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July 1954, Vol 88, No. 1 >
Article | July 1954

INABSORBABILITY OF BORIC ACID IN INFANT POWDER FREE

ALFRED J. VIGNEC, M.D.; ROSE ELLIS, M.D.
[+] Author Affiliations

This project was aided by a grant from Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, N. J. All boron assays were performed by the analytical laboratories of Johnson & Johnson.

References 1-10.

References 11-13.


AMA Am J Dis Child. 1954;88(1):72-80. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1954.02050100074009.
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References
Comments

IN RECENT years, considerable attention has been directed to the dangers and hazards incident to the misuse of boric acid.* This, of course, has been very rightly inspired by the regrettable reports of accidental deaths, especially in small infants. It is unfortunate, however, that it has not been made clear either to the public or the profession that all reported cases have been due to the accidental, ignorant, and at times negligent application or ingestion of saturated solutions of boric acid, undiluted boric acid powder, or powders and ointments containing high concentrations of boric acid. No cases of local or systemic toxicity have been reported, for example, from the use of standard baby powders, most of which contain boric acid in concentrations up to 5%. These preparations, carefully tested and manufactured by ethical firms, have been safely used and are continuing to be used on countless thousands of infants without

REFERENCES

1 +
McNally, W. D., and Rust, C. A.:  Distribution of Boric Acid in Human Organs in 6 Deaths Due to Boric Acid Poisoning , J. A. M. A. 90:382, 1928;.
2 +
Birch, John:  Fatal Poisoning by Borax , Brit. M. J. 1:177, 1928;.
3 +
Ross, C. A., and Conway, J. F.:  Dangers of Boric Acid: Its Use as an Irrigant and Report of a Case , Am. J. Surg. 60:386, 1943;
4 +
Watson, E. H.:  Boric Acid: Dangerous Drug of Little Value , J. A. M. A. 129:332, 1945;.
5 +
McNally, W. D., and Rukstinat, G.:  Two Deaths from Boric Acid , M. Rec. & Ann. 160:284, 1947;.
6 +
Grant, R. S., and Wegner, E. S.:  Fatal Case of Boric Acid Poisoning , Am. J. Dis. Child. 75:910, 1948;.
7 +
Abramson, H.:  Fatal Boric Acid Poisoning in a New-Born Infant , Pediatrics 4:719, 1949;.
8 +
Young, E. G.; Smith, R. P., and Macintosh, O. C.:  Boric Acid as a Poison: Report of 6 Accidental Deaths in Infants , Canad. M. A. J. 61:447, 1949;.
9 +
Pfeiffer, C. C.:  Is Boric Acid Harmless? Mod. Hosp. 74:106, 1950;.
10 +
Brooke, C., and Boggs, T.:  Boric-Acid Poisoning: Report of Case and Review of Literature , A. M. A. Am. J. Dis. Child. 82:465, 1951;.
11 +
Bertrand, G., and Agulhon, H.:  The Normal Presence of Boron in Animals , Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., Paris 155:248, 1912;.
12 +
Bertrand, G., and Agulhon, H.:  The Presence of Boron in Animals , Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., Paris 156:732, 1913;.
13 +
Bertrand, G., and Agulhon, H.:  The Presence of Boron in Milk and Eggs , Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., Paris 156:2027, 1913;.
14 +
Kleiner, E. G.: Boron and Boron Compounds: A Compilation, Pasadena , California, 1947;.
15 +
Wiley, H. W.: Influence of Food Preservatives and Artificial Colors on Digestion and Health: I. Boric Acid and Borax , Bulletin 84, United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Chemistry, 1904;, Part I.
16 +
Berger, K. C., and Truog, E.:  Boron Determinations in Soil and Plants , Indust. & Engin. Chem. (Analyt. Ed.) 11:540, 1939;.
17 +
Smith, W. C.; Goudie, A. J., and Silvertson, J. N.: Colorimetric Determination of Trace Quantities of Boron, to be published.
18 +
Wherry, E. T., and Chapin, W. H.:  Determination of Boric Acid in Insoluble Silicates , J. Am. Chem. Soc. 30:1687, 1908;.
19 +
Kahlenberg, L.:  On the Passage of Boric Acid Through the Skin by Osmosis , J. Biol. Chem. 62:149, 1924;.
20 +
Kahlenberg, L., and Barwasser, N.:  On the Time of Absorption and Excretion of Boric Acid in Man , J. Biol. Chem. 79:405, 1928;.
21 +
Sulzberger, M. B.; Hermann, F.; Keller, R., and Pisha, B. V.:  Studies of Sweating: III. Experimental Factors Influencing the Function of the Sweat Ducts: A Preliminary Report , J. Invest. Dermat. 14:91, 1950;.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

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References

1 +
McNally, W. D., and Rust, C. A.:  Distribution of Boric Acid in Human Organs in 6 Deaths Due to Boric Acid Poisoning , J. A. M. A. 90:382, 1928;.
2 +
Birch, John:  Fatal Poisoning by Borax , Brit. M. J. 1:177, 1928;.
3 +
Ross, C. A., and Conway, J. F.:  Dangers of Boric Acid: Its Use as an Irrigant and Report of a Case , Am. J. Surg. 60:386, 1943;
4 +
Watson, E. H.:  Boric Acid: Dangerous Drug of Little Value , J. A. M. A. 129:332, 1945;.
5 +
McNally, W. D., and Rukstinat, G.:  Two Deaths from Boric Acid , M. Rec. & Ann. 160:284, 1947;.
6 +
Grant, R. S., and Wegner, E. S.:  Fatal Case of Boric Acid Poisoning , Am. J. Dis. Child. 75:910, 1948;.
7 +
Abramson, H.:  Fatal Boric Acid Poisoning in a New-Born Infant , Pediatrics 4:719, 1949;.
8 +
Young, E. G.; Smith, R. P., and Macintosh, O. C.:  Boric Acid as a Poison: Report of 6 Accidental Deaths in Infants , Canad. M. A. J. 61:447, 1949;.
9 +
Pfeiffer, C. C.:  Is Boric Acid Harmless? Mod. Hosp. 74:106, 1950;.
10 +
Brooke, C., and Boggs, T.:  Boric-Acid Poisoning: Report of Case and Review of Literature , A. M. A. Am. J. Dis. Child. 82:465, 1951;.
11 +
Bertrand, G., and Agulhon, H.:  The Normal Presence of Boron in Animals , Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., Paris 155:248, 1912;.
12 +
Bertrand, G., and Agulhon, H.:  The Presence of Boron in Animals , Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., Paris 156:732, 1913;.
13 +
Bertrand, G., and Agulhon, H.:  The Presence of Boron in Milk and Eggs , Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc., Paris 156:2027, 1913;.
14 +
Kleiner, E. G.: Boron and Boron Compounds: A Compilation, Pasadena , California, 1947;.
15 +
Wiley, H. W.: Influence of Food Preservatives and Artificial Colors on Digestion and Health: I. Boric Acid and Borax , Bulletin 84, United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Chemistry, 1904;, Part I.
16 +
Berger, K. C., and Truog, E.:  Boron Determinations in Soil and Plants , Indust. & Engin. Chem. (Analyt. Ed.) 11:540, 1939;.
17 +
Smith, W. C.; Goudie, A. J., and Silvertson, J. N.: Colorimetric Determination of Trace Quantities of Boron, to be published.
18 +
Wherry, E. T., and Chapin, W. H.:  Determination of Boric Acid in Insoluble Silicates , J. Am. Chem. Soc. 30:1687, 1908;.
19 +
Kahlenberg, L.:  On the Passage of Boric Acid Through the Skin by Osmosis , J. Biol. Chem. 62:149, 1924;.
20 +
Kahlenberg, L., and Barwasser, N.:  On the Time of Absorption and Excretion of Boric Acid in Man , J. Biol. Chem. 79:405, 1928;.
21 +
Sulzberger, M. B.; Hermann, F.; Keller, R., and Pisha, B. V.:  Studies of Sweating: III. Experimental Factors Influencing the Function of the Sweat Ducts: A Preliminary Report , J. Invest. Dermat. 14:91, 1950;.

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