CHLOROPHYLL a suitable proportion of glycerol or other preservative to prevent fer- mentation or mould growth. Granu- lar or powdered forms are available. The granular forms of the medicinal grades are particularly suitable for the preparation of tablets. The selection of a particular grade of chlorophyll, eitner oil or water- soluble, for any particular purpose should only be made after practical tests have demonstrated its suita- bili,•. Ho.wever, reputable brands of chlorophyll are generally offered in definite grades, of standardized strengths. Thus, when a particular make and grade has been selected, the user can be assured of reproduc- ible results with it. The second part of the paper was devoted to a discussion of the newer medicinal uses of chlorophyll which have developed in recent years. Such developmeats have been con- cerned mainly with the water-soluble grades. The speaker deplored the fact that, in many papers published on this subject, there had been a failure adequately to define the nature of the material used. Biirgi, in 1916, began to publish papers describing his experiments on the administration of phaeophytin and other chlorophyll derivatives to animals and humans, claiming that it stimulated the production of haemoglobin and improved the appetite. Later he devised a prepar- ation containing chlorophyll and a small amount of iron. This was claimed to be very successful in the treatment of secondary anaemias and to have a general tonic effect. It forms the basis of a proprietary preparation that has been available for a number of years. Other similar products have also been used quite widely and apparently with some Success. The further work of Biirgi, and also. of Patek, Gruskin and Bowers was briefly summarised, and refer- ence was made to the fact that the Council of Pharmacy and Chemistry of the A.M.A. had conducted a con- trolled trial of the action of chloro- phyll ointments and solutions in promoting the healing of wounds, and had concluded that such pre- parations do in fact possess a sig- nificant beneficial effect. The much more far-reaching claims of Westcott were next exam- ined. This worker, in investigating the value of water-soluble chloro- phyll in the treatment of anaemias, had observext a very d•stinct 'de- crease in urine odour. In particular, the characteristic odour caused by the ingestion of vitamin B• was largely suppressed. He proceeded to conduct in vitro tests, using the Fair and Wells metallic osmoscope to, measure the odours, and showed that the water-soluble chlorophyllin had a significant effect in reducing the odours of benzyl mercaptan, thioglycollic acid and trimethyl- amine. Following up this work, he studied the effects of oral admini- stration of the material on body odours in general. He found that a dose of 100 mg. of the material, taken early in the day, in most cases caused complete disappearance or 191

JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY very marked reduction in underarm odour, and perspiration odour in general. This effect persisted for some eighteen hours or more. It had similar good effect in controlling halitosis caused by decaying teeth or metabolic disorder, or due to smoking or alcoholic beverages. Equally good results were claimed in the reduction or disappearance of menstrual and foot odours. Like so many earlier investigators West- cott used a proprietary brand of material, the nature of which is not d•sclosed beyond the fact that it is described as "specially prepared chlorophyllins" Not unnaturally, the conception that simple oral administration of tablets could reduce or suppress all body odours has aroused great in- terest. In the U.S.A. and Canada several firms are now marketing tablets containing the particular chlorophyllin preparation used by Westcott, and these tablets are find- ing a large sale. Interest has been no. less marked in this country and on the Continent. Within the past few months, Dijkstra in Holland has• published a lengthy series of con- firmatory data, from which he con- cludes that chlorophyll may be re- garded as a universal deodorant having a distinct reducing effect on all body odours. He suggests that its action is of a chemical nature and connected with an effect on in- terchange of gases in the tissues, and reduction in total gas production. Here the speaker outlined the possibilities of deodorization being caused by reduction, the chloro- 192 OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS phyllin liberated from its sodium or potassium salts by the stomach acids being itself oxidised. Alternatively, he added, the chlorophyllin may catalyse oxidation of odorous materials, perhaps by forming a loose combination with oxygen and parting with the latter at the sites of action. On the whole, it would seem that mild oxidation, rather than reduction, would be more likely to have a deodorizing effect, particu- larly on sulphur compounds. Some observations were next de- voted to the use of chlorophylis and chlorophyllins in household deodor- ant preparations, where they are usually found in the company of formaldehyde and/or perfumery materials. The speaker concluded his re- marks} with a summary of the exist- ing methods of standardisation of chlorophyll derivatives. In particular he emphasised the need for a really reliable method of standardising chlorophyllins and ex- pressed doubt as to the validity of the ultra-violet absorption methods that have been proposed. An animated di,qcussion followed, much of it being directed to the con- sideration of chlorophyll as a per- sonal deodorant. Among those who joined in the discussion were the speaker, Miss Perry, Drs. Marriott and Middleton and Messrs. Dead- man, Pickthall, Dobson and Wells. A vote of thanks to Dr. Mitchell, proposed from the body of the hall by Dr. R. H. Marriott, was. unani- mously passed by the meeting.