For many years it has been well recognized by dermatologists that colloid baths constitute an essential part of external treatment for acute and chronic dermatoses. These baths are frequently depended on for their soothing, cleansing, antiseptic and therapeutic qualities. Oatmeal has been for many years one of the preparations used to a great extent and for the majority of patients. Recently we have been using a prepared oatmeal preparation, aveeno,®1 which in our hands has proved superior to the usual commercial cereal grade of oatmeal previously used. This preparation is manufactured from pure oatmeal by dry milling which involves grinding the oatmeal and separating from it the colloid-producing portion. This colloid-producing, concentrated gumlike fraction constitutes about 12 per cent of the oatmeal. It is a fraction of oatmeal high in vitamin B complex, and, since it is an edible product, it is not classified by the Food and Drug