THE NEW ANTISEPTIC.

Evening Star, Issue 6031, 11 July 1882, Page 4

THE NEW ANTISEPTIC.

Farther accounts of the new food preser vative make it appear that Professor Barff a discovery is not altogether an unqualified success. It is said to be neither perfectly new nor perfectly safe. A compound has been employed for Borne time past under the name of aseptine for the preservation of milk ; but those who used it do not consider it quite innocuous. A farmer of one of the Crown farms states he kept a certain quantity of milk in this aseptine for a week at a time during the hot weather, and gave it to his children to drink. After taking it for some time they complained of langour and drowsiness. The doctor was then called in, but was unable to account for the symptoms, until the " aseptine," or preparation of boracic acid, was mentioned. He at once declared it to be an anodyne, and calculated to affect injuriously, even to poison, young children. At the same time the doctor expressed it as his opinion that there would be no danger to adults in the same quantity of boracic acid. The matter was at once reported by the farmer to a Government official, who laid it before the medical officer of the Privy Council. No doubt the record of the report still remains, and it can be unearthed to test the character of Professor BarfFs antiseptic. As the boracio acid ia actually in contact with the article of food it preserves, it is difficult to see how any deleterious effects it might exercise are to be However, the matter is eertain to be fully investigated before boracic acid is sold as a common article of commerce.