Boro-glycerine is a transparent yellow, tasteless,The Morning Herald (Jul 22, 1883) A Half Dozen Scientific Notes Science Section Retrieved June 2011 compound of boric acid and glycerine. It is a powerful antiseptic and is used primarily in oral and dental applications. Historically, it was also used in the preservation of food.Popular Science. (Sep 1883) Vol. 23, No. 37. p.626. Bonnier Corporation. ISSN 0161-7370. Retrieved June 2011
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 boric 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.Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1548, June 6, 1882, Page 2. Retrieved June 2011
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. Various experiments, including shipping meats dipped in a boro-glycerine solution on long sea voyages, 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,Culbertson, J.C. (1835) The Cincinnati lancet and clinic Volume 16; Volume 55 p. 174. Retrieved June 2011 to chilblains,Keppel, W. H. (Reprint 2009) The Ladies' Beauty Book and the Old Home Doctor p. 344. Read Books Retrieved June 2011 and the search for a treatment for cancer of the uterus.Culbertson, J.C. (1835) The Cincinnati lancet and clinic Volume 16; Volume 55 p.604. Retrieved June 2011.
Boro-glycerine found its way into many "medicinal" products, including shaving creams,The Morning Leader. (Oct 11, 1923) Advertisement Retrieved June 2011 in which it was considered a skin conditioner,The Montreal Gazette (Sep 25, 1923) Advertisement Retrieved June 2011 and applied directly as a lip balmThe Carroll Herald (May 13, 1896) Secret of Pretty Lips Retrieved June 2011
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,Jones, Eli G. (2000) Definite Medication p.93. B. Jain Retrieved June 2011Prasad, B. (1997) Principles and Practice of Medicine a Textbook for Students and Practitioners p.343. Jaypee Brothers Publishers Retrieved June 2011 stomatitis, and glossitis.Jaypee Brothers (2005) Essentials of Pharmacology for Dentistry p.464. Jaypee Brothers Publishers Retrieved June 2011 It is also frequently used as a wash for the care of the mouth in unconscious patients.Ganguli, I.K. & Ganguli, A.K. (1983) First aid to the injured: nursing & bandaging 3rd Ed. p. 88. Academic Publishers Retrieved June 2011 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.Chandra (2007) A Textbook of Dental Materials p.99. Jaypee Brothers Publishers Retrieved June 2011
Other medical Boro-glycerine, in solution, is used in the treatment of conjunctivitis,Norton, A. B. (1997) Ophthalmic Diseases & their Homeopathic Therapeutics p.203. B. Jain Publishers Retrieved June 2011. earache, and ear infections,Kumar, R. (1992) Social and preventive health administration p.357. APH Publishing Retrieved June 2011 and is a suitable antiseptic lotion in cases of ophthalmia, and diphtheria.Nadkarni, K. M. (1994) Dr. K. M. Nadkarni's Indian Materia medica, Volume 2 3rd Ed. p.107. Popular Prakashan Retrieved June 2011
Various Alfred P. Wire recommended boro-glycerine as a mounting medium in the preparation of microscope slides.Hardwicke's Science-Gossip (1885), pages 139-140 (figure 4). Quoted at Microscopy-UK.org Retrieved June 2011
References