HEALTH NOTES.

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

HEALTH NOTES.

SOAIU IIAU! TIiOCJILES. Hair growth taking its origin froir tlie living layer of tho skin, it is evident, must depend to a great extent the general state and health of the body. This is a point often lost sight

of_by people who stiller front loss of hair. After fevers, it is no uncommon thing, for example, for the hair to fall out, and this is also the ease in many filler diseases; so that when hair weakness sets in, it is a wise thing to make inquiry regarding the general health. If there is no actual disease of the hair present, ;i course of tonics and other moans adapted to brace up the system will be likely to assist treatment which

; may be applied directly to the liars themselves. Again, lot us bear in mind, the hair demands attention and care if we would preserve it in health, just as our teeth require to be attended to day I>y day. fn the first place, we may keep in ininil the soldier's motto: "Where there is hair there, is divt." This moans I hat the hair is a natural rocoptablc for dust; therefore it should be washed, say, once a fortnight, or every ten days, with a good soap and warm water, the suds being washed away with cold water. Soft soap is an excellent application for | washmg (lie head when scurf is present. Wetting tlie head daily is a frequent

cause of baldness, because it tends to remove the natural oil of the seal]), as has alreadj* been noted. Again, note that the brushes used should be soft, or at least, not over hard; wire brushes are especially to be avoided. Never use other people's brushes or combs, and keep both brushes and combs clean. A large amount of hair disease is conveyed and distributed by the use of brushes to which numbers of people have access, and to combs the same remarks apply. Very few people can afford to allow tho hair to remain without applying a little dressing daily. When hair is allowed to remain dry it is apt to disappear quickly, anil when it does not vanish it remains unkempt and untidy as a rule. A little wholesome dressing, not too oily, should be applied to the roots daily. If a dressing contains too much spirit, as many forms of brilliantine—a common application—do, the hair tends to become dry, anil to become grey as well. One of the best dressings

is composed of four drachma of castor oil, twenty-eight drachms of olive oil, twelve drachms of glycerine, four drachms of rectified spirit, eight drachms of scent, and two drachms of tincture of cantharidcs. These proportions can be altered if the preparation is too oily for anyone's taste; hut very little of it serves for a daily application, and it is, therefore, economical, and, what is more to the point, encourages lntir growth. The use of this preparation will darken hair to a certain extent, and prevent premature grevness, though it has to he added that nothing can arrest greyness when it is once established. The only remedy for any case in which grey hairs are not regarded as honorable is to be found in the shape of a harmless dye—that is, one not containing lead or other injurious ingredients.

yor scurf, wash the head with soft soap, and, after drying it, rub olive oil well into the roots, using a quantity of the oil for a day or two, and then apply the hair dressing above noted. Never use small tooth combs; they only increase the mischief. All excellent scurf lotion which may be used if need exists is composed of one drachm of resorcin, fifteen grains of hydioeldorate of quinine, two drachms of glycerine, one ounce of eau de Cologne, and eight ounces of rose water. Rub a little into the roots vigorously every morning. Another application useful in scurfy states of the scalp, and one very admirable for promuting the growth of weak hair, consists of two ounces of eau de Cologne, two drachms tincture of cantharidcs, twenty drops each oil of rosemary anil oil of lavender, and one drachm of castor oil. Listerine used as a hair lotion, diluted with a little water, is ail excellent application for scurf. When baldness threatens, try the lotion just described, and then substitute for it the oily hair-dressing, alternating the two week by week. Keep the hair short for a time, and have it trimmed frequently rather than cut at longer intervals. The eases where baldness comes in patches, arc more intractable, and often take long to cure. This kind pf baldness often appears as the result of illness of one kind or another, hence the hint already given to look to the state of the health should lie clearly kept in mind and acted upon. Perseverance with any remedy is necessary, and r'/ults are apt to be slow in appearing. The following is an excellent application, a littlo of which should be rubbed into the patches and hairs around night and morning: Tincture of cantharidcs, six dvachms; strong liquor of ammonia, one drachm; sweet almond oil, one ounce; and spirit of rosemary, four drachms. Another application consists of balsam of Peru, two drachms; oil of rosemary, twenty drops; tincture of cantharidcs, one drachm; castor oil, half an ounce; and prepared lard, one ounce and a half. A little should lie rubbed night and morning into the hair roots.