The A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory was asked to examine the DeWan preparation. They reported as follows :LABORATORY REPORT "An original specimen of DeWan's Permanent Hair Remover (DeWan Laboratories, Inc., 43 East Ohio Street, Chicago), purchased on the open market (Price $2.00) was submitted by the Bureau of Investigation to the A. M. A. Chemical Laboratory for examination. The jar contained 43.1 Gm. (approximately 1.4 ounces) of a white powder, possessing a strong aromatic odor (perfume) and also an odor resembling hydrogen sul¬ phide. Qualitative tests indicated the presence of sulphides, sulphate, chlorides (trace), starch, zinc, strontium, calcium and sodium (trace). Barium, mag¬ nesium, potassium and thallium were not found."The report of a pétrographie examination indicated the presence of zinc oxide, strontium sulphide, and a relatively large amount of orris root (starch)." More recent specimens appear to have had the inactive ingredients changed, but strontium sulphide still remains the active depilating agent. The newspaper advertisements and the advertising that accompanies the trade package speak of "rare oils and secret ingredients which do not kill the root but sterilize it so it cannot reproduce." It is a sorry commentary on the public's intelligence that this sort of buncombe can appear in the public prints and that supposedly reputable news¬ papers and department stores will, for the money there is in it, give publicity to such nonsense. The advertising circular, while stating that the DeWan preparation is "positively non-irritating," in the same sentence states that if it causes irritation, this result is due, not to the depilatory, but to an "acid condition" of the body ! Especially vicious was the suggestion made in some of the circulars accom¬ panying the trade package that this sulphide mixture be used to remove hair from the eyelids. Less than two months ago a physician reported an accident with another sulphide depila¬ tory, which comes in paste form, that a woman patient acci¬ dentally got into one of her eyes. The sight was destroyed. It has also been recommended that the DeWan preparation be used to remove hair from the inside of the nostrils and inside the ears.It would appear from the expensive advertising campaign and the exorbitant price ($2.00 for less than \l/2 ounces) that is charged for the DeWan product that the exploiters will make a quick clean-up. The recommendations are that the patient (or victim) apply the DeWan product every fourth day for a period of thirty weeks. The exploiters "absolutely guarantee" that if it is used thus, the hair will be permanently removed. But should it fail, the D.eWan concern does not offer to return the purchase money, but merely to supply without charge additional material ! Of what value is such a guarantee? If the purchasers could get a "money back" guarantee from the respectable department stores that sell this "permanent" hair remover or from the equally respectable news¬ papers that share the profits in the exploitation of DeWan's, it migh...
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