The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-06-23
MICROBES ON THE HEAD.
Do Not Trouble the Brain, hut De-
strOY the Hair.

stFOy tue mar.
The American woman rs well as the
American man lose both the color and
abundance of their natural head cover
ing early. Started off in life with fine
silken brown suit curling well below
her waist, it is only the extraordinary
woman who at 25 does not find her
combings every morning increasing to
alarming bulk. Her scalp seems sud
denly to fail in fertility, and in a few
years just a thin braid is left as a rem
nant of the once charming shock of
curls.
Now, as a matter of fact, it is not
age, or i'll health, or heredty, or even
the grossest neglect that affects the hair
as above described.
Perhaps it is not pleasant bit of
news to thinhaired women. but il is
true, nevertheless, that the scalp dis
ease which causes hair to fall is tiny
parasite which literally eats away the
hair roots. The microscope will re-
veal this evildoer. who works as vigor-
ously as a weevil in wheat.
just where he comes from is n matter
not yet solved, but his species is rapid
ly propagated and communicated
from head to head by the contact of
healthy with diseased hair.
Now, it is an encouraging fact that n
head that boasts an exquisitely white.
wholesome and Immediately clean
scalp, or scalp under peculiar condi-
tions. whether clean or not, will es-
cape infection when the danger is
greatest, just as 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 readily accept the microbe and suf-
fer. Actual contact with an affected
scalp is not necessary for this. 1t is
only neccssaryto pass an elegant silver
backed brush, seemingly perfectly
clean and taken from the toilet table
of most dainty woman. through
the hair to accept enough microbes to
absolutely impovcrish perfect scalp.
Sleeping one night in the same bed
with an infected scalp is also sufficient
on the back of a stuffed chair a 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.
wit hnnt nS,nntn1 -, ~.
scalp, begin to fall from its mornings.
\ 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
tones 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 n 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 is
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 and
boraX, leave it to dry in the sun and
wind and permit it to hang free all day
its owner in the open air, in week the
microbe would be eradicated; but for a
woman, 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 painstaking care. She must not ap-
ply any greasy tonic to the scalp, for
growth, and above all things soapy
| shampoo must be avoided.
She can either inaugurate a series OF
clear water douches for her head or re-
sort to physician, who will make an
! examination of her head with micro
scope, and give her as exact descrip-
ton OF its condition as specialist
would Of her heart and lungs, on sound
ing and investigating.
He can tell to hairs width in what
portions of the scalp the marauder is at
work, and usually, through questions
he can discover where, or how, or when
the infection was received. He cannot.