Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-08
SCOTCH CLAN MEETS DEATH IN HAIR DYES!
Society Formed of Descend Health Officer Suggests Ban
ants of HghIanders. on Poisonous Compounds.
HISTORY FOR 500 YEARS BOARD CONSIDERS MATTER
Tbulatons the Hardy Family From Effects
Native Heath Dry Shampoo.
RECITAL PRESIDENT DEADLY SUBSTANCES USED
Of
Robert o Use of Mixtures Containing
George Carbon Tetrachloride.
Health Officer Suggests Ban
on Poisonous Compounds.
BOARD CONSIDERS MATTER
Woman Nearly Dies From Effects of
Dry Shampoo.
OILY SUBSTANCES USED
London Lancet Now Warns Against
Use of Mixtures Containing
Carbon Tetrachloride.

Declaring that death or serious injury
| to health results from the of some
hair dyes and dressings, Health Officer
w. c. Woodward has recommended to the
Commissioners that measures be taken to
regulate or prohibit the sale or use of
such compounds containing dangerous
quantities of poisons.
Commissioner Macfarland has referred
the matter to the corporation counsel
with a view to preparing the necessary
legislation.
DIR. Woodward's Letter.
Last spring. explains Health Officer
Woodward in letter to the Commission
ers, "a lady came near losing her life in
this District through the use by a hair
dresser of a toxic substance in giving a
dry shampoo. The occurrence was then
regarded as exceptional, and the hair
dresser undertook to make it appear that
the dangerous symptoms that followed his
treatment were due to the fact that his
patroness had instructed him to admin
lister the shampoo while her hair was
hanging over her forehead, her face be-
ing downward. instead of, In his usual
manner, with the hair hanging down the
back of the neck. The hairdresser him.
self seemed to be utterly ignorant as to
the dangerous character of the substance
he was using.
Since the occurrence referred to GER
tain cases have occurred abroad in which
dangerous symptoms and even death
have occurred as a result of the applica-
ton of a dry shampoo, presumably
through the employment of compounds
similar to that that was used in this city,
as is shown by the accompanying news
paper clipping. which is fully borne out
by reports on current medical literature
To Prevent Loss of Life.
1T seems to me desirable. therefore.
that some action be taken to prevent
injury to health and possibly loss Of life
in this District through the same cause.
Il respectfully recommend, therefore.
that the sale of preparations intended
to be used for shampooing, which prepa
rations contain any volatile toxic sub
stance or any other toxic substance of
such nature and in such quantity as to
render it liable to be absorbed through
the skin and to produce poisonous effects,
be forbidden absolutely, or. if the Com
missioners deem proper. that the sale
Of such substances be forbidden unless
there appear on the label the usual in
sigma Of poisons-the skull and cross
bones. the word poison in letters as
large as the largest on the label and full
and clear instructions as to how to avoid
poisoning and how to treat it should it
occur. 1 recommend further that the
use of any such substances as described
above by persons engaged in the bust
ness of hair dressing be forbidden
Il respectfully recommend that this
matter be referred to the corporation
counsel for consideration as to the
authority Of the Commissioners to promul-
gate regulation or regulations to accom-
plish the desired result and for the TRAIT
ing Of such a regulation or regulations, if
he is of the opinion that the Commits
sioners have the power to promulgate the
same, or, if he is of opinion that the
Commissioners have no such power, then
for the drafting of such legislation, with
a view to its enactment by Congress-
Proved Fatal in London.
The newspaper clipping to which Dr.
Woodward calls the attention Of the
Commissioners refers to an article pub
lished in the London Lancet.
DIR. Waller. director of the physiology
cal laboratory of the University of Lon
don, who writes the article says the
newspaper clipping "refers at the outset
to the recent sad death of young wom-
an under the hands Of her hair dresser
and describes in short note a series of
experiments conducted to determine how
far the mixtures used for the dry shampoo
and containing carbon tetrachloriGe are
of q poisonous character. DR.. Waller
shows that pure carbon tetrachlOride is
more poisonous than chloroform, and that
the shampoo mixture in question, al
prevalently used. is still more poisonous.