DANGEROUS ORNAMENTS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 115, 13 May 1909, Page 3

DANGEROUS ORNAMENTS.

From time to time women have been warned of the danger that lurks around the ornamental hair-comb and such-like ornaments, which | appear to be made of harmless tor-toise-shell or horn, but which in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred are composed of celluloid or other equally inflammable substance. Now another note of warning is being struck, for fresh and even more serious risks are being taken by hazardous women, who, in order to preserve the beautiful undulations of the "Marcel wave" given to the hair by professional hairdressers, wash their heads with petrol instead of water. At first those who appreciate th,e danger of merefy handling this very inflammable liquid will haruiy credit the possibility of anyone being so foolhardy as to run such close risks, but it is a fact that the practice of "dry shampooing" the hair with explosive spirit is becoming more and more common. Besides the unspeakable horrors of accidents which have occurred from time to time when hair so treated came too close a flame, there are other dangers which arise from the inhalation of the fumes. These have been known to cause a kind of temporary paralysis, accompanied by intense pain, with swelling and discolouration of the face and neck. Quite recently" an English, girl was under medical treatment for seven weeks for a form of poisoning which was attributed to the fumes of the spirit Avith which she washed her hair. There is no doubt that the facility of cleansing the hair with petrol recommends it to those who make sea voyages or who live i n hotels and boardinghouses ; but it makes the blood run cold to think of possible tragedies that need never occur if only a little common sense be exercised.