MEDICINAL SUBSTANCES 20I 



may spread infections among those with whom they are brought 

 in daily contact, so may the manufacturing pharmacist convey 

 disease to his customers, through the articles which he offers 

 for the cure of disease. This subject should receive more attention 

 on the part of health ofhcials. 



Skin and scalp infections (acne, boils, abscesses, carbuncles) 

 are traceable to the use of powders and ointments. The more 

 common infections which may be carried by the usual hand pre- 

 pared face powders and face and scalp lotions and ointments are 

 pus streptococci and staphylococci, the colon bacillus and the 

 tubercle bacillus. The most common of these infections are the 

 staphylococcus group of pus germs and the germ of tuberculosis. 

 Very few women who use face powders persistently for a long time 

 escape without more or less severe facial infections. Particularly 

 is this true of women who use the more or less irritating chemical 

 skin renewers, that is, so-called cosmetics which act by removing 

 the superficial epithelial layers of the skin. The use of these 

 highly irritating agents is generally followed by the application 

 of the germ-carrying dusting powders and ointments, the more or 

 less raw skin favoring the infection. 



The finger-nail deposits carry many different kinds of germs 

 accumulated by the skin and scalp scratching process and through 

 the manifold manipulations of all manner of articles during the 

 daily work. These various contaminations may be transmitted 

 to the hand manufactured toilet and face preparations offered 

 for sale in the retail drug stores. Among the bacteria most 

 commonly found with the finger-nail deposits are streptococci, 

 staphylococci and the colon bacilli. Less commonly the itch 

 mite and the larvae of intestinal parasites and molds are found 

 among the finger-nail deposits. 



To examine finger-nail deposits, scrape the nail of the thumb 

 and second and third fingers of the right hand (in the case of 

 right-handed persons) and make the ordinary smear mounts, 

 using such stains and reagents as may be required to bring out 



