boric acid in ham, is that injurious ? 
A.—I think not. 
The witness then went to say:—‘“TI give boric acid for decomposed food 
(eructation) in the stomach. It is good for that. Boric acid is antiseptic.” 
Whether boracic acid in small quantities is dangerous or not is considered 
by some to be a mooted question. Most of the best-known chemists assert that 
itis not. This acid has been tested over and over, time and again, with the same 
result—viz., that it is not deleterious to the health of man. ‘The physiological 
side of this question has been investigated also in the artificial digestion of foods. 
The medical profession adds the testimony of its daily practice to the conclusions 
-of the scientists. 
