NEW YORK SECTION NEWS THE NEW YORK SECTION has been holding monthly meetings since the first of the year. The following were the speakers and the papers they presented at the meetings. January 26: "The Chemical Classification of Surface-Active Agents," A. L. Fishbach, Oxzyn Company. February 23: "The Chemistry of 'Lecithin,'" Dr. W. D. Celmer, Charles Pfizer Company. March 23: "Some Uses of Limitations of Radioactive Isotopes in Cos- metic Chemistry," Dr. Victor H. Witten, New York University Post- Graduate Medical School. April 27: "The Relationship of Emulsion pH to Epidermal Penetration and Emollience," Dr. H. J. Spoor, New York Medical College. Miss Hazel Bishop spoke on "The Romance of Cosmetics" at "Ladies Night" on June 15, 1955. THE BRITISH SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS THE GOLV TOURNAMENT took place at Walton Heath on April 27, 1955. The event was not confined to members, and any friends connected with the industry were welcome. Fifty-five members, associates, and friends attended the last scientific meeting. Films were shown dealing with corrosion problems and the cultivation of flowers in the Grasse region. Three vacancies existed on the Council and were filled at the Annual General Meeting held on May 20, 1955, at St. Ermin's Hotel, London. 222

CORRESPONDENCE March 12, 1955 Mr. Maison G. deNavarre, Chairman, Publications Committee JouRN^[ ov THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS 404 Lothtop Road Grosse Pointe Farms 36, Mich. Dear Sir: In the interest of factual accuracy, some of the statements made by Dr. Peck in his paper, "Toxic and Allergic Complications of Hair Dyes," are subject to criticism and correction. I refer here primarily to the chemical aspects of the subject. The use of the expression "para dyes," although current in the hair dye- ing field, is too loose and inaccurate a designation for a scientific paper, when used to describe the oxidation colors or oxidation chromogens. Also, there seems to be some confusion in the author's mind as to what "para dyes" are. On page 118 he states, "Paratoluenediamine, para-amino- phenol, metol (paramethylaminophenol sulfate), and rodiuol (para-amino- phenol hydrochloride) can be used instead of the para dyes. They are less toxic but not as effective as the latter." Actually, the so-called "para dyes" may contain some or all of the com- pounds listed above, with or without p-phenylenediamine. There is no hair dye preparation today which is based solely on p-phenylenediamine. In fact, for some shades it is not necessary to use p-phenylenediamine at all. The patent and other literature has described more than 200 intermediates suitable for use as oxidation hair dyes, and only a small proportion of these are derivatives, homologues or compounds of p-phenylenediamine. It is also a fact that with the present type of hair dye formulations, the amount of p-phenylenediamine used comprises a much smaller proportion of the total amount of intermediates present than was formerly the case. It seems to me that a proper evaluation of toxic and allergic manifesta- tions resulting from hair dyes should include a reasonably accurate knowl- edge of the contents of the products tested. Incidentally, the list of intermediates cited according to Winter contains a number of inaccuracies which could easily have been detected and cor- rected, as for example, calling sulfo-para-aminometacresol (Metol) or sulfo- 2,5-diaminophenol (Areidol). These are but minor and relatively unim- portant instances of the perpetuation of errors through quotations and cita- tions of references without critical study or even examination. Of more importance, perhaps, are some of the errors and inaccuracies dis- closed in his discussion of the manufacture ofp-phenylenediamine, due to Dr. Peck's apparent misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the informa- tion given him. At the present time p-phenylenediamine is made and has been made for 223