Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-17

with them 10 a. great test a. the condition Of
the tongue. The state OF the hair depends much
on that Of the general health. In perfect
hues, in consequence Of the absorption from
the blood Of nutritive juice, containing its
proper proportion Of oily and albuMinoas ele-
brilhancy Of hue, and become lank and straight,
from the presence of imperfect juices. In 9TH
ers, again, there may be a total absence of such
nutIitive elements, and their hair consequently
Climate exercises great influence on the curl
mess Of the hair, as may be illustrated i'm the
difference in this respect between the natives
of the north and Of the south, the long lanky
hair of the former, as compared with the frIzzly
curls Of the natives Of Africa. Even Europeans.
whose boards were soft and silken at home on
reaching Africa found them to grow tempo
rarily crisp, strong, and coarse. resembling
horse hair This effect, which could only be
ascribed to the extreme dryness of the climate.
ceased on the travellers returning to their own
operating through thousands OF wears, has
changed the negro's hair into coarse wool
human hair is not the less useful because it is
ornamental. 1t is bad conductor to heat, and
keeps the head warm in winter and cold in sum-
meT. 1t wards off the effect of the sun; and we
md negroes exposing themselves without head
covering to ITS burning rays in tropical eli
tribes of wild Arabs, who wear neither tarboosb
nor turban, are said to rely solely on their
bushy heads of hair as protection against
suhstroke. The moustache is a natural respira-
tor, defending the lungs against the inhalation
Of cold and dust 1t is a protection of the face
and throat against cold, and Ia equally in warm
climates a safeguard for those parts against
excessive heat. The moustaches of blacksmiths
show by their color the dust which they stopped
as natural respirator and which, If inhaled,
would have been injurious. The moustache Is
beneficial to those who follow the trades of
millers, bakers. masons. to workers i'm metals,
and even to travellers in Egypt and Africa
when they are exposed to the burning sands of
the de sert. Full boards are said to be defense
against bronchitis and sore threats. tits asserted
that the sappers and miners of the French
army, who are noted for the size and beauty of
their boards, enjoy special immunity from
has been recommended to persons liable to take
cold easily. 1t is stated that Walter Savage
Lantior was sufferer from sore throat for
many years, and that he lost the morbid dispO-
sltlon by allowing his beard to grow, according
to the advice of the surgeon to the Grand Duke
OF tuscany The writer adopted the same course
cess. But he is bound to state that he has seen
individuals with long flowing boards, whom
those ornaments did not save from attacks of
bronchial and laryngeal disorders.
Let us now turn our attention to the greatest
calamity that can befall us with reference to
hair--that is its partial or total loss. The loss
OF hfr Is unpleasant in the young, and more in
females than in males. The former, however,
seem to be less subject to it than the latter. If
the fall be limited to the beard, the visitation
may be bearable in young man, though the
"A
billiard ball is not pleasant spectacle. But
when not only the entire scalp is laid bare, but
the tyelashes and the eyebrows and the whis-
kers and the beard disappear also, it is no COM
mon affiictiOn. The annoyance is great also
when, instead of total fall, round white
patches OF the scalp become denuded, making
people fancy that they are caused by some dis
public to be cansed by rihgworm, because ring
worm produces similar effects. Mr.. Erasmus
Wilson says that in these instances the skin is
n nd hot -
the nerves that supply the skin. Under these
clrcU instances, he advises that the parts be
well brushed until redness ensue and warm
glow be produced, and then the patches should
be well brushed with a warm toothbrush.
dipped in distilled vinegar, morning and night.
1hough great pains are generally taken i'm
through sheer want of knowledge. Mr. Eras,
mus Wilson Is of opinion that by proper man
agement not only might the color of the hair be
preserved for many years beyond the usual ne
riod of such change, but also that the hair it
self might be retained to the end of lIfe
According to DIR. Copland among the prnci-
pal causes OF premature badness may be reck-
oned anxiety of mind, extreme or protracted
grlef, unexpected and unpleasant intelligence
fright or terror, great mental exertion; severe,
repeated or continual headaches; eczema and
other Chronic eruptiOns of the scalp; excessive
hemorrhage; mercurial courses; an hereditary
predispOsitiOn; adynamic fevers, and too great
sacrifices at the altar of Venus. The hair falls
from the atrophy and wasting of the pilous fol-
hcles, or from their impaired or suspended vital
action. In the latter case, the evil may be ar
rested or averted; whilst i'm the former It would
be almost hopeless to attempt it. When the
badness is complete, and comes in youth with
out apparent cause, there is probably some vice
inherent in the constitution, unless it be in
herited, in which case the vice must have ex-
listed in the constitution of the progenitors.
Now for the treatment of the hair. Let u
NJ st say what is to be avoided. Masses of hair
P0matum must be particularly eschewed. The
film of greasy matter excludes the genial action
OF the atmosphere from the hair, and relaxes
the texture of the skin, chokes up its perspira-
tory pores, and damages its functions. The
ducing scurfness, and at length actual disease
Of the scalp When this decline OF the hair is
noticed, the doses of oil or pomade are in
to, and naturally in vain. The hair is certain
to decay under such treatment. The hair bulbs
wither, and grayness and badness ensue before
for the head, the best are olive and almond oils.
veal suet, and recent hogs lard, perfumed with
some aromatic essential oil.
Frequent brushing Of the head is beneficial,
as 1t increases the action of the skin. Mr.. Eras-
mus Wilson says that the head cannot be
brushed too much, any more than the horse
coat can be too much groomed. By combing
and brushing, grOOms not only produce fine
coat. but improve considerably the healthy con-
dition of the animal Thus the more the SCALP
be brushed, the more healthy will be the skin
and by a reflected power, the general health O (
the individual will greatly gain. The hair
dressers, like other professors Of more scientific
pursuits, seem TO be divided in opinion on this
subject. One party advocates hard brushes
and constant brushing, on the above grounds
Another party, on the other hand, recommends
soft brushes and moderate brushing, alleging
that the contrary practice tears away the root
of the hair. Mr.. Erasmus Wilson, admitting
that there is show of reason in favor of the
non-brushes, considers that the brushers have
the best Of the argument, and supports their
view Of the case. The object of brushing the
head Is twofold-the one being to smooth the
hair, and the other to excite the vigorous action
Of the skin. 1t follows that whilst surface
brushing should be done gently, SO as not to
tear the roots Of the hair when the skin is to be
acted upon, the brush cannot be too hard and
penetrating. Therefore Mr.. Erasmus Wilson
considers that the pros and cons of the ques-
ton are pithily summed up in the axiom of a
hairdresser of Bristol, who says that sThe head
cannot be brushed too much, or the hair too
little"
To preserve the hair in health, it should be
daily well brushed; 1t should be washed once a
week in soap and water, and occasionally one
Of the oils or light greases may be applied with
advantage. II the hair shows a tendency to
weakness, proper attention is required to arrest
the evil, otherwise premature badness will fol-
low. These cases are frequently far from being
as hopeless as people imagine. The fail
Of hair may be arrested In many in
stances by adequate internal and exter-
nal treatment, and new hair may be pro-
ducpd III the ha mt MT