Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-24
 Home Health | Club by DAVID .. REEpER. Ph. b.,N.D. La Porte, ind.
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 garding scalp diseases.
 Hair grows upon the body of animals, as we'll as upon man, somewhat after the manner that plants grow upon the earth. Upon certain portions of the body of mankind. as the scalp of both men and women and the faces of men, 1t should be luxuriant and beautiful, an ornament as we'll as protection. It seems to be a law of nature that. whenever thing ouiives its usefulness, it inevitably de- cays. This is illustrated in the Biblical parable of the fig tree. for it withered and died almost immediately after being told that it should bear no more fruit. Whenever We find the hair used, as na- tnre evidently intended it should be used, for protection. it is usually abun- dant and rarely falls out. What, then shall we not wear hats? To discard them would not only be foolish, but would sub 1ect one to the ridicule of his fellows. Civilized men must follow the fashion, and men are no more exempt from her memorable demands than are women. and, in the matter of hats he is even more of slave than she.
 Therefore. as We have. by adopting an artificial covering for the head. relieved the hair of the responsibility of protect ing us from the clements and reduced it's use to that of ornament only, it finds nothing to resist and grows weak from non-use. from confinement from lack of proper care. and from having the blood supply cut of by the hard, stiff brim of a hat. or, in the case of women, by be- ing drawn into tight coil over the head or being burned to death by hot irons, horrible death. The scalp becomes dry and hard, is not flexible, and the skin of the head adheres to the bones o! the skull, frequently causing headaches and an irritable itching. Presently the hair begins to fall out. and the tonics of all the barbers in Christendom cannot stop 1t.
 If the hair Is to be retained as an or nament, 1t is necessary to treat it with great care. If the hostlers of some of our wealthy bald-headed gentlemen did not keep the hair of the horses in bet ter condition than the rich man keeps his own, they would be discharged as unfit to properly care for a horse; and yet it is not an unusual sight,to see one of these wealthy bald heads critically examining the glossy hair of his we'll groomed horse, and finding fault with the least speck of dust or dirt, while the collar of his own coat is covered with a filthy mass of white scales and loose hair from His own neglected head
 The scalp must be kept loose and flex- ible or the roots of the hair vegetable will notbep properly nourished, and 1t will first die and then fall out. A comb is all right with which to straighten the hair pre- paratory to brushing, but the brush must be used vigorously and daily. Not only must the brush be used in order to keep a healthy scalp in condition, but where the hair has already begun to fall out the following radical treatment must be kept up for some weeks. or even months. if it is the desire to retain the beautiful ornament with which nature has adorned us.
 First. the scalp must be relaxed and softened so that nutrition may reach every hair follicle without let or hin- drance, and our treatment will be com- bination of hydropathic and osteo- pathic methods of cure which are both successful in most cases, but by combin- ing the two there need be no failures.
 Before retiring at night is about the only time this method can be used by most people. Procure from reliable druggist or manufacturer soap that is made of the finest olive oil and potash. A skillful druggist can make 1t for you if he does not keep it in stock. It is really, or should be. soft soap. The hard soaps are invariably made of soda instead of potash. and. although most excellent for the skin under ordinary cir cumstances. are not so good for the pur- pose now on hand.
 This fine potash soap does not so read fly make . good father as the hard soap does. but 1t is sufficient with which to thoroughly saturate the hair and skin of the head with a fine, soft. soothing substance. As we keep kneading it into the scalp We find that it has tendency to dry. which does not feel so com fortable. Without removing any of it We now take the finest almond oil and rub it into the scalp thoroughly. This brings the skin into soft flexible state all over the head. and the scalp is in first rate condition. Now cover it all over nicely with a closefitting skull cap, or other covering that will not come off during sleep. anu go to bed.
 Upon arisingin the morning the scalp should be well washed in warm soft or rain water containing just enough per- manganate of potassium to make it slightly pink in color. or enough clear white vinegar to make it slightly acid to the taste Either of these substances if used in the bath makes the head or any other porton of tine body chemically clean. After washing out the oil and soap. rinse the head thoroughly in cold water and dry very carefully Unless this matter of drying the hair and scalp is fully accomplished cold might re- suit, and if there is any doubt on the sab ject the skull cap should be replaced un- til the natural heat of the head causes the hair to become dry.
 This treatment should be repeated every third night for two or three weeks. unless the good judgment of the person