224 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS more than forty years by the reduction of p-nitraniline. At a very early period in the history ofp-phenylenediamine, it was made by the reduction of p-amidoazobenzene and it is possible to make it by other methods, in- cluding the direct amination ofp-dichlorobenzene. But so far these meth- ods have had only theoretical interest. The starting material for the manu- facture of p-phenylenediamine is still p-nitraniline. However, the method of making p-nitraniline has undergone important changes in the past generation. Formerly, p-nitraniline was made by the nitration of acetanilide, whereby the p-nitroacetanilide was obtained and mixed with a small proportion of the 0-nitroacetanilide. The nitration product was treated to remove the ortho compound, and was saponified to give p-nitraniline, which was then reduced in the usual manner to give p- phenylenediamine. In some cases, the p-nitroacetanilide was reduced first to p-aminoacetanilide, which was then saponified, forming p-phenylene- diamine. In comparatively recent years, p-nitraniline has been made almost exclusively by the amination ofp-nitrochlorobenzene, whereby it is obtained in a very pure form. Most of the p-phenylene diamine (not all) available today has been puri- fied by vacuum distillation, and is of a high degree of purity. It is very possible that the greater purity of the p-phenylenediamine used today is one of the factors responsible for the reduced incidence of cases of dermatitis resulting from oxidation type hair dyes. Other factors which also may be involved are improved formulations so that the contact of the dye with the skin is reduced by the consistency of the product more rapid action of the dye so that the time of contact is reduced improved quality and stability of the hydrogen peroxide used today, resulting in more efficient oxidation of the dye. With increased knowledge of the chemistry of the oxidation dyes, it is to be expected that improvements will be made which will further reduce the proportion of cases of dermatitis. The oxidation dyes, in spite of intense activity in attempts to supersede them with other types of aniline colors, are still the most effective and most efficient means of producing permanent colors on human hair. Yours truly, WILLIAM E. AUSTIN 2446 University Avenue New York, N.Y.

NECROLOGY Albert Francis Guiteras ALBERq: FR^•CIS GmxE•^S, a member of the Soci•x¾ of CosM•xm C•MIS•rS, died on May 26th. Dr. Guiteras had been consulting chemist and director of the Hudson Laboratories, New York City. Dr. Guiteras was born in Matanzas, Cuba, and came to the United States at the age of nine. He received his B.S. at Lafayette College in 1926, and his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Goettingen, Ger- many, in 1932. Dr. Guiteras was a junior chemist for the Food and Drug Administration in 1927-1928. He then served for two years as a food chemist for the New York City Health Department, and later worked for several indus- trial companies. In 1940 Dr. Guiterasjoined Foster D. Snell, Incorporated, where he served as research coordinator, treasurer and director of bac- teriology and toxicology. In addition to the Socmx¾ OF COSMEq:•C CHEMISTS, Dr. Guiteras was a member of the American Chemical Society, New York Academy of Chem- istry, the Chemists' Club and a fellow of the Institute of Chemistry. He contributed a great deal to the literature of steroid chemistry, organic synthesis, sterilization and disinfection and toxicology. Surviving Dr. Guiteras are two sisters in Matanzas, Cuba. 225