Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-03-07
WORRY IN THE HAIR.
A SUBJECT THAT is EARNESTLY CON
SIDERED BY MANY WOMEN.
Some of the Things Used to Keep
Hair From Falling Out or Turning
Gray Our GrandmOthers Were
, Bald Despite Their Many Remedies.

Some of the Things Used to Keep
Hair From Falling Out or Turning
Gray Our GrandmOthers Were
Bald Despite Their Many Remedies
If it is fair TO judge by the way the
women talk, this question of what to do
for the hair is the greatest rival that the
servant girl question has. Those who
talk about it are frankly worried, while
those who say nothing are quietly expert
menting with washes and lotions recon-
mended by specialist by sympathetic
friends. If your l.. IS failing out by
handfuls," there is some comfort in the
thought that your neighbor's is doing the
very same thing, and if you find nearly
everything you try blank failure so far
as remedying the evil is concerned rest
content that she is having the same expe-
rience. After all, though, the person
who declares that badness is on the in
crease is q good deal of an alarmist.
Look at the woman Of so years of age.
1t is only in rare instances that she is
narrowed down to a thin wisp of hair,
while the woman of the generation be-
pate and of a cap to cover it long before
she had rea the half century mark.
Most persons talk as if this evil Of falling
hair were something entirely new. If it
is, why did our grandmothers feel it nee
essary to anoint their heads with tea or
with sage tea, and why were all the po-
mades and washes and lotions concoctedf
Considering the advice and hair inyig-
orators which used to be generally ac-
cepted, it is no wonder that the cap was
only matter of time. The usual plan
was to brush the scalp until redness and
a warm glow were obtained and then to
dab among the roots of the hair with
some one of the hair lotions. If this To-
ton produced a smarting sensation, all
right and good; if not, the brushing was
resumed. The basis Of most Of the invig-
orators was either the tincture or the
vinegar of cantharides, and cantharides
is really another name for Spanish flies,
the chief ingredient in very hot plasters.
1t stands to reason that the process of
pummeling an already sensitive scalp
with stiff hairhrush, then adding bis
tering compound of fire and cologne and
perhaps u little rOsewater was enough
to set up an answering irritation. Some
times tea was mixed in, and an old fash
ioned hair tonic was made by scalding
Two ounces of black tea with one gallon
of boiling water, straining off the liquid
and adding to it glycerine, cantharides
and bay rum in generous proportions.
This of course made a large supply OF
the wash but since it was to be applied
twice day it was well to have plenty on
hand
Pomatums for the growth OF the hair
have always been considered inferior to
the lotions in efficacy. Pomatums or po-
mades were often used merely as dress
ing for the hair without any idea of re-
newing its growth. The pomades were
often delicately colored and delicately
scented, but nevertheless the fact re-
mains that the basis was in most cases
nothing more or less than a mixture of
lard and suet The combination might
be of two parts lard and one part beef
suet or Of five parts lard and two parts
mutton suet, the latter mixture used
chiefly in white pomades. In either case
the suet was subjected to a purifying
process. For long time the fat Of the
bear was held in high esteem for pro-
noting the growth of the hair, perhaps
because its rankness made it seem pow
erful. AS a matter Of fact little of the
so called bears grease which eager
ssarchers after something to improve
their hair used to try had ever been In
sight of a bear. The dealers readily con-
cocted a mixture of pure lard and palm
oil with a few other ingredients and
passed it off on the satisfied and unsus-
pecting public.
All Of these and many more tonics
have had their firm admirers, those who
were ready to say that they were the
best things In the world for the hair, and
that proves very conclusively that ev-
cry scalp has its own peculiar little
traits, and what will make one persons
hair cease from falling and crop out in
luxury of new sprouts will bring the
next person down with her locks to de-
spair.
1t is as nonsensical trying to lay down
n course of treatment for all heads as
trying to devise a treatment for all COM
plexions. In both cases the health must
be taken into account. One person with
q most beautiful skin may declare that it
is the result Of never using soap on her
face, while II another blindly followed
her example the result would be far
from charming. II is a bad plan to try
anything just because some one else has
found ii good. For instance, one woman
whose hair by right of age should be thin
has a heavy mass of soft, pretty hair.
Her chosen hair tonic has been a pat
ented remedy in which sugar of lead, sui
phur, ammonia, glycerin and water ap-
pear in varying proportions. A person of
nervous temperament, with highly irri-
table skin, would be very unwise TO fol
low her example. Furthermore, what is
good for an oily scalp would be the
height of folly for dry scalp. Even
with the same individual the treatment
frequently needs changing. The scalp,
in the first place, might be covered with
dandruff. To cure this there is nothing
better than some mixture containing cor
rosive sublimate. After the symptoms of
dandruff have disappeared there is no
longer need OF the corrosive sublimate,
and something to merely nourish the
roots Of the hair should be substituted
The only unvarying rules are: Give your
hair as much freedom as possible by nev-
er knotting it at night for one thing. Do
not brush and mangle your scalp as you
would scrub floor, but rather treat it
gently and favor it as you would a sick
child. Avoid close and heavy hats. Have
your sleeping room COOL and look out for
your general health. If you are obliged
to do much nerve or brain work. you may
expect your hair to grow thin, but if you
can keep a good digestion there is hope.
New York Sun.
rI,a Woman,s HnfaI