Year: 1873

The Dublin Unfpersity Magaziie, in a
discourse upon human hair, says;


1t is not the less useful because it is or
namental. It is bad conductor Of heat,
and keeps the head warm in winter and
cold in summer. Il wards of the effect Of
Of the sun, and we find negroes exposing
themselves without head-coyering to its
burning rays in tropical climates, 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 mustache is natural
respirator, defending the lungs against the
inhalation Of cold and dust Il Is a pro-
lection Of the face and throat against cold,
and is equally in warm climates a safe
guard for those parts against excessive
heat. The mustaches OF blacksmiths show
by their color the dust which they stop
ped as natural respirator, and which, If
inhaled, would have been injurious. The
mustache is beneficial to those who follow
the trades Of millers, bakers, masons, to
workers in metals, and even to travellers
into Egypt aud Africa, when they are ex-
posed to the burning sands Of the desert


Full boards are said to be defence against
bronchitis and sore throats 1t is asserted
that the sappers and miners Of the French
army, who are noted for the size and beau
ty Of their boards, enjoy special immu-
nifty from affections Of this nature. The
growth Of hair has been recommended to
persons liable to take cold easily 1t is
stated that Walter Savage I4andor was
sufferer from sore throat for many years,
and that he lost the morbid disposition by
allowing his beard to grow, according to
the advice Of the surgeon to the Grand
Duke of Tuscany. The writer adopted
the same course for the very identical rea.
son; and with fair success. But he is
bound to state that he has seen indiyid-
uals with long, flowing boards, whom those
ornaments did not save from attacks Of
bronchial and larvngeal disorders. The
curling nature of the hair is attributed to
large proportion of oily substance which
prevents the absorption of water. The
effect of dampness in destroying the curl
of the hair is well known, but it is not 50
well known that the state Of the hair par
ticipates in the state of the general health,
In many instances, strong curly hair be-
comes straight if the possessors be out Of
health, and the condition 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 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
pressure of imperfect juices, in Others,
again, there may be total absence Of such
nutritive elements, and the hair constantly
looks faded and dead. Climate exercises
great influence on the curliness Of the
hair, as may be illustrated in the differ
ence in this respect between the natives Of
tine North and Of the South, the long lanky
hair Of the former, as compared with the
frizzy hair Of the natives Of Africa. Even
Europeans, whose boards were soft and
silken at home, on reaching Africa, found
them to grow temporarily crisp, strong and
coarse, resembling horse-hair This effect,
which could only be ascribed to the ex-
treme dryness Of the climate, ceased on
travellers returning to their own country,
No doubt this is the cause, which, opera
ting thousands Of years, has changed the
negro's hair into coarse wool