CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN OINTMENT OF SYNTHETIC COAL TAR

IN July 1939, Guy, Jacob and Weber¹published a formula for a synthetic tar which was similar to crude coal tar but minus the inert substance (pitch) and the irritating (light) oils. They incorporated this synthetic tar in an ointment containing solution of aluminum acetate, wool fat and paste of zinc oxide with salicylic acid N. F. They did not state the color of the finished product (probably white), nor did they give any account of its actual use in dermatologic practice. Through the courtesty of the manufacturer²we were recently supplied with a synthetic coal tar cream (of pink color) for clinical trial in the treatment of diseases for which crude coal tar might ordinarily be used. The formula is as follows: The preparation was prescribed in 38 cases, in which seventeen different dermatologic entities were represented as follows:

RESULTS

In 17 cases in which the involvement