Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-01-22


The number of hair specifics which are now vended
under the astounding names of Wahpene j." Trcopbe
rous &c, is really wonderful 1t is proessed for them
that they restored the hair touring badnes prevent it
falling out give beautifully soft and glossy appear
ance and either kill or cure all the ills that hair is heir
Judging from the number of establishments where
such articles are manufactured the quantity sold must
be prodlglOus and Judging from the prices at which
they sod the profits arising from them cannot be
small That some of these lotions are good in their way
there can be no room to doubt but the merits of the
best are greatly exaggerated by those who sell them
we will give few recipes for making such specifics so
that those of readers who wish use them can as
the preparations themselves.
No. Take eau de cologne two ounces tincture of
cantarades half an ounce and add twenty drops of the
oil of lavender. --.a. a
No. 2.-Take vinegar of cantharides half an ounce
eau de cologne and rose water each half an ounce
No 3-Take ounce of castor oil, mix it thorough
y with pint of alcohol and add half an ounce of the
tincture of eartharides.
No 4.--Sulphurc ether one ounce tincture of can
thardes one ounce, olive oil ounce alcohol one pint
These four recipes are sufficient. The first two arc
from the work of Errsmus Wilson, F. r. S. the author
OF an able treatise cutaneOus diseases The last two
recipes are followed by persons who manufacture the
ce for sae and better than the first two they are
capable of making excellent Tricopherous both for keep
ing the head clean, preventing the hair falling out and
In some cases curing partial badness In using them,
the head should be brushed smartly with hair brush
the lotion then applied with piece of sponge, the head
brushed again, and silk nightcap put on. The best
period to apply it is just before going bed but it may
also be used at any time of the day.
The philosophy of such hair specs consists in consider
ing decay in the growth of hair to be due at an absence
of vigorous action i'll the nerves of the scalp The tine
ture OF canthardes exccs action in these nerves. and its
Office is to restore vigor to the hair preventing it falling
out and promoting its growth The Oil keeps the skin
soft and the alcohol tends to dissolve the scur and keep
the scalp clean The alcohol requires to be be 95 per
cent proof it will not desove the OIL The tincture of
cantharides be purchased at the druggists but it
be made oneourth cheaper by sleeping of
Spanish flies in six of alcohol for twentyour
hours. Any perfume may be used, but the oil of
lavender is about the cheapest.
The Tricopherous can be colored beautiful crimson
by sleeping few chips of alkanet root in it. or coIored
yellow by little btchromate of potash, but the color
adds nothing to the quality Of the lotion. An alkaline
solution of honey is recommended by for restoring
the hair in of badness, and vinegar extract Of
horseradsh substitute for canthardes is described
in of Erasmus Wilson's specifics but those we have
given good any, and can be made at an com
paratively small cost Scientific american.