title: The rise and fall of borax as an antiepileptic drug.
abstract: Five hundred eighty-six patients with epilepsy were treated with borax (hydrated sodium tetraborate) between 1912 and 1948 at the Kolonien Filadelfia Epilepsy Hospital, Dianalund, Denmark. A rough estimation shows that less than 5% experienced a more than 50% reduction in the total number of seizures. Charts were reviewed to find a connection between the concept of Bacillus epilepticus (1916) and the so-called renaissance of borax treatment described in 1923, and to find an explanation for the popularity of this seemingly ineffective antiepileptic drug.
authors.affiliation: Kolonien Filadelfia Museum, DK 4293 Dianalund, Denmark.
authors.forename: John P A
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000266:history*; D001881:Borates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003718:Denmark; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001881:Borates; C018851:borax