Boro glycerine
Encyclopedia
Boro-glycerine is a transparent yellow, tasteless, 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.
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.
, and other scaly conditions of the skin to chilblain
s, and the search for a treatment of cancer of the uterus
.
Boro-glycerine found its way into many "medicinal" products, including shaving cream
s, in which it was considered a skin conditioner, and applied directly as a lip balm
and dental
antiseptic. In particular, it is effective in the treatment of mouth ulcers
, stomatitis
and glossitis
. It is also frequently used as a wash
for the care of the mouth in unconscious patients.
Boro-glycerine can also be used as a suitable base in controlling the setting time of Zinc Oxide
pastes whilst taking a dental impression.
, earache and ear infections, and is a suitable antiseptic lotion in cases of ophthalmia
and diphtheria
.
s.
Boric acid
Boric acid, also called hydrogen borate or boracic acid or orthoboric acid or acidum boricum, is a weak acid of boron often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, as a neutron absorber, and as a precursor of other chemical compounds. It exists in the form of colorless crystals or a...
and glycerine. It is a powerful antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
and is used primarily in oral
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
and dental
Dental
The word dental is used for things pertaining to teeth and could refer to:* Dentistry, a medical profession**Dental Auxiliary*** Dental hygienist, a licensed practitioner*** Dental technician...
applications. Historically, it was also used in the preservation
Food preservation
Food preservation is the process of treating and handling food to stop or slow down spoilage and thus allow for longer storage....
of food.
Discovery
At a meeting of the Society of Arts, on March 29, 1882, Professor BarffFrederick Settle Barff
Frederick Settle Barff was a chemist, ecclesiastical decorator, and stained glass manufacturer, much interested in theology....
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
Frozen food
Freezing food preserves it from the time it is prepared to the time it is eaten. Since early times, farmers, fishermen, and trappers have preserved their game and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning water to ice, making it...
, which would allow cheap imports to be obtained from around the world.
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 psoriasisPsoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
, and other scaly conditions of the skin to chilblain
Chilblain
Chilblains are a medical condition that is often confused with frostbite and trench foot. Chilblains are acral ulcers that occur when a predisposed individual is exposed to cold and humidity. The cold exposure damages capillary beds in the skin, which in turn can cause redness, itching, blisters,...
s, and the search for a treatment of cancer of the uterus
Uterine cancer
The term uterine cancer may refer to any of several different types of cancer which occur in the uterus, namely:*Uterine sarcomas: sarcomas of the myometrium, or muscular layer of the uterus, are most commonly leiomyosarcomas.*Endometrial cancer:...
.
Boro-glycerine found its way into many "medicinal" products, including shaving cream
Shaving cream
Shaving cream is a substance that is applied to the face or wherever else hair grows, to provide lubrication and avoid razor burn during shaving. Shaving cream is often bought in a spray can, but can also be purchased in tubs or tubes. Shaving cream in a can is commonly dispensed as a foam or a gel...
s, in which it was considered a skin conditioner, and applied directly as a lip balm
Lip balm
Lip balm or lip salve is a wax-like substance applied topically to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores. Lip balm often contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients...
Oral and dental
Boro-glycerine proved most effective as an oralMouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
and dental
Dental
The word dental is used for things pertaining to teeth and could refer to:* Dentistry, a medical profession**Dental Auxiliary*** Dental hygienist, a licensed practitioner*** Dental technician...
antiseptic. In particular, it is effective in the treatment of mouth ulcers
Aphthous ulcer
An aphthous ulcer , also known as a canker sore, is a type of mouth ulcer which presents as a painful open sore inside the mouth or upper throat characterized by a break in the mucous membrane. Its cause is unknown, but they are not contagious...
, stomatitis
Stomatitis
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth, which may involve the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, throat, and roof or floor of the mouth...
and glossitis
Glossitis
Glossitis is inflammation of the tongue. It causes the tongue to swell and change color. Finger-like projections on the surface of the tongue may be lost, causing the tongue to appear smooth....
. It is also frequently used as a wash
Mouthwash
Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used to enhance oral hygiene. Some manufacturers of mouthwash claim that antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse kill the bacterial plaque causing cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath. Anti-cavity mouth rinse uses fluoride to protect against tooth decay...
for the care of the mouth in unconscious patients.
Boro-glycerine can also be used as a suitable base in controlling the setting time of Zinc Oxide
Zinc oxide
Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound with the formula ZnO. It is a white powder that is insoluble in water. The powder is widely used as an additive into numerous materials and products including plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, rubber , lubricants, paints, ointments, adhesives, sealants,...
pastes whilst taking a dental impression.
Other medical
Boro-glycerine, in solution, is used in the treatment of conjunctivitisConjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis refers to inflammation of the conjunctiva...
, earache and ear infections, and is a suitable antiseptic lotion in cases of ophthalmia
Ophthalmia
Ophthalmia is inflammation of the eye. It is a medical sign which may be indicative of various conditions, including sympathetic ophthalmia , gonococcal ophthalmia, trachoma or "Egyptian" ophthalmia, ophthalmia neonatorum ,...
and diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
.
Various
Alfred P.Wire recommended boro glycerine as a mounting medium in the preparation of microscope slideMicroscope slide
A microscope slide is a thin flat piece of glass, typically 75 by 25 mm and about 1 mm thick, used to hold objects for examination under a microscope. Typically the object is placed or secured on the slide, and then both are inserted together in the microscope for viewing...
s.