606 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. IX., No. 229 



give more attention to the hair, and do not 

 wet the head so often. Of all these reasons, 

 Dr. Jackson regards the preservation of the fat 

 and connective tissue of the scalp, and the greater 

 care of the scalp, as the most important. The 

 treatment of this variety of baldness is mainly 

 one of prophylaxis and hygiene. In families 

 where it is hereditary, this should begin at birth, 

 and continue through life. The scalp should be 

 kept clean by an occasional shampoo of soap and 



should be avoided. Mr. Goninlock, writing on 

 baldness in the Popular science monthly, gives it 

 as his opinion that it is due principally to the high 

 hat and the hard felt hat, and to any other cover- 

 ing that constricts the blood-vessels which nour- 

 ish the hair-bulbs. Few, he says, will escape the 

 evil effects of twenty or thirty years of rigid 

 tight-fitting hats, the destructive process being 

 delayed only by the length and frequency of res- 

 pites from this tourniquet of fashion. 



Fig 1.— Indian chaie, showing the Sisiutl and the kaven, the crest of the ownee. 



(Length 7 feet.) 



water, borax and water, or some such simple 

 means. This should not be repeated oftener than 

 once in two or three weeks ; and after the wash- 

 ing, the scalp should be carefully dried, and 

 vaseline or sweet-almond oil applied. Women 

 should dry the hair by the fire or in the sun, and 

 not dress it until dry. The hair should be thor- 

 oughly brushed and combed daily, for five or ten 

 minutes, with vigor sufficient to make the scalp 

 glow. For this a brush should have long and 



ETHNOLOGICAL NOTES. 



The serpent among the north-west American 

 Indians. 



The latest issue of the American antiquarian 

 contains a long article on the serpent symbol, by 

 the editor, the Rev. Stephen D. Peet. He traces 

 the occurrence of the serpent symbol or serpent 

 myths among many tribes of America. We shall 

 add here several notes on a peculiar form of ser- 

 pent which plays an important part in the tradi- 



FiG 3. — Dancing-implement, representing the Sisiutl. 



moderately stiff bristles, set in groups widely 

 separated from each other. Such a brush will 

 reach the scalp, and brush out the dust. A comb 

 with large, smooth teeth should be used with the 

 brush, to open up the hair to the air. Pomades 

 should not be used, and the daily sousing of the 

 hair discontinued. Women should not use bando- 

 line, nor pull or twist the hair, nor scorch it with 

 curling-irons, nor smother it under false hair. 

 Easy-fitting, light, and ventilated hats should be 

 worn, and working under hot artificial light 



tions of the north-west American natives. A 

 characteristic representation is fig. 2, a double- 

 headed snake with a human face in the centre. 

 It is known to the Selish tribes of the Gulf of 

 Georgia, and to the numerous tribes of Kwakiutl 

 lineage. According to Swan, a similar monstrous 

 being, the Hahektoak, is known to the Makah 

 of Cape Flattery. It has the faculty of assuming 

 any shape it desires, and appears most frequently 

 in the form of a beautiful fish with sparkling 

 scales. It moves with both heads turning for- 



