Year: 1874

discourse upon human hair, says:


1t is not the less useful because it is
ornamental. 1t is bad conductor of
heat, and keeps the head warm in
winter and cold in summer. 1t wards
off the effect of the sun and We find
negroes exposing themselves without
head covering to its burning rays in
tropical climate without the slightest
injury, and some tribes of wild Arabs,
who wear neither tarboosh nor turban,
are said to rely solely on their bushy
heads of hair as protection against sun
stroke. The moustache is natural
respirator, defending the lungs against
the inhalation of cold and dust. 1t is
q protection of the face and throat
against cold, and is equally in warm
climates safeguard for those parts
against excessive heat. The moustache
of blacksmiths show by their color the
dust which they stopped as natural
respirator, and which, if inhaled,
would have been injurious. The NOUS
tache is beneficial to those who follow
the trades of millers, bakers, masons,
to workers in metals, etc. Full boards
are said to be defense against bron-
chitis and sore throats- 1t is asserted
that the sappers and miners of the
French army, who are noted for the
size and beauty of their boards, enjoy
special immunity from affections of
this nature. The growth of hair has
been recommended to persons liable
to take cold easily. The curling nature
of the hair is attributed to large pro-
portion of oily substance, which pre-
vents the absorption of water. The
effect of dampness in destroying the
curl of the hair is well known, but it is
not so well known that the state of the
hair participates in the state of the gen.
eral health. In many instances, strong
curly hair becomes straight if the pos
SCISSORS be out of health and the condi-
ton of the hair with them is as great
test as the condition of the tongue.
The state of the hair depends much ON
that of the general health. In perfect
health the hair is full, glossy and rich
in its hues, In consequence OF the alb
sorption from the blood of a nutritive
juice containing its proper proportion
of oily and albuminous elements. In
persons out of health it may lose its
brilliancy of hue, and become lank
and straight, from the presence of i'm
perfect juices in others, again, there
may be total absence of such nutri-
tive elements, and the hair constantly
looks faded and dead Climate exer-
cises great influence on the curliness of
the hair, as may be illustrated in the
difference in this respect between the
natives of the North and of the South.
About Smoking on Death Beds.


A reverend gentleman of Worcester
propounds the conundrum Would
you smoke on your death-bed p There
is a gallant officer in this city, gener-
al who fairly earned his rank on the
battle field, who admits that he smoked
on the bed that he supposed to be his
death bed, and he attributes his recOv-
cry to that smoke. His arm, shattered
by a ball at Cherubusco, or some other
well-won field of the Mexican war, had
been amputated; but the symptoms
we're unfavorable, and the surgeons
plainly intimated that the brave soldier
had fought his last battle. As the case
seemed incurable they made no objec-
tlOu w LIS ICiuCot Va btihFo
to smoke cigar. Whether it was a
coincidence, or whether, as he insists,
the soothing influence of the tobacco
wrought beneficial change in his nerv-
ous system, he fell into calm sleep
for the first time in several days, and
from that hour grew better until COM
pletely restored to health. Then,
again, there is the well-authenticated
case of old General Herkimer, who
puffed away at his pipe until the life
blood gushed from the several arteries
of his leg, torn by cannon shot. No
doubt, sensibly remarks the New York
Daily Meas, as rule, people in their
death agonies have no APPETITE for to-
bacco; but neither as rule do they
crave for roast beef and plumb pud-
ding. As an argument against smoking
the reverend gentleman's remark has
no significance; if it had, it might sug-
gest a conclusion quite opposite to the
purpose, for many a dying drunkard on
his death-bed has longed for glass of
rr1n