JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS 771 chemical, physical, biological and medical areas of scientific and practical knowledge. A condensed presentation of the fundamentals of skin and closely related structures are brought together as a preface to the discussion of many different cosmetic product and special topic areas. It is all presented in chap- ters organized along the following lines: Part Z--eight chapters devoted to a discussion of the skin, its proper- ties, physiological changes and sen- sitivity. The recorded list of chem- ical agents and natural products that may produce allergic reactions on skin is long and may or may not be accurate, depending on the view- point, experience and background knowledge of the reader. The dis- cussion and bibliography are suf- ficiently comprehensive to take care of the needs of the cosmetic chemist interested in a condensed and prac- tical approach to this subject. Part 2--nine chapters on prep- arations for the facial skin broken down into the following major headings: 1, vanishing creams 2, other facial creams 3, supple- mental creams 4, make-up prep- arations 5, rouge and eye make-up 6, lipsticks and lipsalves 7, face masks and packs 8, face powders 9, treatment cosmetics. Each chap- ter ends in a reference and patent bibliography. Part 3--one chapter on prepara- tions for oral hygiene. This is a rather short chapter and, except for the bibliography, is lacking in useful information. Part Y--five chapters on prepara- tions for the hand and feet, divided into the following major headings: 1, hand creams and lotions 2, protective creams 3, marecure preparations 4, foot preparations 5, antifungal therapy. Suggested formulas could well be updated. Part 5--six chapters on body cosmetics divided into the major headings: 1, bath preparations 2, deodorants and antiperspirants 3, depilatories 4, skin perfumes 5, dusting powders 6, sunscreen preparations. Part 6--five chapters on prepara- tions for the hair: 1, shampoos 2, hair grooming aids 3, hair dyes, tints and bleaches 4, permanent waving 5, hair and scalp condi- tioners. Part 7--two chapters on toilet- ties and cosmetics for men: 1, pre- and after-shave preparations 2, shaving preparations. Part 8--two chapters on spe- cialized cosmetics: 1, aerosol cos- metics 2, miscellaneous cosmetics. Part 9--guest authored chapters on special topics include: 1, labora- tory evaluation of new cosmetic in- gredients 2, laboratory'evaluation of steroid hormones 3, allantoin and its aluminum complexes 4, bio- logical role and practical uses of squalene and squalane 5, white mineral oils and petroleums. In addition, chapters on emulsifying agents, preservatives and antioxi- dants, cosmetic colorants and spe- cialized additives can be found. Each chapter of the book has an extensive bibliography. This should be of great value to the reader as a technical reference. Formulas used to illustrate the subjects cov- ered in each chapter are, in many instances, drawn from industry jour- hals and suppliers literature and probably will not give serviceable or up-to-date cosmetic products. The index is somewhat abbreviated. The broad scope of this book and the extensive and diverse coverage of references and cosmetic patents in the bibliography will make this volume a good addition to the reference book shelf of the cosmetic chemist and the dermatologist.-- H. IS^COFF, International Flavors and Fragrances.

772 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATING THE TOXICITY OF HOUSEHOLD SUBSTANCES, prepared by the Committee on Toxicology, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, National Academy of Sciences--National Research Coun- cil. Publication 1138. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. 1964. 29pages. Price $1.50. This booklet is an attempt by the Committee on Toxicology of the National Academy of Sciences, chaired by A. J. Lehman, to standardize and to forrealize some of the principles and procedures necessary in the evaluation of the toxicity of household substances. Although the booklet is concerned primarily with the requirements of the regulations laid down in the Federal Hazardous Substances La- beling Act of July 12, 1960, its contents are, to a large extent, applicable to cosmetics. It is also likely that future legislation and F.D.A. activity may be influenced by the work of the Committee on Toxicology which prepared this booklet. With regard to testing proce- dures applicable to cosmetics, sev- eral points are particularly note- worthy: No mention is made of the "standard" Draize rabbit eye test, which employs three rabbits un- rinsed, three rabbits rinsed after two seconds and three rabbits rinsed after four seconds. Instead, the booklet includes only a discus- sion of the modified test, which utilizes six rabbits unrinsed. It is surprising that no recommen- dations are made to improve the notoriously inaccurate instillation and scoring procedures of this test. Nor is an attempt made to suggest use of a "standard" eye irritant by various laboratories to arrive at some semblance of reproducibility from laboratory to laboratory. For the prediction of sensift- zation reactions •n man, guinea pig tests by intradermal injection are recommended because they have been found useful in uncovering substances "capable of producin,g, allergic skin sensitization in man. Human patch testing is recom- mended only if the results of the guinea p•g tests are negative. Whether the procedures described in this little volume are sound or not matters little. They are scientif- ically and officially accepted tech- niques and are part of the law. Despite its high cost (5• per page) this booklet is important to for- mulators, toxicologists and clini- cians who deal with products which may accidentally or deliberately come in contact with the human body.--M. M. R•EGER, Warner- Lambert Pharmaceutical Co.