HEALTH NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 August 1907, Page 4

HEALTH NOTES.

HA Hi TROUBLES. In dealing with the condition and -tale of the liaii- we liave lo take into cnn-idi'ration the state of the ■■.kill it sell to which the hails bear such a l .| obC iWe inu-t ronu'iuht.'r that imbedded in the skin we liud certain Jitt:e glands called sebaceous gland-. They often !.|«n into the roots of the hairs, and at other times pass directly upwards to the surface of the skin. The glands secrete or manufacture an oily substance winch serves to keep the -,' kin supple! and they may be juesuined to supply a kind of natural pomade for the hair. When Hits secretion is poured out from its little sac in too great ipianlity, we lind a s.orty condition very liable to ! ! ""d. The maiter thrown out I . Mine dries ..II Ibe scalp and clogs the V".t, ~f the hair, -o that their growth is impeded, anil considerable irritation or the -kill of the head is in this case -et up. S-urt on other occasions seems to lie produced by some irritation or overgrowth of the horny cells which form the upper layer of the scalp itself. In either case, however, we find the hair is weakened through the over-develop, meut of the faty secretion of the skin and hair troubles in consequence, with loosening of the hairs, ensue.

A COM Ml )N CASE. Hairs are also subject to certain diseases of their own. Microbes, or living orc.'ni-in- relating tn genus, are found to attack not only the hair itself, but 11-0 the papilla from which we have -ccn the hair grow. • The result is that the hair fals out and In Id patches arc left. As a consequence of certain diseases, and also in general weakly states of the system it is no uncommon thing to find bald patches on the scalp. These patches are indicative of a disease known as '-alopecia areata," and this coinlition. it may b* added, is one extremely difficult of cure. Sometimes hair weakness shows itself in a wellknown condition—namely, the splitting of the ends of the hairs, this condition being due to want of cohesion in the cells of the hair, and undoubtedly denotes <the fact that lie hair itself has not been properly formed, and that some condition or other is Interfering with its proper growth.

TRKATMENT. As soon as any hair weakness is perceived it must Ik; noted and treated at once if any good results are to follow from attention being paid to the matter. Too frequently persons will suffer loss of hair for a time sooner than go to the doctor for relief. This is neither failto the patient nor the adviser he consult-. because it does not give him a cluince to arrest the disease at an early stage of its appearance. When the hair is noticed to grow thin, the sufferer will lie well advised if lie ceases wetting his head, anil in this connection it is of great importance to note that many rases of baldness are undoubtedly due to wetting the head daily in the case of a morning bath. The constant wetting of the head dries up the natural oil of the skin, and tends to render hairs less properly nourished than they should be, and to preteraaturally dry the scalp. The general advice which may be given in the way of treatment for -weak hair would be to keep the hair for a time as short as possible, or at least to have it trimmed fairly frequently. .Many persons boast that they have never ii-b] any sort of pomade for the hair, but these persons are very frequently found to lie those who. sooner or alter, come to exhibit baldness in all its typical development. AX EXCKLLEXT APPLICATION,

Where then' i> any actual disease of the hair to be suspected, an excellent application, a little of which should be rubbed into the liair each morning, may be prepared as follows:—Four drachms of castor oil, 28 drachms of olive oil, 12 drachms of glycerine. 4 drachms of rectified spirits, 8 drachms or scent, and 2 drachms of tincture of cantharides. The persistent use Of this application well into the scalp each morning, the hair being well brushed with soft brushes, and the use of small combs and bird combs avoided, will have the effect of promoting the growth of the hair in a satisfactory manner. When a case of falling hair has to be encountered, apart from thinness of the hair, the following lotion may do good:—Fan de Cologne. 2 ounce*, tincture of cantharides 2 drachm*. 20 drops each of oil.of rosemary and oil of lavendar. and i drachm of castor oil. A little of this lotion should l»e applied night and morninsr. after the hair has been well brushed

SOME OTHER nrvrs. Occasionally where baldness is encountered considerable benefit is obtained from the use of a pomade composed of tulu 2 drachms, oil of rosemary 20 drops, tincture of cantharides 1 ounce, castor oil K ounce, and prepared lard IV. ounces. A little of this should be rublied into the liabl patches night and morning. It would be well that the hair should lie washed once every ten days, or once every fortnight, with soft soap and tepid water, cold water being afterwards used, and brisk friction with (lie towel carried out. These later remedies. it may lie mentioned, are more applicable to the case of those who suffer from scurf.

Spinach is not very nutritious.— There is very little nutriment in spinach. It contains iron and certain salts and is a gentle laxative. Spinach is slightly aeid and forms a desirable addition to the spring diet-list.