Summary<ul><li>1.Four cases of boric acid poisoningin young infants are presented. All four resulted from topical application of boric acid preparations to the buttocks. In one case a popular brand of baby powder was the source of toxicity.</li><li>2.One hundred nine cases of boric acid poisoning from the world literature are reviewed. The over-all mortality was 55 per cent, and the mortality in patients under 1 year of age was 70.2 per cent. The cases are analyzed with respect to age, route of intoxication, signs and symptoms, autopsy findings, and chemical analyses of organs, and these findings are correlated with the results of experimental boric acid intoxication.</li><li>3.The high degree of absorption ofboric acid from broken skin surfaces and mucous membranes is emphasized. Absorption of boric acid through intact adult skin could not be demonstrated, confirming the findings of Pfeiffer and associates in this regard.</li><li>4.The particular sensitivity of young infants to the toxic effects of boric acid is noted, and the importance of recognizing milder cases of poisoning in this age group is stressed. The common clinical findings consist of erythematous skin eruptions followed by desquamation, diarrhea, and vomiting, and evidence of meningeal irritation. The presence of boric acid in the urine and spinal fluid is readily confirmed by use of the turmeric paper test.</li><li>5.We recommend that, since boricacid is a potentially dangerous drug, possessing only mild bacteriostatic activity, its use in any form of medical therapy, particularly as applied to infants and children, be discontinued.</li></ul>