THE DISTRIBUTION OF BORIC ACID IN HUMAN ORGANS IN SIX DEATHS DUE TO BORIC ACID POISONING

The use of boric acid and its salts in the medical profession and in some of the economic lay industries has made them commonplace—so much so, in fact, that their power for harm through overdosage or accidental consumption has receded to the background until ordinary precaution, at times, is not used in administering these substances. The potential danger of boric acid as a food preservative is such that its use has long been forbidden in the United States, France, Germany, Holland, Italy and Spain. Great Britain has only recently prohibited its use, acting on the basis of a prolonged investigation of the various methods of preserving foods. Boricized milk has caused serious bowel disorders in infants. A mixture of three parts of boric acid and one part of borax has been found a very effective preservative for milk, butter or meat products. Its common use in medicine as a mild