THE GERMICIDAL ACTION OF alpha-MERCAPTO AND alpha-DISULFO SOAPS.

1. Certain of the alpha-mercapto soaps and alpha-disulfo soaps are powerful germicides. 2. In the alpha-mercapto series, those soaps with 12 and 14 carbon atoms are most germicidal. In the disulfo series, the dicaprate, dilaurate, and dimyristate are most germicidal. The optimum number of carbon atoms varies with the test organism used. 3. These soaps, like others previously studied, show a markedly selective germicidal action.