The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-11-15
Badness.
Its Prevention and its Removal.

ne mOuc OF lOflndtlOn ail'i SiO"th
of the hair is now so well known that
there can be no question as to the
cause Of badness. 1t is produced by
a failure of normal nutrition in the
papillae at the base of each hair folli-
Gle. Imperfect work being done in
the capillaries, which are here richly
distributed, the cells which constitute
a hair shaft are not formed in their
due proportion, the old shaft thus
feebly sustained becomes loose and
drops away, leaving nothing in its
place. This failure of nutrition may
have a sudden cause, of which the
effect will be but temporary. For in
stance, an attack of typhoid fever often
leaves the papillae Of the scalp so much
enfeebled that rapid badness ensues.
The papillae, however, still retain their
vitality, and as the system regalns It's
strength they quickly recover their po-
tentiality, and the hair comes again,
perhaps thicker than before.
In the same manner certain Cutan-
eous affections may cause the hair to
fall by an action on the papillae which
is but temporary; in such cases re
coyery, perhaps with assistance, per
haps without it, is possible. In the
great majority of instances, however,
where the head is bald the failure of
nutrition of each papillae has come on
so gradually, and has continued SO
long, that the papillae no longer exists
it has passed away by atrophy its
capillaries have become obliterated,
| and even the fOllicle itself no longer
constitutes depression in the CUTS,
and the scalp has the smooth and shin
ing appearance which we so well recog-
nize.
1t is easy, therefore, to see that in
such a condition as this no renewed
growth of the hair is to be expected, for
the anatomical structure which caused
its development and continued it has
| ceased to exist, and the countless rem
edies which are SO freely advertised as
being able to rejuvenate bald heads are
utterly of no avail. They serve only
to illustrate the greed and the impu-
dence of the inventors, as well as the
credulity of the purchasers. But such
is the desire to escape the appearance
of growing old' that no doubt they
will hold their ground for all time to
| come.
But now arises the question, Cannot
the application of the various agents to
the scalp, at the time when the hair is
bCeInAiHe to lose its hold, be of ser
vice in stimulating the follicles and
papillae into renewed and permanent
vigor? To this question it is not pos
sible, on theoretical grounds, to say no
absolutely; but in practical fact that is
the only true answer to give in the vast
| majority of cases. The cause of the
falling of the hair has been already
stated, and safe reasoning tells us that
our only hope can be in that which can
restore the falling vitality, and we well
know that we should not expect to Sc
cure this on any other part of the skin
| by filthy oils and washes. Proper
cleansing of the scalp is as important
as it is of all other parts nothing else
should be applied to it but common
| sense.
There can be little question that the
continued close covering of the head
with hats and caps is one very constant
cause of badness. Women, in our
own communities, seldom lose their
hair, except from sudden causes and
among those nations where the head
is habitually left bare or but slightly
covered, badness is practically un-
known At the same time the beard.
which is of the same class of hair as
that of the scalp, but which is always
uncovered, does not fail with age. a
reform in our style of head gear isvery
desirable, but it is not at all likely to be
accomplished.
The suggestion was some time ago
made in our columns that bald heads
might perhaps be covered anew with
hair by skin grating, l. C., applying
bits taken from other scalps and caus-
ing them to take root and spread. No
doubt such bits might be attached, but
' the whole matter is merely wild fancy