The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-18
BY WILLIAM BRADY, M. D.
SOMETHING FOR CUTS. BURNS,
STINGS AND SKIN LIMITATIONS

Some of your articles I am saving
for future reference, writes q man. as
I intend to spend the greater part
Of my life in the tropics away from
civilization where good knowledge
of hygiene and sanitation Is more
necessary than 1t is here where one
can call in a physician.
Are boric acid and boracic acid the
same thing or are they different? I
understand that some hospitals use
refined borax as an antiseptic instead
Of boric acid. Is this true? Is borax
a good antiseptic? Would mixture
of powdered boric acid and petroleum.
be a good application for cuts, burns,
ETC.? If so. what proportions Of each
should be used? &C. G. P.)
Yes, boric acid IS the modern SPELL
ing for the same substance formerly
called boracic acid. Boric acid is less
freely soluble in water than borax.
but more freely soluble in alcohol
which does not dissolve borax at all.
Borax is the sodium salt of boric acid
sodium borate. and it Is alkaline In
taste and reaction.
Either borax or boric acid IS q COM
paratively feeble antiseptic, but these
feeble antiseptics are popular In
hospitals because they are less irri-
tating than other antiseptics and
may be freely used without much risk
Of doing harm.
In my opinion-I can find no dis
interested scientific comparison -
boric acid and borax are equally good
antiseptics, and believe one can OBJ
tain every possible good effect from
the use Of boric acid Il don't know
Why we prefer boric acid to borax In
general practice today as an anti
septic medicament or agent that one
can expect from any antiseptc
remedy.
Plain Boric Acid Ointment Is Off
|cial In the British Pharmacopoeia. It
is made Of one ounce Of boric acid In
fine powder with nine ounces Of white
paraffin ointment. Paraffin ointment
Is q mixture Of three ounces Of hard
paraffin wax and seven ounces Of soft
paraffin, which Is the same as pure
mineral oil called petrolatum In the
United States. For tropical climate
the hard and soft paraffin Is mixed
about half and half. Such . 10 per
cent boric acid ointment is IN excel
lent all-around salve to use as first
aid or home dressing for burns. cuts
stings or skin irritations where an
antiseptic, non-irritating protective
dressing Is required. It Is quite e.
"healing" and soothing as any such
remedy can be, and It Is safer than
many nostrums offered for such use.
Although boric acid or borax Is anti
septic (retards or prevents multiplica-
ton Of bacteria) one should regard II
as though It were merely 80 much
sterile (germ-free) petroleum. o.
paraffin. For that matter. it Is always
more cleanly and safer to apply such
salve directly from q collapsible tube.
It Is difficult or impossible to prevent
contamination Of q box or jar Of salve
once the container has been opened
and some Of the ointment taken out
People who keep boxes a. Jars Of
petroleum. petroleum jelly) In the
house should sterilize the supply from
time to time by boiling or cooking foz
80 minutes.
Boric acid Is one Of the ingredients
Of "Old Doc salve." . tuba Of which
Is included In the Pocket Emergency
Kit. We arc glad to mail % any cor
respondent who incloses stamped en-.
velope bearing his address instruc.
tions for assembling and using TIL
Pocket Emergency Kit.