JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS the routine use of G-11 soap was equally effective in removing patho- logic and non-pathologic bacteria from human skin. Pathogens were found to return to the skin surface after a period of seven days or more when G-11 soap had been discon- tinued. Mass Experiment in determining the effectiveness of 2 per cent G-11 soap in reducing pyogenic skin in- fections in a state asylum: The en- tire population of the Brandon State School caring for mental defectives ranging in age from six months to over fifty years and including an average of 389 persons--179 males and 210 females--comprised the experimental group. The incidence of all types of pyo- g.enic infections in the group were recorded for one year--June 1, 1945, through May 31, 1946. Dur- ing this period no special medica- tions or precautions were taken. The only change made from the period of June 1, 1946, through May 31, 1947 was that instead of using ordinary soap 2 per cent G-11 soap was substituted. In order to avoid suggestion effects, increased in- cidence of washings, or other factors that might influence the result, neither the employees or the inmates were advised and only the medical staff and the head nurse who made daily inspections of the population knew of the experiment. The skin infections were classified in the following groups: 1. Carbuncles. Acute pyogenic inflammations of the skin and subcutaneous tissues charac. terized by multiple loci of ne- crosis and sloughing. 2. Large furuncles. Acute cir- cumscribed pyogenic infec- tions of sebaceous glands of hair follicles, usually more than 2 cm. in diameter. 3. Small furuncles. Less than 2 cm. in size. 4, Styes and other hair follicular infections of the eyelid. 5. Cellulitis, including felons and other infections about the nails and nail beds. Bacteriological Controls. In order to provide an objective check con- trol, hand-wash. ing experiments were performed on a group of 10 subjects chosen from the entire population because they had had the highest incidence of skin infections during •he twelve-month control period. Hand-washing experiments with bacteriologic colony counts were performed approximately every two to three months during the experi- mental period of one year using the same routine except •' that it was changed to the use of three basins instead of the regular 10-basin method. The results indicated a corre- sponding decrease of bacterial skin flora which paralleled closely the clinical results. The total reduction in colony counts over the period of the year was 80 per cent. The clinical results indicated that the incidence of carbuncles was reduced 89 per cent during the experimental period that of large furuncles 78 per cent while at the same time there was an increase of 100 per cent of pyogenic infections classified as small furuncles. A decrease in cellu-

METHODS OF TESTING A GERMICIDE 261 litis from 81 cases to 30 during the experimental period or a decrease of 63 per cent was noted. The data concerning styes indicated a slight increase during the experimental pe- riod. The increase in small furuncles may be explained on the basis of, aborted infections which might have developed into large furuncles or carbuncles had the G-11 soap not been used, and also possibly due to the fact that the population was combed more carefully during the experimental period for the slightest evidence of any type of skin infec- tion. _rts use to prevent folliculitis, boils, and irritations from cutting oils in in industrial p/ants: Cutting oils during the war period and since were known to cause many pustular in- fections particularly about the hair follicles of the forearms and on body areas generally if the workers were careless and wore soiled clothing. The effectiveness of G-l! soap was studied in a number of rather large plants and it was found that in those individuals suffering from folliculi- tis and boils that G-!l, while not curative, did seem to control the in- feetion somewhat. Where it was used prophylactically it definitely appeared to reduce the incidence of such pyogenic infections. Summary and Conclusions. A series of experiments have been performed for the purpose of ob- serving the effect of continuing use of soap containing compound G-11 in reducing the bacterial flora of the skin and decreasing the incidence of pyogenic skin infections. The sub- jects of the experiment were 389 mentally defective inmates of the Brandon State School on whom de- tailed records concerning the in- cidence of skin infections were avail- able for a control period of one year. During the experimental period, the only change in normal institutional routine was the substitution of •oap for ordinary toilet soap pre- viously used. Clinical results in- dicated a significant decrease in the number and severity of carbuncles, furuncles, and cellulitis. Control bacterial colony counts performed at intervals during the experiment on a group of 10 inmates who had the highest incidence of individual skin infections during the control period indicated that a corresponding de- crease of bacterial skin flora paral- leled the clinical results. It is con- cluded that the continuous use of G-11 soap is of marked value in the prevention of serious pyogenic skin lesions in institutional or other populations.