THE GERMICIDAL ACTION OF HYDROXY SOAPS.
1. The alpha-hydroxy soaps exhibit a high germicidal action toward certain organisms. As with other soaps, the germicidal action increases with molecular weight to a maximum, then diminishes. The pH effects the germicidal action as it does other soaps. 2. Certain alpha-hydroxy soaps give two distinct germicidal zones with Staphylococcus aureus. 3. The effect of the hydroxyl group in saturated soaps is to increase selective germicidal action; the effect of the hydroxyl group in an unsaturated soap is to diminish it. 4. The soaps offer a means of separating mixtures of organisms by selective germicidal action.
Eggerth
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Department of Bacteriology, Hoagland Laboratory, Brooklyn.