The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-02

Tas Hlla.-Whea consider ihs tendency, We
have To become grey haired, and 10 lose the capl
larry tumbing" which covers our heads with locks
which al some time perhaps may have been styled
" ambrosiaI" and then look around US and observe
the many contryanees which resorted To keep Oh
this whitening and barng Of the poll, We can believe
the truth Of the saying, which originated 10 sport,
and was first used TO describe the violence OF gale
at sea, that takes Ten 10 hold one mans hair
on"
The fact is that il requires much greater number
and they do not succeed against the inevitable
decree of time. The hairdressers may deelaim
against dandriii, cbampoo us with all possible deAle
rity and prepare their dyes OF more than Syrian ce
ebrty, but il is all IN vain. As we approach the
down hill Of life and TO use The beautiful Imagery
of the preacher, the keepers of the house trembe,
and the strong bow themselves, and the grinders
cease because they few and those that look out
of the windows are darkened, aud all the daughters
Of music are brought low, the covering OF the head
becomes sparse and grsly and II memory SIN "lolds
its sean as Hamlet said in 50 this distracted globe,
it reminds US that the glory of our youth has depart
ed. The desire Of looking well and being agreeable
remains with u.s. however TO the last moment OF our
sensible existence.
Here, Betty, give this cheek little red;
One would not be ugly, when ones dead"
The chemists, hair dressers, and wig makers, have
discovered this nfrmity Of our nature, and endeavor
ed to turn il to account Solutions, dyes, tinges,
WIGS toupees fronts and scaIps, all a part Of
the appliances by which they seek TO keep grey hairs
and badness out of sight. But, we regret to say
the remedies are efectua A wig is but wig
after ALL and the coloring matter OF the chemists l.,
far from being a stain which the "mntitud,nous
waves" of the Croton cannot wash out. On the con
trary Nature herself Indifferent to their exertions
keeps pushing on their growth, till the black au
burn tresses of fictitious color are quite overpowered
by the grey locks, which spring up unbidden under
meath.
Still the subject employs the attention of the
learned and the PhlosoPhic, who yet hope TO master
the subject of grey hairs Some very elaborate re
searches have lately been made by German phys
oopist DIR. Won Laer, and the results very curl
Gus, though not as yet very satisfactory.
The hair, we informed, was subjected by him
to treatment in various solutions anC reagement,
such as either alcohol solution of potass and wa.
ascertained that its basis bi sulphuret of pro
ten, and that pure protein always TO be found in
it. This is rather modern term, which means, We
believe, the last simple substance found, after the
decomposition of the animal tissues.
Researches were also made to ascertain the Soon
tents of the ashes of differently coored hair and
it was discovered that the inorganic constituents Of
the hair neither constant uniform n the same
hair" This is fact which is contrary to the doc
trine of Vauquen, who asserted that the color Of
the hair depended constantly on the quantity Of iron
contained, Won Laer could find no perceptbe dit
ference in red, black, or grey and there neither
manganese nor carbonate Of lime found in the ashes
of the hair The difference of color canno, be as.
crbed therefore to iron salts.
In pursuing his examination, he found that the
quantity of sulphur in black hair, was no greater
than in brown or grey, the average amount IN all
hair being about five per cent. He also ascertalned
that it contained unoxy dised phosphorus. Won Laer
thinks its color is not owiDgIto chemical substance
but to the aggregation Of atoms, and since Liebig
has mad such astounding declarations 10 relation
to the different results of the same constituents
attributable only to the different forms of combna
ton, we are almost prepared to adopt the theory OF
Won Laer.
high authority in commenting upon il say,
much may be said in its favor, if ''we bear in mind
the differences of color of the dry fbrin albumen
caseine and protein" The principal constituent
Of the hair is thought now TO be a combining mat
ter similar to the gelatnous tissues. The quantity
OF sulphur found in il, is said to be the reason why
some metallic salts easily blacken it, Here is hint
out OF which Dr.. Feuchtwsnger, or some other intel
ligent chemist may yet make his fortune. "The
salts and the oxide of iron of the hair are variable
and without influence upon its color" Here is an
other hint worthy of remembrance.
The result Of this whole inquiry amounts then 10
this that as protein exists in the Of the blood
and in its hbrn the formation of theorganc element.
does not take place in the hair itself'' The salt.
originate from the serum, and the sulphur probably
from its abumen and the growth Of the hair proba
bly, depends upon the transformation of the abumeu
1t IS supposed that in consequence Of the thng
nation OF fbrn during phthisis, and convalescence
after dangerous diseases the hair so very commonly
falls off.
We have thought these speculations rather curl
Gus, and worthy OF being preserved. Indeed the
learned character Of the researches of Won Iaer
have quite altered the intention wi which we com
menced this article.
The Embarrassing fraternity race worthy Of
study in themselves. Their constant intercourse
with men, the gossip which belongs to their profe,
Slnp fhA,r alDa .-.sI ~
vine" give them striking peculiarities, and place
them in class per s.-.N. Y True Sun