New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-23
BORIC ACID IN FOOD.

The Department of Agriculture has just issued
a report giving the result of the experiments
made last year in the influence of borlc acld
and borax on digestion and health. During Il
period Of six months twelve young men submit
ted themselves 10 the observation or experts
and gave test Of the effect Of natural ana pre-
served foods upon the system The triaI seems
10 have demonstrated that while the human
body can endure considerable quantities of
boric acid in food without serious results yet
the steady absorption of the drug IS unhealthful
and especially likely 10 work injury 10 persons
of n delicate constitution.
The report shows that boric acid taken IN food
Is eliminated from the system almost entirely by
the kidneys and that, as the maximum traces or
II are found only three days after adminstra-
ton the drug meanwhile Is present IN the cir
culation. II is not shown that the boric acld
has any directly dcleterous effect upon III" Kid
neys but anybody who realizes the prevalence
of kidney disease under the unnatural strain
upon those organs of the common mode OF He,
with it's nervous tension and oycrcat!ng, Will
feel II unvise to subject them unnecessarily 20
the work of eliminating from the body chemi-
cal product which has natural place there
and with which they should not be called upon
10 deal The department further finds that the
continued use OF boric acid. even in small guam
titles which produce no immediate palIabe et-
fects and are not noticeable 10 the taste, results
in loss of appetite. bad feeling, fuiness in the
head and distress I'm the stomach. Persons
regularly using hOruted food tend 10 lose weight.
and analysis shows that smaller proportion
OF borated than OF natural food is dgested AMI
made available for the body's uses.
The report IS thoroughly conservative. 1t
makes no sensational charges that food is
poisoned by bOrax. 1t admits that articles of
only occasional use may lie preserved with the
aid Of borc acid without BARN, and It comedies
that meats shipped raw and not kept TOO long
may without bad results receive an external
coating OF presorvative which excludes germs
OF decomposition without penetrating far be-
meath the surface. Nevertheless il IS emphatic
IN It's warming against the ha1tual use OF pre-
served foods and I'm its demand that such foods
Ice honestly labelled that the consumer may
know what lie is getting. This phase of the
subject is particularly important. The consumer
is now ut the mercy of the producer If he is
an invalid, he may he seriously injured by
borated foods which he buys supposing them
10 be pure. lie should have a chance 10 know
whether he IS getting natural or preserved food
If his constitution will stand the latter wei!
and good. If it will not what Is to him poison
should not be secretly and fraudulently admin
istered 10 him.
1t may be that for the preservation of come
articles boric acid is necessary or at least
preferable TO the chemical conditions which
would be developed without it, The burden
of proof on that point, however. rests upon
the producer. He should he compelled 10
meet this obligation, 10 specify his use of boric
acid and commend ii To favor. and not al
lowed TO sell goods under false pretences. The
report says: at is undoubtedly true that no
patent effects may be produced I'm persons of
good health by the occasional use of r,rcsprya-
z lfc ind In oil
young, the dcbilitated and the sick must not
be forgotten. and the safe rule to, follow is to
exclude these personalities from foods for
general consumption" This can only be done
by compelling publicity in the use of the
personalities. Otherwise in spite Of all precau-
ton. those who would be injured will unwit-
ungly them.