BENZOIC  ACID  AND  GUM  BENZOIN. 
369 
6.  Bismuth  Powder  for  Beautifying  the  Shin  and  removing 
Freckles  consists  of  carbonate  of  lime,  with  much  clay  or 
"French  chalk;"  is  free  from  injurious  metals. 
7.  LaveVs  Lily  White  and  Rose  Bloom  consists  of  clay  or 
"  French  chalk  ;"  is  free  from  injurious  metals. 
Recapitulation. — The  white  powders  consist  of  carbonate  of 
lime,  carbonate  of  magnesia,  clay,  or  "  French  chalk  ;"  either 
singly  or  mixed.  Nothing  injurious  was  detected  in  any  one  of 
them. 
Conclusion. — It  appears  from  the  foregoing: — 
1-  The  Hair  Tonics,  Washes  and  Restoratives  contain  lead  in 
considerable  quantities  ;  that  they  owe  their  action  to  this  metal, 
and  that  they  are  consequently  highly  dangerous  to  the  health 
of  persons  using  them. 
2.  With  a  single  exception,  Perry's  Moth  and  Freckle  Lotion, 
which  contains  corrosive  sublimate,  the  Lotions  for  the  skin  are 
free  from  lead  and  other  injurious  metals. 
3.  That  the  Enamels  are  composed  of  either  carbonate  of 
lime,  oxide  of  zinc,  or  carbonate  of  lead,  suspended  in  water. 
The  first  two  classes  of  enamels  are  comparatively  harmless,  as 
harmless  as  any  other  white  dirt  when  plastered  over  the  skin 
to  close  the  pores  and  prevent  its  healthy  action.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  enamels  composed  of  carbonate  of  lead  are  highly 
dangerous,  and  their  use  is  very  certain  to  produce  disastrous 
results  to  those  who  patronize  thera. 
4.  The  white  powders  for  the  skin  are  harmless,  except  in  so 
far  as  their  application  may  interfere  with  the  healthy  action  of 
the  skin.  Respectfully  submitted, 
C.  F.  Chandler,  Ph.D. 
Chemist  to  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Health. 
ON  BENZOIC  ACID  AND  GUM  BENZOIN. 
By  Julius  Lowe. 
The  contents  of  this  paper  are  the  answers  given  to  four 
queries,  viz.  : — (1)  Does  benzoic  acid  pre-exist  in  gum-benzoin 
ready-formed  and  in  free  state  ?    (2)  Is  the  benzoic  acid  present 
in  the  resin  combined  with  a  base  ?    (3)  Is  benzoic  acid  a  pro- 
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