DOMESTIC ECONOMY, HYGIENE DIETETICS. 



423 





crystal, are not liable to be scratched like glass ; 

 but they are not in any degree better than those 

 of glass for the eyesight ; and if care be taken 

 of the latter they do just as well. 



There are three kinds of spectacle glasses, 

 the convex, the concave, and the periscopic. 

 The first are to correct short sight, the second 

 to correct long sight, while the periscopic are 

 for either. This last description of lens is 

 both concave and convex, the former on the 

 side nearest the eye, the latter on the side 

 furthest from it. For long sight, as well as 

 short, the convexity and concavity are made to 

 differ so as to furnish any required focus. It 

 is to be observed that in glasses of this form 

 the aberration of light is greater than in any 

 other lenses, and that periscopic glasses are 

 liable to be scratched. They have, however, 

 one very great advantage, which is this : 

 With common glasses, especially concave, the 

 wearer can see only through the exact middle 

 of the lens ; he must, therefore, turn his head 

 whenever he directs his view to any lateral 

 object. With periscopic glasses he may see 

 through any part of them, and can observe 

 objects by his side without turning his head. 

 If, however, periscopic glasses be defectively 

 made, they are injurious to the eyes. They 

 should be gauged and examined before they 

 are purchased, to be assured of their accuracy. 



HAIR. 



The proper management of the hair is very 

 simple. It should be kept as clean as possible 

 by daily brushing with a stiff brush, by re- 

 moval of the scurf that forms upon the skin 

 (See DANDRUFF), and by occasionally washing 

 it with pure cold water, which will have no 

 injurious effect upon the health, provided the 

 hair is not so long as to make its drying diffi- 

 cult. To assist in drying it thoroughly, dip 

 the brush into a very little hair powder or 

 starch, brush it into the hair, and then brush 

 it out. After this a little perfumed pomatum 

 may be brushed in* too much not only makes 

 the hair greasy, but injures it. There is a 

 natural oil secreted by the hair which ought 

 to be sufficient for keeping it in good order, 

 but this is often deficient, and the hair be- 

 comes dry and harsh ; then it is that the defi- 

 ciency may be supplied by a little pomatum or 

 oil. A multitude of hair oils are sold by 

 perfumers, their compositions being kejt 

 secret, and each being represented as having 

 extraordinary qualities. It is best to have 

 nothing to do with anyoj: them, for when they 

 are not injurious they are no better than prep- 

 arations which can be made at home with 

 little trouble, and for which we shall give a 

 receipt or two further along. When hair has 



become too greasy from too free use of ofl or 

 pomatum, it is proper to remove the unctuous 

 matter by persistent brushing. Occasionally 

 soap is resorted to for this purpose, but soap 

 will change the color of the hair, and should 

 be used cautiously. A little white soap dis- 

 solved in spirits of wine is most effectual and 

 less injurious than soap alone. After using it 

 the hair must be well washed with water. 



It is very doubtful whether frequent cutting 

 of the hair is favorable to its growth and 

 beauty, as is generally assumed. It always 

 renders the hair coarse and stubby, and it is 

 certain that the common practice of cropping or 

 shaving the head, for the purpose of strength- 

 ening the growth of the hair, not only fails of 

 this effect, but often produces total baldness. 



The loosening and falling out of the hair is 

 frequently the direct result of fever or derange- 

 ment of the system, but is more often the con- 

 sequence of weakness of the nervous power. 

 It may be checked by improvement of the 

 general health and the use of proper local rem- 

 edies. A useful practice, when the hair is 

 sufficiently short, is to plunge the head into 

 cold water every morning and night, and, 

 after thoroughly drying, to brush it briskly 

 until the scalp is warmed to a glow. A sim- 

 ple lotion composed of 2 drachms of tincture 

 of cantharides, 6 drachms of essence of rose- 

 mary, and 11 ounces of elder-flower water may 

 be effectually employed as a tonic. In cases 

 of baldness the scalp may be advantageously 

 shaved and the secretion of the hair stimulated 

 by dry friction, tonic lotions (rum for exam- 

 ple), and by a stimulating diet. There is a 

 premature grayness which sometimes occurs in 

 the young, chiefly in those of light complexion 

 and light colored hair. It comes from the 

 same causes as the loosening or falling out of 

 the hair. 



Dyeing the hair is the most absurd of all at- 

 tempts at human deceit, since it never is suc- 

 cessful, and deceives no one but the deceiver 

 himself. The practice is generally begun with 

 the idea that a single application will be suffi- 

 cient for all time ; but the dye only discolors 

 that portion of the hair above the surface of 

 the scalp. The new growth, which is con- 

 stantly taking place from the roots, appears 

 always with the natural tint. Moreover, there 

 is no dye which does not injure the hair itself ; 

 and many of them those containing lead or 

 arsenic tend to paralyze the brain and ner- 

 vous system. 



WINE. 



This term is usually applied only to the 

 fermented juice of the grape ; when other 

 fruits, as currants, blackberries, gooseberries, 



