$02 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS is particularly relevant to bulk storage, which is outside the scope of my paper. 3•R. E. E•EL: Why did you not compare the butane-water system with an Arcton system including some water in the solvent? From the yet un- published parts of Kempe's investigation we have evidence that a 00% volume ethyl alcohol (10% water) shows a very remarkable reduction in the flammability hazard compared with 0S).8% pure alcohol. T•E L•CTuR•: I did not compare tl•e butane/water system with an Arcton system containing some water, firstly because I feel that I have compared some products or some systems, typical of those wkich are at present being marketed or likely to be marketed in the United Kingdom, and secondly, I felt it was interesting to compare the fire suppressant properties. of water and Arcton. •. J. P. H^LL: Do the mixtures of commercial butane with water and emulsifiers form W/O or O/W emulsions on shaking? The type of emulsion can be influenced by the ratios of the two liquid phases, as well as by the emulsifying agent. Even where a W/O emulsifying agent is used, it is possible that, at low concentrations of butane, an unstable O/W emulsion may be formed. Is this so in this work, and does it affect the results? T• L•cTu•E•: The mixtures which I have considered are W/O emul- sions although O/W emulsions are known in aerosol packaging. We have been at some pains to see that those described in the paper did in fact have the water as the dispersed phase. I think instability of the emulsion could well affect the results obtained in flame projection tests, but is less likely to do so, in the case of a Burst/Fire test.

MODERN COSMETICS--ILLUSION AND REALITY 503 MODERN COSMETICSmILLUSION AND REALITY T. J. ELLIOTT, B.Sc., Ph.D.* A lecture delivered before the Society on 25th March 1963. Despite improvements in modern cosmetics, many products still cause •lisappointment to the woman user. Reasons for the discrepancy between advertising promise and product performance are discusserl. ALL NATURAL PHENOMENA possess a physical reality independent of the observer and an appearance or illusion which exists entirely in the mind of the observer. Reality is a primary quality and illusion is derivative if a serious discrepancy arises between these two quahties, it is usual for the illusion to be modified to conform more closely with reality. It would be incorrect, however, to discount the importance of illusion because sometimes its power is sufficient to change reality. The French Revolution arid the American Civil War were both examples of the power of ideas to effect a •change in a conflicting reality. As appearance is subjective, the same reality can present different il!usions to various observers Niagara Falls appears quite differently to a honeymoon couple, a power engineer, or an over-awed schoolboy. This •contradiction does not generally preser•t problems because most of us have .grown used to the idea of living simultaneously in a real world and a make- believe world. Generally we do not bother to query this self-deception unless we become aware of a gulf between expectation and realisation--ther• we begin to feel cheated and dissatisfied. A simple example is the con- tinuing sale of oper• cars in the United Kingdom despite the well-known •characteristics of English weather. The illusion of driving alor•g in glorious sunshine persists in face of all experience to the contrary. But it is imperative that the open car should have a rain- and draught-proof hood, otherwise the illusion would collapse in the face of the wet and cold. In the same way, a wornall who buys a cosmetic is deceived because the product is invested with subjective attributes based on her desire to be more beautiful. She is a willing agent in self-deceptior• and will or•ly protest if the deceit is too blatant. If wornell were allowed to create their own illusions regarding cosmetics, perhaps the gap between illusior• and reality would not be so great but modern selling methods rely on creating ready-made illusions for the customers. *Innoxa (England) Ltd., London. N.1.