Year: 1868

Ihe journal OF Appt,eQ ChenaSuy, has tne ioi-
lowing pertinent remarks on this topic:


'That there is great need of better information
among the common classes regarding the poison
GUS compounds sold under thousands of different
names as hair washes, hair invigorators, and hair
dyes is constantly pressed upon our attention from
many sources. Even those who should be better
informed seem to be so generally thoughtless or
criminally neglecful that the importance Of the
subject is almost totally lost sight Of unless public
attention happens to be called to it by striking
example of the evil effects of those poisons. The
following from the Utica Observer, is worth the at
tenton of all who use any sort of dyes or artificial
''restoratives" for the hair:


''The Journal of Applied Chemistry, for this
month, asserts that paralysis has been produced by
the use of lead, employed to give dark color to
hair, and says the various hair restoratives' so
much in vogue, which contain sugar Of lead, should
be forever abandoned. I am induced to send to
you this note from the fact that lady recently
called on me for advice in case Of paralysis Of the
left eyeid and tongue, caused entirely by the use of
q popular hair nostrum. .... .


She was recommended to skillful practitioner,
who will probably find great difficulty in curing the
maady, forit is notorious that lead is one Of the
most difficult poisons to expe from the human sys-
tenn.


But, sir, although not competent to prescribe
for this rapidly increasing maady it is easy enough
to give the method for detecting the lurking fend,
which is to take one grain of iodide Of potassium
and drop it in three ounce bottle of the suspected
stuff shake it slowly for minute, and if the COM
pound turns yellow and ropy, empty the contents
of the bottle into the cesspool, no matter whatit
cost or by what balsamio name it is known in the
advertising column. .. 30. .. -... go '''-.-


We thank our correspondent for his communica-
ton. 1t touches upon subject of more infpor,
lance than the public are generally aware of. The
hair restoratves containing sugar of lead are doing
the world harm; and the low should stop their man.
ufacture and SALE One who is very dear to the
WTlter vi LulS paIdSfdpu HOS pech lol yooio OIL in
valid, from the use, as physicians and herself are
fully convinced of hair dye which was formerly
very popular and much used. The encroachments
of disease caused by the preparation referred to
began with gradual loss of power in the left arm,
and thence the weakness has extended until nearly
all the whole system has become paralyzed. For
two years the patient has not been able to leave
her bed, and for nearly half that period she has
been unable to speak To nothing else than the
use of hair resoratves containing sugar Of lead is
her present condition to be attributed. But for
that she would probably be well, strong and use
full to-day.


We take blame to ourselves for having failed to
speak strongly and often on this subject before
now, and say to every one who reads this use no
hair dye which has not been carefully analysed,
and which your physician can not certify to you to
be harmless. The cases are numerous wherein
partial or total paralysis has resulted from the ap-
plication of the villainous compounds Of which we
are speaking