The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-11-21
X-RAY FOR THE HAIR
SUCCESS IN THE TREATMENT
REPORTED IN PARIS.
Scientists Say That Badness and
Loss of Color II Taken Before the
Disease Has Run Its Course May
BE Overcome.

baIlness and the restoration of nat
ural color to gray hair by use of
tae X-ray.
The scientists who have been work.
Ing on the problem do not say that
women whose hair is gray and every
:IGH whose head Is bald can event
u2Ay possess fine head of hair,
bat they do say that in many cases
ta!s result can be effected and that
IL all cases, when taken in the be-
ginning, the trouble may be pre-
vented. When the hair has turned
c,t!rcly gray or the scalp Is entirely
bald nothing can be done These
conditions mean the death OF the
colur,ng matter OF the hair, and in
the case OF badness the extinction of
tac hair roots. The cause of the
talr turning gray has always been
uncertain nor has the treatment by
tie N-ray thrown much light upon
the2o causes. one hypothesis is that
tAe color oi the ha.r is made by the
i,col and that srayHess comes from
Licrobe which destroys ,he color
matter faster than the blood can
make 1t. II this Microbe is destroy
eG ~ the N-ray, then the bic Cd can
r,Suine its natural function. This
H. tie most plausible explanation. yet
put forth why grayness is So often
uuaccompanied by badness ana bald
ness is by no means synonymous 9 ith
gvayness. Badness is rather more
an affection OF the scalp and can be
prevented by the X-ray. but can
scarcely be cured. Grayness. on the
contrary, the socialists say. may be
cured. The restoration OF color.
moreover, Is attended with increased
yisor OF the hair. This is, however.
extremely likely to be preceded by
temporary falling out OF the hair,
but in short time it takes on
new growth.
II has been known ever since the
Eray was first used that II had an
effect upon the hair, and IS it was
used in the beginning without taking
special precaution against letting 1t
fall upon the hair, the result was 1t
was supposed to damage the hair.
The contrary by degrees was found
out, but the real discovery of the
method of restoring color is the
work of DR.. Imbert, head of the
electrical department OF the Univer-
sity of Montpelier in France. and
his first assistant. DR.. Marques. DR..
Imbert, who is constantly expert
Menting with the X-ray, found out
that his own hair and beard. whicn
were quite gray, where becoming
dark again. He began experiment
Ing with the assistance of DR.. Mar
guess. and proved that certain
mild action of the rays had the pow
q in most cases to restore the color.
The French X-ray specialists became
Interested In these experiments and
in Il very little wEile worked out a
practical formula and treatment.
In ordinary cases daily treatments
should be made six in the week for
about three weeks.
rhe treatment has been given In
Paris for about two years and with
increasing success. The X-ray men
have found out, they say. that cases
caa be cured and that wherever there
is any OF the original color left II
can DO restored. In these avdanced
cases 1t Is not possible TO restore the
color entirely to all OF the hair
There are liable to be light colored
places where the grayness has been
most marked. Dyed hair, however
is very difficult to restore. The orig
inal color of the hair seems to be
badly affected by the use OF dyes and
us q rule the X-ray specialists does
not attempt to restore the dyed hair
until tho dye has worn off, This Is
matter of months.
The process has been in use in
Paris for about two years and Is
daily growing more popular. Three
weeks Is the usual period OF treat
ment for a typical case. But 1t is
quite two months before the full
effect Is accomplished. AS soon as
the hair begins to fall out the treat
meuts are stopped for time and Is
not resumed until the falling out
ceases. Generally, however, 1t Is
possible to get eighteen treatments
without any falling out OF the hair
There Is nothing in the least al
arming or even trying In the treat
mont, and the only sensation notice
s1le is sometimes a slight sensation
OF warmth on the spot treated. The
patient seats himself in chair be-
fore the X-ray apparatus. the hair
hangs loose to the shoulders and the
ray Is turned on 1t for six minutes
The use of the X-ray is not cheap
anywhere. but In Paris 1t Is far less
expensive than In America, 20 francs
(s4) being the usual charge for q
treatment.