Abstract: Copper lanolate, a novel product, can be produced by initially preparing an isotropic solution of a sodium or potassium salt of lanolic acid and thereafter precipitating copper lanolate therefrom by the addition thereto of a solution of a copper salt. The resulting copper lanolate is employed in anti-acne compositions for topical application to the skin.

Abstract: A method and device for forming openings in a gelatinous substance in a Petri dish in which the Petri dish (6) is lifted towards punch tools (19) until the tools have penetrated the gelatinous substance and are on or near the base of the dish. The dish is then moved with a low amplitude motion perpendicular to the penetration direction, i.e. horizontally to loosen a pellet of the gelatinous substance within each punch tool from the base (6a) of the dish, and finally the dish is lowered to withdraw the punch tools (19) from the dish while suction applied to a compartment (4) communicating with the interior of each tool extracts the punched pellet and clears the tool for a subsequent penetration in the same or a different dish (6).