The Meeker herald., 1906-02-10
INCONVENIENCE OF HATS.
Coming to Be Quite Generally Rec
ognized in This Country as
Well as in Europe.

From an article bearing the above
title, which appears in Cosmos, we
learn that the new fashion Of going
without hat Is not limited in this
country. According to Tho writer, it
has everything, hygienicaly. in its
favor, and the arguments against it
need only be stated to be refuted, says
the Literary Digest He says:
THE mass of hair that covers the top
OF the head is a feature of the human
race In both sexes, and appears to be
one of Its most stable physical charac-
teristics. Nevertheless. long observa-
ton is unnecessary to prove that this
characteristic is weakening, and that
the vigor of the hair is decreasing in
man. Now question presents itself:
Is this due to a transformation of the
species or must we attribute the fact
to mans habits This second solution
appears to be correct. which is con-
selling. since 1t allows us to hope that
the evil may be checked. This loss of
hair that has become more striking
from one generation to another by
heredity, is due, according to some
scientists, to the habit OF covering the
head.
This habit must affect the hair in
juriously in three ways: "a BY de-
prlving 1t Of the life giving light of the
sun, of free ventilation, and of the
movement of the hairs by air-currents;
(2) by pressure on the small arteries
of the scalp. which bring nourishment
to the hair; (3) finally because all
head-covsrings are an excellent cul-
ture- medium for microbes. and facli-
tate their development. In fact. the
hat since 1t prevents the eermicldal
action OF the suns rays and the move
ment of the air. and retains on the
head the heat and moisture of the en-
closed aid, offers all the most favorable
conditions for obtaining a culture of
micro-orrnnisms. Furthermore it is
well reccr nt2ed that the chief causes
of bald0ees are the microbian aifec-
tons of the scalp. which destroy the
sebaceous glands.
We NAV. then. suppose that it is the
custom Of covering the head that di-
minishes. little by little. the vigor of
the hair. Although this is not abso-
lr'clv rrGvpd, 1t Is inhnitel" ~ hrhle.
and in any "ase II would e--' -t''tinG
to try a change in the nre - ''rhion.
This change is abeG'"tri- w. g
pecially for men for with wmrn be-
sides the fact that their hats cover
only part OF the hair, they are gener-
ally lighter: the preservation of the
hair for the species is due to the
women alone, the men counting for
nothing in the matter.
1.-THE promoters of this reform are
meeting at the outset. with certain OBJ
jections: "a To uncover the head
may bring on colds. neuralgia and
rheumatism. They answer that colds.
catorrN etc. are Of micrCh'nn origin
and car rot come from Tho --e'n. t2)
AS for a"rralsia and rhorr"''r'u they
are con inced that II the h1h'' n 'onv-
ing the head uncovered &c 'dautad IN
youth. these troubles will nj low.
OF th- head are not subject tn them
any more than the covered mort less
perhaps, (3) so far as IN" 81 "- cr'r-
BILE danger Of exposing tho h'~1 head
In the sun Is concerned. the Hrp many
ways Of avoiding this without smother
ing the scalp. f4) The fcrr that sep
tic bodies may be deposi'rH ~ tho nm
covered parts especially ir cities Ger
tainly deserves consideration: bu- care
in the toilet will enable "a to escape
the consequences f5) Firaur. the rear
lest the hair ehould be injured bv sun.
wind. or cold, has no serious basis.
since unprotected parts OF the head are
covered with vigorous hair"