THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 7 



is questionable and is apt to do more harm than good. It' is em- 

 ployed for disinfecting sick rooms, and for bleaching linen, remov- 

 ing stains, cleaning straw hats, bleaching feathers and last but not 

 least for lightening the golden locks of the blonde. As a general 

 prophylactic and antiseptic, peroxide of hydrogen offers the surest 

 and best all-around agent. No other preparation will act so quickly 

 without harm to the healthy tissue. Dentists, physicians and surgeons 

 would at times find themselves greatly inconvenienced without its 

 aid. Its supply of active oxygen gives it many superior qualities over 

 bi-chloride of mercury, carbolic acid and various other antiseptics. 

 It has been found that a one to twenty thousand solution is equiva- 

 lent to a solution of carbolic acid sixty-six times as strong. In cheap- 

 ness, freedom from caustic and poisonous properties it cannot be 

 surpassed. 



ODOR. 



Peroxide of hydrogen when freshly made has a peculiar odor 

 characteristic of no other preparation. On standing for several 

 months products preserved with acetanilid sometimes develop a 

 marked odor resembling nitro-benzol. La Wall obtained positive 

 tests for aniline ; he states that about four months were required for 

 the development of this odor. 



PEROXIDE IN COSMETICS AND OTHER TOILET PREPAR.\TI0NS. 



Peroxide has come into considerable prominence as an addition to 

 greaseless creams, which are marketed as peroxide creams. In making 

 these creams, the solution is usually employed as the peroxides of 

 various metals are rather coarsely powdered, and make the cream 

 gritty. Peroxide creams are unsatisfactory as the peroxide rapidly 

 decomposes after being combined with organic matter such as stearic 

 acid. In addition to this most greaseless creams or peroxide creams 

 are slightly alkaline which neutralizes the acidity of peroxide causing 

 its rapid decomposition. 



Peroxides of the metals as calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium and 

 strontium are much used in dental i)reparations. Their stability in 

 dental pastes is questionable, but in powders they are of considerable 

 value, only giving up their oxygen in the presence of moisture. 



These metallic peroxides are em])l()yed in foot powders and deodor- 

 izing powders. 



