Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-17
Hair, and lis Uses.

q OlSCOurge upOn human hair, says:
"It is not the less useful because it
is ornamental. It is bad CONDUCTOR
of heat, and keeps the head warm in
winter and cold in summer. It wards
off the effect of the sun; and we find
negroes exposing themselves without
head.covering to its burning rays in
tropical climates, without the slightest
injury, and some tribes of wild Arabs,
who. wear neither tarboosh nor turban,
are said to rely solely on their bushy
heads of hair as protection against
sunstroke. The mustache is q natural
respirator, defending the lungs against
the inhalation Of cold and dust. 1t is
a protection of the face and throat
against cold, and is equally in
warm climates, a safeguard for
those parts against excessive heat.
The mustaches Of blacksmiths
show by their color the dust which they
stopped ss a natural respirator, and
which, if inhaled, would have been in
juriOus. The mustache is beneficial to
those who follow the trades of millers,
bakers, masons, to workers in metals,
aud even to travellers into Egypt and
Africa, when they are exposed to the
burning sands of the desert. Full
boards IRE said to be defence against
bronchitis and sore throats. It is as.
serted that the sappers and miners of
the French army, who are noted for
the size and beauty of their boards,
enjoy q special immunity from affections
of this nature. The growth of hair has
been recommended to persons liable to
take cold easily. It is stated that
Walter Savage Landur was a sufferer
from sore throat for many years, and
that he lost the morbid disposition by
allowing his beard to grow,
according to tho advice of the
surgeon to the Graud Duke
Of Tuscany. The writer adopted the
same course for the very identical rca-
son, and with fair success. But he is
bound to state that le has seen inli-
viduals with long, flowing boards, whom
those ornaments did not save from
attacks OF bronchial and laryngc,l dis
orders The curling nature of the hair
is attributed 10 a large proportion of
oily substance. which prevents the
absorption of water. Tho effect of
dampness in destroying the curl of the
hair is we'll known, but it is not 50 we'll
known that the state of the hair par
ticipates in the state of tho general
health. In many Gases strong curly
hair becomes straight if the possessors
be out of health, and the condition of
the hair with them is as great test
as the condition of the tongue. The
state of the hair depends much on that
Of the general health. In perfect health
the hair is full, glossy, and rich in its
hues, III consequence of the absorption
from the blood of nutritive Juice,
containing its proper proportion OF
oily and albuminous elements. In per-
sous out of health it may lose
it's brilliancy of hue, and become lank
and str:.ight, from the presence of
imperfect juices, in others, again,
there may he tota! absence of such
nutritive elements, and the hair con.
stantly looks faded and dead. Climate
exercises great influence on the curli-
ness of the hair, as may he illustrated
in the difference in the respect between
the natives of the North and of the
South, the long lanky hair of the for
mer, as compared with the frizzy hair
of the natives of Africa. Even Euro
peans, whose boards were soft aud
silken at home, on reaching Africa,
found them to grow temporarily crisp,
strong and coarse, resembling horse
hair. This effect which could only be
ascribcd to the extreme dryness of the
climate, ceased on the travellers return
ing to their own country. No doubt
this is the cause which, operating
through thousands of years, has
changed the negro's hair into a coarse
wool.