The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-12
ROBES IN THE HAIR.
Why Americans Lose Their Hair
sooner Than other People.

1t requires not certified statistics. but
just a little observation, 10 show that as
race American women. as well as men.
lose both the color and abundance OF their
natural head covering earlier than any
other nation. Starting off in life with
fine siken brown suit curling below her
waist. IL is only the extraordinary woman
who at Is does not find her combings every
morning increasing 10 alarming bulk Her
scalp seems suddenly 10 fail in fertility
and III a few years Just thin braid is left
as a remnant of the once charming shock
Of curls.
Now. as matter of fact it is not age
or i-health. or heredity. or even the
grossest neglect that affects the hair as
above described.
Perhaps 1t is not a pleasant bit or news
to thin-haired women, but IL Is true. new
ertheless that the scalp disease which
causes hair 10 fall is a tiny parasite, which
literally eats away the hair roots. The
microscope will reveal this evil-doer who
works as vigorously q weeyil in wheat.
Just where he comes from is a matter
not yet solved. but his species Is rapidly
propagated and communicated from head
TO head by the contact OF healthy with
diseased hair. Now. Ii is an encouraging
fact. that head that boasts an exquisite
ly white. wholesome and Immediately
clean scalp, or q scalp under peculiar con-
infection when tie danger Is greatest.
Just as two persons will drink of contain
ina ted 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 mi
crobe and suffer. Actual contact with an
affected scalp Is not necessary for this.
Ii Is only necessary TO pass an elegant
silver-backed brush, seemingly perfectly
clean and 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 bed with an infected
scalp Is also sufficient. or merely resting
the head one moment on the back OF a
stuff chair a person with falling hair has
lately occupied will communicate the dis
ease almost instantly.
AS to the symptoms that follow the ac-
ceptance OF this tiny depredator they are
too well nown TO need description. The
hair may. or. may not. without any espe-
cial sensation in the scalp, begin to fan
from It's 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 depreda-
ton.
Frequently the scalp Is sensitive TO the
touch or itches violently. though there
may be no dandruff TO cause the sensa-
<,
shampoo applications of the usual tonics.
or grease are all unavailable in dlslodging
the microbe. though TO n certain extent
great cleanliness and rapid application of
the brush discourages very active brows-
ing, and will 10 certain extent check or
modify the destructive course. II Is just
here. in the moment OF great discourage
ment that science steps In TO the aid OF
beauty and shows that the one and only
fnr hail hat Is he
is water. massage and air.
Immediately the morning combings be-
gin 10 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. II IL were possible
to wash the head and hair quite clear In
clear water and borax. leave IL to dry in
the sun and wind and permit IL 10 hang
free all day. its owner in the open air, in
a week the mcrobe would be eTadicated:
hut for a woman. and especially one who
lives in the city. this method is impossible.
Her chance for retaining her hair. how
ever does rest on her own energy and
painstaking care. She must not apply any
greasy tonic 10 the scalp. for this only en-
courages the microbes growth. and above
all things soapy shampoo must be
avoided.
She can either inaugurate series OF
clearwater douches for her head or re-
sort TO a physician. who win make an ex-
animation OF her head with a microscope
and give her as exact description OF rs
condition as a specialist would OF her heart
or lungs on sounding and investigating
He can tell 10 hairs width IN what poF-
ton OF the scalp the marauder is at work
and usually. through questions he can
discover where. or how. or when the Iufec-
ton was received. He cannot. II her case
l. undertaken. promise 10 restore 2 growth
where the microbe has cut ont the roots
OF hafr and destroyed them but he can
eradicate the enemy, check the falling and
redouhe the growth IN the healthy parts
All this he does by merely handing his
patient over 20 an expert woman. who.
armed with rubber aprons, plenty Of wa
ter, varying IN temperature from hot 70
cold and bottle og simple lotion gives
tae head "A series OF shampooS. She uses
no Soap in the process very little towel
icw hut large amount - finger work
strong enough 30 XII the germs while the
nary lzvings IN perfectly clear water
stimulate the skin ard cleanse the hair.
80 FAR the Ingredients % the lotion are not
ptthl.e property bat the chief element ii
thls cure 8ay woman can pat into urac-
tice. As the heed Is doucbesl the fingers
must vigorously massage every inch OF the
scalp over and oser again. aniU the skin
under the hair Il red and hot
The leugth Of hair ia pressed "a free %
wafsr - possible between the palms
rubbed FOR moment bsrwesn towels and
then left 10 hang until perfectly dry The
process repeated four or FIVE times brings
the scalp Into perfectly normal eoasf-
ton ard not only kills svery Injurious
germ in TIRE roots. bat gives the healthy
roots an impetus toward fresh growth.
h. l. X. D.
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