1 The Bureau of Preventable Diseases, Department of Health, New York, N.Y.
A case is reported of a 9 day old baby who died from boric acid poisoning. The chemical was applied as an ointment to a large excoriated area of the baby's buttocks and as a powder on the diapers.
It is suggested that boric acid should be discarded in medical practice, since its potential toxicity represents a hazard that is out of proportion to the doubtful therapeutic value of the drug. Boric acid has been outmoded by more effective modern medications.
Submitted on January 16, 1949