THE ORNAMENTAL HAIR COMB.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 12

THE ORNAMENTAL HAIR COMB.

A TERRIBLE RISK. ' ■ *r From time ,to ; time .women, havo been the danger that, lurks around tho ornamental h-air-comb - and ' such-like ornaments, . which, appear to be made' of harmless tortoise-shell. or; horn, but which'' in .ninetynino casiss .out of a; hundred 'are composed of celluloid' or- other equally inflammable substiuico. Now another' noto of warning is being struck,; for fresh'• and : :.evon;more sonons ■risks are. boing taken by hazardous, women, who, in order;to preserve tho boatiful undulations of tho "Atarcel wave" given to the hair, by professional hairdressers, wash their heads .with petrol, instead of water. At first ,thoso';.who ; appreciate,. 'the . danger,. 'or merely ; handling. this . ■> very inflammable' l liquid will hardly credit the possibility of anyono boing so foolhardy as to ran such close'risks, but'it is afact, that the practice 'of '"dry _shampooing" . tho hair with explosive spirit is< becoming moro and moro common. , Besides the. unspeakablo horrors , of accidents' which havo occurred from .time to. time when.'hair, .so" treated, came too;.' close to< a. flame,- .there .are ■ other . dangers which arise '.from , the'.' inhalation : of the fumes. Theso havo. bean known to cause a kind of itemporary paralysis, accompanied by intense piiiii,'with swolling and discolouration of; tho face and ncek. Quite-recently an English girl • yiia" under: medical' troatment for seven weeks ;for:a form of poisoning which was attrib.oted'to'the fumes of tho spirit with which she washed her hair. There is no doubt that the facility of cleansing tho hair with petrol 'rMommends'it. to those who make, sea voyajges or who live in hotels vaiid : boardinghouses;' bnt;it makes; the' blood run 'cold to think of .tragedies - that ' need never occur if only : a little common Benso bo exercised. ■■; ' '■ -