Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-06
GO UP, THOU BALpHEAp.
A"e Saeses ihat Produce Badness In til.
Average Man.

~ S"e"os Ahat Produce Badness In tn.
Average Man.
Badness is produced by a failure of
normal nutrition in the papi1le at tho
base of each hair follicle. Imperfect
work being done in the c%apillaries.
which are here richly distributed. the
cells which constitute a hair-shaft arc
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 papilln of the scalp so much
cnfeebled that rapid badness ensues.
The papilla, however, still retain their
vitality, and, as the system regains its
strength, they quickly recover their po-
tentlallty, and the hair comes again,
perhaps thicker than before. In the
same manner certain cutaneous anec-
lions may cause the hair to fall by an
action on the papille which is but
temporary; in such cases recovery, per-
haps with assistance, perhaps without
it, is possible. In the great majority
OF instances, however, where the head
is bald the failure of nutrition of each
papilla has come on so gradually, and
has continued so long that the papilla
no longer exists; it has passed away by
atrophy; its capillaries have become
obliterated, and even the follicle no
longer constitutes a depression in the
cults, and the scalp has the smooth and
shining appearance which we so we'll
recognize. 1t is easy, therefore, to see
that in such a condition as this no re-
newed growth of the hair is to be ex-
pected, for the anatomical structure
which caused its development and con-
tinued it has ceased to exist, and the
countless remedies which are so freely
advertised as being able to %rejuvenate
bald heads + utterly of no avail.
They served only to illustrate the greed
and the impudence 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, can not
the application Of the various agents to
the scalp, at the time when the hair is
beginning to lose its hold, be of SER
vice in stimulating the follicles and
papilln 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
failing of the hair has been already
stated, and safe reasoning tells us that
our only hope can be in that which can
restore the failing 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 tits OF all other parts; nothing else
should be applied to it but common
sense. There a be little question but
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, exceptfrom sud-
den causes; and among those nations
where the head is habitually left bare or
but slightly covered, badness is prac-
tically unknown. 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 is very desirable, but it is not at
all likely to be accomplished. The
suggestion was some time ago made
that bald heads might perhaps be COW
cred anew with hair by ''skin grating"
No doubt such bits might be attached.
but the whole matter is merely a wild
fancy, without practical value. We
can make "skin CRAFTS take hold, but
it is only where the skin is destroyed
and the surface raw and exposed, com
monty rendered so by disease.
Assuming that some person would
consent to have his scalp peeled away
in preparation for the operation, and
then assuming that some other person
could be found who would consent to
appropriate his own scalp to cutting
out the proper bits for the work, yet
then the very best possible success must
be extremely imperfect. The denuded
surface would heal SO rapidly between
the ''grafts" that no extension on their
part could take place, and a head with
small specks of hair here and there
would be the only attainable result.
Cray patchwork" is fashionable, but
perhaps not many would care to wear
it in that way. The result of all seems
to be that when badness has come
slowly and naturally, it has come to
stay and our only wisdom is to be con-
tent.-sprsngfeM (Mass.l Repu6H-
Bill Nye's Philosophy.
To the Young the future has a rosetta