Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-01
Daily Asnurbrt yournd,


A constant use Of the various adver
tised hair-washes, invigorators, restorers
etc., produce effects which inevitably
sooner or later. produce ill health, ano
often great bodily suffering.
Lead in some form is one Of the ingre
dents of al these mixtures. BY the con
tinued application of these washes to the
skin o. scalp an absorption of lead takes
place, and its poisonous effects manifest
themselves under the various form of lead
poisoning.
The effects are so slow and insidious
that, until the sufferer is entirely beyond
cure, they are unnoticed, and in many
cases even then the original cause is I'M
known There is no doubt that many have
gone to their graves without even their
physicians being aware of the real cause
of the disease.
1t produces neuralgia. paralysis of some
of the muscles Of the face and the limbs
Many persons complain of sudden pain in
the head. ear or eye, or sometimes in the
shoulders, often in the fingers, not unfre-
quently ofanumbness in the limbs, hands or
feet. Careful inquiry traces these effects
to the use Of some of these deleterious
compounds. 1t is time the warning voice
of the press should be heard and needed
by the thousands who are in the daily habit
of using these poisonous articles, more es-
pecially as their use is making such rapid
advances in this country. So many Of
these washes are now thrown upon the
market, all protesting to be perfectly in
nocGoas, that people use them withou, the
slightest investigation, not even giving
thought to the inevitable consequences.
Of the various cosmetics now so univer-
sally used by the female sex, and also by
many of the other sex, there is but one
word to say--they are poison in the rankest
form.
hey are not only hurtful, by obstruct
ing the natural pores of the skin. stopping
up the mouths OF the excretory ducts
which are designed by nature to throw off, |
by insensible and sensible perspiration, the
impurities Of the blood, but also present
ing to the absorbent vessels poison which |
is taken into the system and penetrates to
every portion of the body. The effect of
these cosmetics is to destroy the natural
texture Of the skin. causing it to become
dry, wrinkled and impervious to the
oxygen of the air, and, by depriving the
blood of this life-giving principle, produ-
cling rapid decay.
Hence we see the absence of those vel
vety. peach blossoming faces in our city
walks. Instead, we meet at every step
females who resemble kalsomined wall,
with here and there a little coloring matter
thrown on to designate the different feat
nres. They are indeed blank walls, and
the thought cannot but arise that behind
these outer walls there must be but little,
if any, of that intelligence which should
and does beam forth in the clear eye and
healthy complexion. /
If the skin be kept in clean and healthy
condition by the frequent use of cold water,
no cosmetic would ever be necessary. Its
use removes all impurities from the skin,
stimulates its delicate network, allows the
oxygen Of the atmosphere to come in con-
tact with its blood vessel, and thus snp-
plies all the needed elements to enhance
and preserve beauty. tttt
That those who desire may be able to
discover the presence of lead in any of
these cosmetics and washes, we here give
q few simple, but certain tests that may be
applied with very little expense and one
easily attainable at any apothecary's store.
viz: by agitating solution of sulphur
et.ed hydrogen with the wash it will turn
black or dark, and generally throw down
aprecipitate at the bottom of the vessel.
Sulphide of ammonium, or sulphide of
sodium (glauber salts) have the same
effect. q d "
No one who values health and immunity
from incessant pain should neglect to APP
ply this test to'any compound reccmmenn-
ed for the purpose of improving the COM
plexion or coloring the hair.
Instances are daily recorded by the
press of the terrible effects of the absorb
ton of lead into tn. system through the
pores of the skin, by the use of popular
skin and scalp washes, which would deter
any but the most infatuated devotees of
fashion from their use And the instances
which are made publ y are not 1.-THE of
what could be furnished by almost any
physician of an extended city practice.
We again warn all who use these cos
me:ics that they are gradually but GER
tsinly bringing upon themselves condi-
ton of health which will be one of suffer
ing and disease beyond the reach of rene
dy. BY using the simple and inexpensive
tests given above, and rejecting everything
that is proved TO contain lead in some
form. they Will avoid the slow poisoning