Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-06-24
MICROBES ON THE HEAD.

MICROBES ON THE HEAD.
Do Not Trouble the Brain, But De.
stroy the Hair.
The American woman MS well rs the
American man lose both the color and
abundance of their natural head cover
ing early. Started off in life with a fine
silllen brown suit curling well below
her waist, it is only the extraordinary
woman who at Is does not find her
combings every morning increasing to
alarming bulk. Her scalp seems sud-
denly to fail in fertility, and in few
years just u thin braid is left as a rem
nant of the once charming shock Of
curls.
Now, rs matter of fact, it is not
age, or i'll health, or heredity, or even
neglect that affects the hair
rs above described.
Perhaps. it is not q pleasant bit Of
news, to thin-hn1red women, but 1t is
true. nevertheless, that the scalp dis-
ease which causes hair to fall is q tiny
parasite which literally, ats, away the
hair roots. 'Ehc microscope r.vitl aSs-
veal this evildoerr who. works.as yieor-
ously as a aweevilin Yhept.
just where he comes fromisa matter
NOT, yet solycd.t but HIS species is rapid
iy propagated and communicated
from head to head by the contact OF
healthy with diseased hair.
Now. it isAn encouraging fact thnt,n
head that boasts an exquisitely white,
wholesome and simmaeulately ,clean
scalp, or scnlp under peculiar. condi-
tions, whether cleaa. or not, will es-
cape .infection when the danger is
greatest, just MS two persons will drink
of contaminated water. one will die Of
typhoid fever and the other flourish.
These. exceptions are the secrets Of
nature, but the average head will and
does reatlilyaccept the microDe and suf-
fer. Actual contact with an affected
scalp is not necessary for this. It 10
only necessary to pass an elegant silver
backed brush, seemingly perfectly
clean md taken from the toilet table
of a most dainty woman, through
the hair to accept enough microbes to
absolutely impoverish a perfect scalp.
Sleeping one night in the same bod
with an infected scalp is also sufficient,
or merely resting the head one moment
on the back of stuffed chair q person
with falling hair has lately occupied.
will communicate the disease almost
instantly
AS to the symptoms that follow the
acceptance of this tiny ,,depredator.
they are too well known, to need de-
scription. The hair. may. or may not.
without any especial sensation in the
scalp, begin to fall from its moorings.
A little of the long hair comes at first.
then more and more, showing that the
microbe is multiplying and extending
daily the area of depreciation.
Frequently the scalp is sensitive to
the touch, or itches violently, though
there may be no dandruff to cause the
sensation. Vigorous brushing, the ordi-
nary shampoo, applications of the usual
tonics or grease are all unavailing in
dislodging the microbe, though to a GER
tain extent great cleanliness and rapid
application Of the brush discourage very
active browsing, and will to certain
extent check or modify the destructive
course.
1t is just here, in the moment Of great
est encouragement, that science steps
in to the aid Of beauty, and shows that
the one and only cure for hair that is
falling from the roots is water, massage
and air.
Immediately the morning combings
begin to show any unusual number Of
long bright hairs, those precious
strands are proof positive that there il
a little reaper at the roots, and active
measures must be taken to combat
him.
If it were possible to wash the head
and hair quite clear. in clear water a1d
borax, leave it to dry in the sun and
wind and permit it! to hang ,freeall day,N
its owner in the open air, in a week the
microbe would be eradicated, but for .
,vvomon, and especially one who lives in
the city, this method is impossible.
Her. chance for retaining her hair
does, however, rest on her own energy
and painstakingc care. She must not APP
ply any greasy tonic to the scalp, for
this only encourages the microbes
growth, and above all things soapy
shampoo must be avoided.
She can either inauguratea series of
clear water douches for her head or re-
sort to a physician, who VIII make4n
examination other head with a micro
scope, and give her as exact . deserip-
ton of its condition. as } a specialist
would other heart and lungs, on sound
ing and Investigating.
He can tell to hairs width in Whist
portions Of the scalp the marauder il at
work, and usually, through questions,
he can discover where, or how, or when,
the Infection was received. He cannot,
II her case is undertaken. promise -
restore growth where the micr0be
has cut out the roots Of hair and de-
stroyed them, but he can eradicate the
enemy, check the falling and reloa61e
the growth in the healthy partss
ton Globe.