Boracicum Acidum

Boric Acid. H 3 BO 3 . Solution of crystals in alcohol.

Clinical

Antiseptic / Climacteric flushings / Erythema / Eyes, affections of / Headache / Impetigo / Œdema / Renal colic / Vomiting / Whitlow / Wounds

Characteristics

Poisonings and provings with Bor. ac. have caused: headache; vertigo; noises in the ears; prostration; cold saliva; vomiting of tough, greenish stuff; uncontrollable vomiting; sweat on scrobiculus cordis; hiccough; pasty stool; pain in region of ureters or increased urine and increased call to urinate; albuminuria; erythematous eruption on face, body, and thighs followed by pearly vesicles on face and neck. Three cases of poisoning have been reported from packing the vagina with the dry acid, kept in by tampons till liquefaction took place. Symptoms were: Formication of hands and feet, later of face. Sad spirits, great nervous depression. Burning skin; it became swelled and charred, and all motion was painful. One case went into collapse; temperature subnormal; sighing and weeping by turns. The patients were cold; vagina felt "cold as if packed with ice." Coldness is a prominent feature, as cold saliva. In the 3x Cooper has found it give great relief in climacteric flushings. In connection with the skin effects may be mentioned the case of a woman who took gr. xxx per diem of the acid for a month, when there appeared a multiform erythema of trunk extending to upper limbs; at the same time there appeared a painful swelling of upper lids with conjunctivitis and photophobia. Finally the œdema was so intense as to close the eyes and give the appearance of sclerosed tissue. The symptoms began to abate when the Bor. ac. was discontinued, and disappeared in a week. Bor. ac. has been largely used as an antiseptic dressing for wounds, as a lotion for the eyes and for whitlow, and as a wash in catarrh of the bladder. It is much less irritating than Carbolic acid. But it also has produced skin eruptions. Symptoms > after walking in open air.

Relations

Compare: Borax, Carbolic acid, Kali bi. (tough mucus).

1. Mind

Low spirits, nervous depression. Sighing and weeping by turns. Apathetic.

2. Head

A gastric headache. Headache, vertigo, noise in ears.

3. Eyes

Intense œdema closing eyes, conjunctivitis and photophobia.

8. Mouth

Much cold saliva. Tongue dry, furred, difficulty in moving it; dryness in throat.

11. Stomach

Nausea and heaviness in stomach > after walking in open air. Vomiting of tough mucus, strongly alkaline. Vomits greenish stuff.

14. Urinary Organs

Pain in region of ureters. Frequent and urgent desire to urinate. Quantity of urine doubled. Albumen in urine.

16. Female Sexual Organs

Vagina packed with it felt cold as if ice had been used. Climacteric flushings.

24. Generalities

Collapse. Formication of hands and feet; later of face.

25. Skin

Impetigo figurata first on r. thigh then on left. Burning skin. Multiform erythema and hard œdema.

27. Fever

Coldness; temperature subnormal.