Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29
Baldness-How to Delay Il.
From the London Telegraph.

from the London Telegraph.
Sir: A far more common cause Of the "plen-
tiful Lack of hair now SO prevalent is bowel
and nervous disorders. Dyspepsia and weak
aud falling hair go hand in hand; and who viii
say that we are not a dyspeptic nation? Now,
dyspepsia lis due to our modern mode Of living;
ergo one Of the great primal causes Of prema-
ture badness is civilization. Indeed. we can
have no doubt on this point when we remember
that civilization has also introduced the ''chim-
ney pot, probably to aid and abct
Very many OF the bleak and barren brows"
we see around us are also due to dyrpepsia
The moral, therefore. is. Look after yonr gen
eral health. At the same time, loss of hair 10
not always caused by loss OF health. II fire.
quently proceeds from purely local causes. and
as these causes can be guarded against perhaps
you will allow me to tell what 20 do and what
not to do in order. under ordinary circum-
stances. to keep their hair on"
/. Avoid tight-ftting hats and collars also
close-httiEg caps unless these be OF some porous
material The two former prevent a due supply
of blood 10 the parts. hence the hair papille
are put, as IL were. on short commons al tho
time the hats and collars are worn. Tn. caps
engerder caloric. which sets up irritation and
ultimately that most stubborn form OF dandruff
namely. pityriasis q. O., a branny powder
Note that all headgear which il not porous
should 10 ventilated at top and sides. TO allow
a free current of air.
2. Never sit or stand with the top Of the head
near a gas hight or lamp light The heat thrown
out Is apt TO paralyze the scalp Tissues, and
dries up the hair itself.
3. Don't wash the head oftener than once n
fortnight, when first rub in the yelk of an egg
and thoroughly rinse out with warm water
into which has been thrown a pinch Of borax.
Dry carefully and apply little pure olive oil.
4. Beware OF that common practice dipping
the comb in water when arranging the hair. Ii
promotes decomposition and rancidity Of the
natural oil ami so leads to ''rotting."
5. III the hair be naturally dry apply little
olive oil occasionally. IL naturally oily occa-
sionally wash away the excess of sebaceous Sc
erection by means of lather Of tepid water and
soap bark (quitlaya saponaria).
6. Salt water is most injurious to the hair,
for which reason when sea bathing wear an oil
cap.
Z. Always treat the scalp as il Won loved il.
Take to heart DIR. Godfreys dictum that Every
touch affecting so delicate a texture ne the
scalp should be soft and soothing. every appli-
cation bland and mild" Don't use stiff
bristled or wire brushes. and i'm all cases brush
gently. Also, always brush out the hair before
attempting to comb it, and use the comb 40 lit
tie as possible.
8. Have the ends Of the hair clipped once q
month. if only TO prevent them from splitting.
But don't close-crop.
am sure, sir, that thousands of your readers
would be benefited by following the above IN
structions; and in conclusion, allow me TO
correct a slight error in your very excellent
leader. You say that I'm all countries and in
all ages the loss of hair has exposed the loser
to public derision." This is not quite correct
Lucien, for example. tells us that among the
Seienites a bald pate considered mark of
beauty. am, sir. your obedient servant,
HENRY WILLIAMS, NJ. d., Boston