The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-23

Don't work with an electric light close
TO your hair unless you wish to become
bald headcd before your time
This is the latest edict published by
French scientists and substantiated by
physicians here in San francisco. Ac-
cordinS 10 these learned savants the sur
est road to badness lies in the path OF
The electric light.
a mechanical Dclilah is the electric
light, shearing the Samsons who come
under its glare.
DR. WINSTON Anderson, Of St Wini-
ford's Hospital. says that a number OF
his patients who have complained OF their
hair falling out are young men doing
clerical tasks. working with an electric
light shining over their heads In nearly
all of these cases it has been found that
the hair ceases TO fall out when the e!ec-
trio light has been rcadjusted-
a number Of other prominent physicians
have noticed the anti-hirsute qualities OF
tho electric light. and like DR.. Ander-
son. have warned their patients against
working directly under its rays.
Badness INCREASING.
In a recent number of a leading French
medical journal The subject OF badness
is discussed at length. According to one
writer the bald-headed contingent of the
human race Is increasing out OF all pro-
portion. Old age is the only natural
cause for the hair falling out. But among
the modern bald heads arc to be found
many young men. whose smooth faces
belle their smooth Dates.
The writer continuing. gives long
list of the causes of premature badness
Among others he mentions: Severe sick
ness. sudden shocks, lack of sleep. dis
sipation and the hurry Of the present civ
iiiZation. Then he dilates upon the evil
effects of the electric light. characterize
ing it as the worst OF harmful agents that
initiate against q good old-fashioned
crop Of hair.
All the physicians base this anti-clec
trio theory on practically the same
grounds.
The electric light" explained Dr.
Winslow Anderson, does not give out
any moro. nor as much, heat as some
other lights. But as the electric light is
arranged in modern offices, it comes in
close contcat with the head The bulb is
generally attached 10 a. pliable, portable
tube and men doing desk work usually
place the light in injurious proximity to
the tops Of their heads. The heat radiat-
ing from the incandcscent lights direct
ly above the hair dries up the oils in the
sebaceous glands. This is fatal to the
life and growth of the hair Then hair
and hair follicles become diseased. just
as much as any other part OF the sys-
tenn that is abused.
REMOVE THE LIGHT.
In treating hair that has been thus af-
fected the injurious cause must first be
removed. In other words, place the cleo
trio light at safe distance away. Then
the hair. by the use of certain ointments
and massage. may perhaps be coaxed back
into a healthy condition
Men are moro liable to badness than
women, although most of the latter have
Ia, ,1rj,ic Of J,o;, tl,rr
shows bald spots. To these women the
heat of the electric light is as much a
menace as to man.
Il have known OF several cases of wo-
men with fine, luxuriant Srowths of hair
being affected by working under the cleo
tTic light.
Another patient of mine who had been
4 stenographer. married and went to E.u-
rope She had never called my attention
to her hair and I had never particularly
noticed it After her return however. she
one day took off her hat and asked me
what l thought of her new crop OF hair.
It seemed that she. too, had been affect
ed by the electric light hair destroyer a
Partisan skin specialist SO diagnosed the
trouble as soon as she told him her for
Der office environment.
His remedy was q drastic one. He
shaved her head as a Chinese barber
might shave his countryman's head, and
then ordered her to sit in the sun as
many hours Of the day as possible. He
objected 10 her wearing 4 wig, because il
prevented rha air and sunlight reaching
her shaved scalp. This meant that for
many weeks she was not only an enforc-
ed sun worshiper, but a hermit as we'll
Il am not prepared to say whether this
sunbake is the best cure for the badness.
but certainly it was n success in her case.
OTHER CAUSES.
''Willia1n a. Barrett, 4 New York bus
mess nan. who is at present in San Fran
cisco is another victim of the electric
light Mr.. Barrett told me the other day
that up to a few years ago he had Il
head OF hair that you'd have made him
eligible to a Varsity eleven. Then he had
electric lights put into his office. Like
most other business men, he sat with the