440 ON THE COMMERCE AND USES OF THE HAIR OF ANIMALS. 



North America, is cathartic and emetic. Several species of Bauhiuia 

 furnish medicinal barks ; that from B. acuminata, L., an Indian plant, 

 is considered a remedy in cutaneous affections. The bark of B. tomentosa, 

 L., is used as a plaister for outward application to wounds, &c, while 

 a decoction of the root bark is employed as a vermifuge. The bark of 

 Pterocarpus flavus, Lour., a native of China, is reputed to be resolvent 

 and vulnerary. It-is also employed for dyeing silks yellow ; that from 

 Magnolia hypoleuca, S. et. Z., is considered in the same country a good 

 tonic. The bark of the mulberry, Morus nigra, L., is cathartic and 

 anthelmintic. In Borneo, the bark of a species of Wickstromia, known 

 as "Merik" bark, is chewed as a cure for toothache, and is said to 

 possess the entire properties of Mezereon bark. Many barks are known 

 only by the names in which they appear in commerce ; but the pro- 

 perties and uses of these are so well understood as to require no notice 

 here . 



THE COMMERCE AND USES OF THE HAIR OF ANIMALS. 



Hair, the covering of many animals, consists of slender flexible 

 tubes, growing from bulbs in or under the skin, which resembles the 

 fibres of horn, and possesses the properties of coagulated albumen. 

 Hair is made up of three parts called the cuticle, the cortex, and the 

 medullary substance. The cuticle is formed of plates placed like tiles, 

 the one above the other. The cortex, a fibrous matter, arranged in long 

 narrow plates, makes the chief part of hair. The minor portion, or 

 medullary substance, consists of closely-arranged rows of glandular 

 cells. Hair is very elastic, and can be stretched one-third in length, 

 returning nearly to its former size. From its elasticity and durability, 

 it forms the best stuffing for cushions and mattrasses, and hence is 

 always used in the best description of upholstery. 



Human Hair is remarkable for being the only recognised market- 

 able article produced on the bodies of our race. It is chiefly imported 

 from France, the north of Germany, and Italy : small quantities are 

 occasionally received from Bohemia, Austria, and Belgium. Great 

 Britain also furnishes a small quantity, and even India and China have 

 at various times contributed to the supply ; but the bulk of hair used 

 in this country is the growth of France, Germany, and Italy. From 

 France the finest and softest hairs are received ; from Germany the 

 light and flaxen colours ; and from Italy the long dark hair. The 

 hair from India and China is scarcely marketable, as the texture is 

 too coarse for use in this country. 



The only purposes for which human hair is used here are the various 

 branches of tress and wig-making, and small ornaments. 



