Boro glycerine

Boro-glycerine is a transparent yellow, tasteless,[1] compound of boric acid and glycerine.[2] It is a powerful antiseptic and is used primarily in oral and dental applications. Historically, it was also used in the preservation of food.[2]

Discovery

At a meeting of the Society of Arts, on March 29, 1882, Professor Barff delivered a lecture, in which he announced his discovery of boro-glycerine. Barff had been attempting to find a way in which boracic acid, a known antiseptic, could be used to preserve meats, at a time when beef prices were considered high. He hoped to find a suitable alternative to freezing, which would allow cheap imports to be obtained from around the world.[3]

Uses

Food preservation

As early as 1883, scientific reports recommended boro-glycerine as a safe, suitable preservative for a range of foods, including meat, oysters, milk, and butter.[1] Various experiments, including shipping meats dipped in a boro-glycerine solution on long sea voyages,[2] proved Barff's technique.

Historical medical

The discovery of a safe means to apply boric acid drew much attention within the medical profession, and by 1835 various experiments, relying on the antiseptic properties of boro-glycerine, were being carried out. Ailments ranged from psoriasis, and other scaly conditions of the skin[4] to chilblains,[5] and the search for a treatment of cancer of the uterus.[6]

Boro-glycerine found its way into many "medicinal" products, including shaving creams,[7] in which it was considered a skin conditioner,[8] and applied directly as a lip balm[9]

Oral and dental

Boro-glycerine proved most effective as an oral and dental antiseptic. In particular, it is effective in the treatment of mouth ulcers,[10][11] stomatitis and glossitis.[12] It is also frequently used as a wash for the care of the mouth in unconscious patients.[13] Preparation - It comprises 88% glycerin and 12% borax. Finely ground borax is dissolved in glycerin and the solution is ready for use (Ref. IP 66)

Boro-glycerine can also be used as a suitable base in controlling the setting time of Zinc Oxide pastes whilst taking a dental impression.[14]

Other medical

Boro-glycerine, in solution, is used in the treatment of conjunctivitis,[15] earache and ear infections,[16] and is a suitable antiseptic lotion in cases of ophthalmia and diphtheria.[17]

Various

Alfred P.Wire recommended boro glycerine as a mounting medium in the preparation of microscope slides.[18]

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gollark: The BBC is never* wrong!
gollark: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53381586
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gollark: Yes. It is not doing particularly well.

References
  1. The Morning Herald (Jul 22, 1883) A Half Dozen Scientific Notes Science Section Retrieved June 2011
  2. Popular Science. (Sep 1883) Vol. 23, No. 37. p.626. Bonnier Corporation. ISSN 0161-7370. Retrieved June 2011
  3. Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1548, June 6, 1882, Page 2. Retrieved June 2011
  4. Culbertson, J.C. (1835) The Cincinnati lancet and clinic Volume 16; Volume 55 p. 174. Retrieved June 2011
  5. Keppel, W. H. (Reprint 2009) The Ladies' Beauty Book and the Old Home Doctor p. 344. Read Books ISBN 1-4446-5233-8 Retrieved June 2011
  6. Culbertson, J.C. (1835) The Cincinnati lancet and clinic Volume 16; Volume 55 p.604. Retrieved June 2011.
  7. The Morning Leader. (Oct 11, 1923) Advertisement Retrieved June 2011
  8. The Montreal Gazette (Sep 25, 1923) Advertisement Retrieved June 2011
  9. The Carroll Herald (May 13, 1896) Secret of Pretty Lips Retrieved June 2011
  10. Jones, Eli G. (2000) Definite Medication p.93. B. Jain ISBN 81-7021-244-8 Retrieved June 2011
  11. Prasad, B. (1997) Principles and Practice of Medicine a Textbook for Students and Practitioners p.343. Jaypee Brothers Publishers ISBN 81-7179-516-1 Retrieved June 2011
  12. Jaypee Brothers (2005) Essentials of Pharmacology for Dentistry p.464. Jaypee Brothers Publishers ISBN 81-8061-583-9 Retrieved June 2011
  13. Ganguli, I.K. & Ganguli, A.K. (1983) First aid to the injured: nursing & bandaging 3rd Ed. p. 88. Academic Publishers ISBN 81-87504-96-X Retrieved June 2011
  14. Chandra (2007) A Textbook of Dental Materials p.99. Jaypee Brothers Publishers ISBN 81-7179-738-5 Retrieved June 2011
  15. Norton, A. B. (1997) Ophthalmic Diseases & their Homeopathic Therapeutics p.203. B. Jain Publishers ISBN 81-7021-587-0 Retrieved June 2011.
  16. Kumar, R. (1992) Social and preventive health administration p.357. APH Publishing ISBN 81-7024-454-4 Retrieved June 2011
  17. Nadkarni, K. M. (1994) Dr. K. M. Nadkarni's Indian Materia medica, Volume 2 3rd Ed. p.107. Popular Prakashan ISBN 81-7154-143-7 Retrieved June 2011
  18. Hardwicke's Science-Gossip (1885), pages 139-140 (figure 4). Quoted at Microscopy-UK.org Retrieved June 2011
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