Dermatology has made little use of organic chemistry as compared to the use made of it in industry. With the exception of a few of the complex acids and the arsenical groups, dermatologists are content with the more or less galenic combinations of iodine, sulphur, tar and the simple vehicles. One does not realize the immensity of the field in commercial organic chemistry until one discusses the problem with a progressive organic chemist.
About one year prior to the writing of this paper, I had the opportunity to discuss with a chemist connected with a large chemical corporation the problem of the penetration of drugs and their vehicles into the skin. I had in mind mainly the control of the deeper-growing fungi by means of therapy with drugs of deeper penetration.
At that time he suggested that I investigate a preparation called triethanolamine. I obtained a sample of