The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-19

A terrible alarm has been created amongst
the ladies by the announcement OF visitation
OF dreadful klnd-nothing less than the ar
rival of the horrible disease of the hair, known
as the PLEA Polonica, which has hitherto
been confined to the inhabitants OF Poland
and the frontiers of Russia. No medical SCI
ence has been able a. yet TO ascertain the ex-
act cause OF the disease, which renders ITS
victim most hideOus object to behold, trans
ferring sometimes almost suddenly the most
beautiful and luxuriant crop Of hair into
matted. disgusting mass of twisted snakelike
ropes which stand out IN horrible confusion
eli over the head, through which no comb
can ever be drawn, and which can never be
cut owing to the agglOmeration al the roofs
into one united mass, which, as the roots are
filled with blood, would cause the sufferer to
bleed to death were they violently removed
The doctors here account for the appearance
of the disease In two cases which have oc
CURED of late to the recent importation OF
false hair from Poland--a country hitherto
forbidden to traders in the article of false
hair. 1t appears that the HAIR cropping season
having been rather unsuccessful in the usual
districts IN which the trade has been until
now confined, IN consequence OF the Immense
demand made upon the peasant girls OF the
continent for the last two or three years
through luc tIcuCuuOuS SuiS
mons" and cascades" and falls" and "lrzzes'
that have been worn, heavy enough on the
single head of lady of fashion, to despoi
the poor pates of halt dozen poor potato
weeders or lacemakers of the Normandy vii
lagos, it has become necessary to widen the
field of operations; and after ramsacking
ConstantinOple, Smyrna and Damascus, the
weld even then has fallen short of the demand
The traders, after run into Germany, have
been compelled to make swoop down upor
Poland, in spite of the point of honor by
which they were bound to avoid all dealings
of the kind with that country. lot OF the
most beautiful hair was imported thence from
great fair held IN the environs of Warsaw
toward the end of the month Most OF the
hair was of the finest and most silky quality
highly polished, clean and evidently we'll
cared for by Its former proprietor; but as
most OF it was black it had to be dyed to sui
the fashion of the day, which commands thai
every woman that man delighteth to honor
shall have aaxen, ed.gold, or orangecolored
hair. But nothing is easier TO the hair-tradt
than to change the color, and by the chemical
mixtures manufactured for the purpose, this
object Is attained in u moment
| However, one OF these individuals, residing
at Clerkenwel., who had purchased Dag OF
Polish hair of the finest quality, was Mortified
on percelving the liquid in which he had
plunge 1t tor dyeing turn gradually OF a
blood.red color, until the whole mass hao
changed to the same lurld tint. Chemist:
were called ON to ascertain the cause of the
strange occurrence. The mixture was sub
mitted to analysis, but nothing was discovered
until at length the doctors were summoned
and after examination by the microscope the
bulb of Plea Poloaica was detected III grea
proportion of hair which had been bought by
one especial trader who attended the fair. L
was but the germ of the disease, but the tube
of the hair was affected, and had 1t remained
upon the wearer's head would in a short time
have been developed into most virulent form
of the disease-London (Eng) Courier.