MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

ON THE HAIR, We receive a great number of letters asking ' for information on the subject of the loss of the hair in youth or middle age, and also many letters about dyeing the hair. A physician is, of course, an authority on the diseases of the skin and hairy scalp, and knows that certain stimulants, when rubbed into the skin, will stimulate the growth of the hair; but this alone will not suffice to make, hair grow more freely, for it is necessary to treat the constitution by internal medicines, purgatives, and tonics, because unless you get the blood into a healthy state you cannot expect to have a free growth of hair when required. Then, again, we have also letters from persons who have hairs growing where they do not want them to grow, as, for instance, forming moustaches, much against their wishes.

The removal of such superflous hairs was formerly attempted by pulling out the hairs, but it was found that such hairs constantly grow again. Then certain pastes of the sulphides of Barium we're made and applied to the hair ; in some cases this caustic did kill the hairs, and they fell out, but there was the objection that in many instances the caustic attacked the skin, and caused severe burns, and little ulcers, which are very difficult to heal. The use of these dipilatories is now given up. and the only recognised remedy is the electric needle', A finely-pointed steel wire is connected to a portable battery, and becomes for the moment white hot; it is then thrust into the root of each hair in turn ; this kills the hair root, and it does not grow again. This is not a pleasant performance, but with a little fortitude it can be borne without an anaesthetic. It is an expensive form of treatment, but it, is the only effectual one.

As to hair-dyes, the physician does not profess to know much about them. Solutions of per-oxide of hydrogen will lighten the colour of brown hair to golden, or even to low colour, if its use is continued. As to dyeing grey hairs brown or black solutions of silver and lead salt*, with sulphur, are used, but none of them are satisfactory, I hey are apt to stain .the skin, and the desired colour is often not obtained, while the hair shows purple or green patches. To increase the growth' of the hair you need friction with oil, or spirit, with oil; olive oil, almond oil, paraffin spirit, vaseline, and spermaceti all do good. Certain stronger hair lotions are sold ;■ they mostly contain cantharides, and are dangers as;' they are apt to blister the scalp, and, if too 'much be rubbed in, the cantharides may be absorbed, and irritation of the kidneys may be set up.—News of the World.

Doctor: 'Making tombstones a* usual, John. I see you go as far as 'In Memory of and then you stop." Stonemason': «,.; Yes, sir, that's my way unless I hear': ; anyone is ill and you have been called in, and then I know I sha'n't be wrong if I 7 go on and rill in the name."

. BULPHOLINE SKIN LOTION. The only effective remedy for SKIS ', ■ 1 ROUBLES. Sulpholin© quickly drives nwaj ■ ,; Eruptions, Pimples, Ecisema, Acne, Blackheads, and all Disfigurements, developing a':;'«' fair, spotless skin and beautiful complexioa. ; try : Sulpholine Lotion, th« English Skin >', Remedy.