EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS 211 they were certainly not disap- pointed, for the products of today are so far superior to those marketed thirty years ago that there is simply no comparison. Yet, there is always room for improvement and ad- vancd. New compounds with new actions are discovered in large num- bers their uses for cosmetic pur- poses must be investigated. In cos- metics, we have a large field of possi- bilities with every promise of suc- cess, not to mention the financial rewards which are sure to follow. Having made the point that chem- ists or persons with training along chemical or pharmaceutical lines have been and will be of prime necessity in adva¾ing the cosmetic industries' interests, let us discuss the question: "Just what training should a cosmetic chemist have in order to serve his industry best." I hope you will not feel offended when I say that in my opinion there is no such thing as a "cosmetic" chemist at present. Of course, there is the question of definition, but I venture to say that no one here has a degree from a reputable teaching in- stitution in which the term "cos- metic" appears. So, the only defini- tion of cosmetic chemist is: a person trained in chemistry and using his training in some phase of cosmetic endeavor. Moreover, I am quite sure when I say that practically all of you now employed in cosmetic fac- tories had to acquire the knowledge of cosmetics requisite to your job by your own effort in a sort of appren- ticeship. This is in no way your fault, but it is due to a lack of sys- tematic instruction in our teaching institutions in the field of cosmetic science. It is admitted that in some pharmacy colleges an effort is made to include in their laboratory in- struction the preparation of a few cosmetics, but nowhere, to my knowledge, is a comprehensive course of lectures and laboratory work offered on this subject. Unfor- tunately, colleges of pharmacy as well as schools of chemistry have overburdened curricula already and cannot add new subjects except upon the deletion of other important courses of instruction. The facul- ties of these teaching institutions are constantly confronted with the question as to what should be in- cluded and what should be deleted from their instruction. Pharmacy colleges are, in addition, subject to restrictions imposed by their mem- bership in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, which association demands the observance of definite minimum hours of in- struction in the various subjecys re- quired to be taught. In the last proposed syllabus of in- struction in pharmacy, the subject of cosmetics was mentioned as an elective subject, but that syllabus has now been abandoned moreover, the time ahd contents of that pro- posed instruction was entirely in- sufficient in my opinion. It ap- pears, therefore, that in so far as thorough and systematic instruction in the field of cosmetic science is concerned, there is a complete lack. The person who is earnestly de- sirous of working in that field is left

212 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS largely to himself for the necessary information. There is no doubt that instruction in the field is desirous and needed. A few years ago, the writer had the opportunity to offer a course in cos- metics in our college as an elective, electives in other subjects being offered at the same time. Of the number of students entitled to choose, nearly 90 per cent chose the cosmetics elective--it was really em- barrassing. The following year, the electives were again abolished. The evening course given by my- self for the past twenty-five years had attendances varying from twenty-five students as a minimum to sixty-five students as a maximum. They were purely technical courses requiring no preliminary education of any great extent. Nevertheless, the course was useful and appreci- ated as the testimony and expres- sions of numerous students showed whose degrees varied from a Ph.D. through Ph.G. on down to merely a high school education with no de- gree. A thorough course of instruction in cosmetics science is at present non-existent' the institution of it is a virgin task. In connection with it are many problems that must be solved. First of all, what material should be included? Should the course be of undergraduate or graduate caliber? Just what preliminary subjects should be required? Should it be given in a chemistry or a pharmacy college? Should a distinctive de- gree, such as B.S. in Cosmetic Science or a Ph.D. be awarded? How many hours of lecture and laboratory work should be de- manded? Should research be a part of the work? Is there in existence a textbook suitable as a guide for students? These questions' and many others will have to be an- swered. In many instances the answer will not be easy to make. It would seem at first thought that a pharmaceutical training of- fers the best preparation for a career in cosmetics, .but certain subjects which to me seem necessary for an understanding of cosmetics, not- ably physical chemistry and colloid chemistry, are not included in that curriculum. On the other hand, the chemistry school •does not concern itself with the manufacture of preparations such as ointments, lotions, creams, etc., and many graduates in chemistry who came under my observation were quite helpless when proceeding with the preparation of even the simplest medicinal mixture. Many had never heard of'the United States Pharma- copoeia, the National Formulary, or Dispensatory. It appears, therefore, that the courses of instruction for a cosmetic chemist should be selected in part from those offered i'n the pharma- ceutical curriculum and part from the chemistry curriculum. As to undergraduate or graduate work, I see no objection to a B.S. in Cosmetics Science, given in a uni- versity for a five- or six-year course, either in the pharmacy or chemistry department with the choice of going