CUTANEOUS SYNDROMES DUE TO VARIOUS COSMETICS ,osed to a cold wave solution for years. She had shown no of toxicity except that the became sore after she the solution. For two years • She had shown an unusual suscepti- •j•:bility to infection. The causal ::•ii•elationship between the gangrene }•iand.previous prolonged exposure to 532•ii•i cold wave solution was not fully :•:!eStablished, but a relationship i.•!:.be considered witMn the realms of ?'Possibility. •???':•Th•ium acetate w• used for ::• •?'•veral years to produce a loss 'of //}•?aciM hirsutes. More recently it ?. •:?h• been tried in an attempt to •}?Cause a scalp Mopecid where the •}•:•:•'hair was infected with ringworn. '(: • It was t•en intern•y according to • '•:'an exact menured dosage for th• •: •½age and weight of the infected c•d. •: The•e were severe constitutional • •eactions and its usage was discon- •.•'• tinued. In using it in a cream to be •.•' applied •o the •eas on the •ace •th • • exce•iv• h•e•tfichosis, the absorp- • •ion caused the lo• o• hair elsewhere :• • (especially on the scalp) and natur- •y p•oduced inte• toxicity, such as extensive neuritis. Incident•ly, •. the hair did not •all out on the •acial areas to which the cream was app•ed. These •acts may we• be o• interest to cosmetic chemists, though I •y :• revise that tha•um acetate not been used in any so• o• cosmetic preparation •or very many years. DERMATITIS MEDICAMENTOSA Dermatitis medicamentosa is the term used to denote cutaneous erup- tions appearing from a sensitivity to a drug taken by oral administration. Several cases have been observed recently where dexedrine sulphate was taken for reduction of obesity. I would conclude by saying that the very wide demand for cosmetic preparations (some of which may well have value as therapeutic aids) makes it most desirable that their ß composition. should be formulated and perfected, by the cosmetic chemist, in such a way as to keep their index of sensitivity as low as possible. BIBLIOGRAPHY • Smith, Austin, Editor of the Journal of the A.M.A.: Personal communication to the Society .of Cosmetic Chemists. ' Anderson, George C.: "Dikeases of the Skin," Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders Co., 3rd Edition, 1948, p. 102. a Becker, S. William: "Commoner Diseases of the Skin," I•ew York, National Medical 13ook Co. Inc., 1935, p. 8. 4 Sulzberger, Marion 13.: "Dermatologic Allergy," Thomas, Baltimore, 1940, p. 108. • Tobias, Norman: "Essentials of Dermatology," Lippincott, Philadelphia, 3rd Edition, 1948, p. 72. • 2Reiches and Lane: "Alopecia_ of Scalp Due to a Lacquer Permanent Wave Solution." J.A.M.A.: 144, 305 (Sept. 23), 1950. ' Anderson, James •v.: "Alopecia from Hair Straightening." Arch. Derre. and Syph., December 1950. • Simeone, F. A., and Hardy, H. L.: "Chronic Progressive Infectious Gangrene of the Skin." Ann. $urg., 128: 1112-1123 (Dec.), 1948. 215

FOAM FORMATION AND FOAM STABILITY By R. MATALON, Ing.Dr., Ph.D.* THE STUDY of foams has attracted' foaming agent produces a very dense a great number of scientists and technicians. Fundamental research was carried out in order to investigate the mechanical properties of the stabilising layer responsible for the lifetime of lamin•e and bubbles along the foam column. As a result of this investigation it is now possible to increase or decrease the foam stability. A large number of industries are interested in this foaming property. Increase in foam volume and foam stability is sought by the soap and' detergent manufacturer and by the cosmetic chemist, in various branches of their industries. Laundry pow- ders, liquid soap, shampoos, shaving creams, etc., are formulated to have a common feature of foam abundance and foam stability. Foam production is also aimed at in many other industries, such as in the manufacture of aerated choco- lates, meringues, etc., and in the production of cellular concrete for building materials. One very useful application of foam production is undoubtedly in fire extinguishing materials. Here the * Chemistry I:)epartment, King's College, University of London. 216 toam of great stability to heat. 'Essential components of fire-ftghting foams are hydrolysed blood protein tanned with various metal ions such as ferric chloride, etc. Foams also constitute an impor- tant item in the beer industry and the brewers are interested in keeping a good head of foam in the .glass. It follows that foams play an important and useful role in several industries. They-are also very attractive, and the production of •nulticoloured bubbles using a pipe, a tube or a ring is an amusing pastime for children. Bubbles have been lately used for publicity purposes as well as on the stage. On the other hand, foaming con- stitutes a nuisance in several indus- tries, for example, in vacuum distilla- tion and in fermentation, causingi:: the vats to overflow. In the photo- graphic paper industry, the tendency of gelatin to produce bubbles on the/': paper results in a non-homogeneous deposit of the silver bromide emul-: i sion and in the appearance of white spots. Hence a great number of:• "antifoams" are now proposed, to overcome foaming when it is unde -'i sirable. :i': ..,