THE HUMAN HAIR. 81 



is best diffused by the agency of strong spirit, in 

 which it dissolves. The alcohol or spirit rapidly 

 evaporates, and does not in the slightest degree in- 

 jure the texture of the hair. This preparation, for 

 dressing the hair of children or ladies, will meet 

 nearly or quite all requirements. A cheap and 

 very good dressing is made by dissolving four 

 ounces of perfectly pure, dense glycerine in twelve 

 ounces of rose-water. Glycerine evaporates only 

 at high temperatures, and therefore under its in- 

 fluence the hair is retained in a moist condition for 

 a long time. As a class, the vegetable oils are bet- 

 ter for the hair than animal oils. They do not be- 

 come rancid and offensive so readily, and they are 

 subject to different and less objectionable chemical 

 changes. Olive-oil and that derived from the 

 cocoa-nut have been largely employed, but they 

 are inferior in every respect to that from the 

 castor-bean. 



It is doubtful if any mixture or substance has . 

 ever been devised which will restore hair to a bald 

 head. A great many washes and embrocations are 

 manufactured, all of which usually fail to meet the 

 end desired. The falling of the hair is the result of 

 diseased action in the hair follicles, or of a morbid 

 condition of the entire scalp. When a hair is 

 pulled out by its " roots," its base exhibits a bul- 

 bous enlargement of which the exterior is tolerably 



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