On the Passage of Boric Acid through the Skin by Osmosis

Some years ago Dr. Edward H. Ochsner and I made a study of the action of boric acid when patients were treated for blood poisoning by means of compresses of boric acid solutions. The essential results were reported by Dr. Ochsner in a paper on “The treatment of septic infections of the extremities.“’ In that investigation it was found that when aqueous solutions of boric acid, to which alcohol either had or had not been added, are applied to the skin of persons suffering from blood poisoning, the boric acid actually passes through the unbroken skin and makes its appearance in the urine in estimable quantities. The treatment consisted of applying a saturated aqueous solution of boric acid in the form of a large wet dressing to the affected part. This dressing was kept at body temperature, or what was more commonly done, 1 volume of 95 per cent alcohol was added to 3 volumes of the saturated aqueous solution of boric acid. The presence of the alcohol prevents the cold, clammy feeling which a large wet aqueous dressing causes when it is not kept warm. To keep such a purely aqueous dressing at body temperature, or a little above, for hours at a time would require constant attention on the part of the nurse. Various strengths of boric acid were tried in this research, but the best results were obtained when a saturated solution was used. This is what one would have expected since boric acid is but sparingly soluble, the saturated solution at ordinary temperatures containing only about 4 per cent. In all of the cases treated, the amount of