Growth of the Hair

1895

The hair is not like plants. It is nothing more than unsensible threads of skin, or rather papilae, as they are called, which grow in their proper places under the same conditions as the nails on the finger ends.

The hair papillae do not lie on the surface of the skin, but are sunk more or less deeply into it — more deeply as the hair is longer, so that long hairs adhere in a deep sac. The number of these hair papillae of course varies considerably with different people, but for each individual is constant and unchangeable and cannot be increased any more than can the number of one's finger nails. The number of hairs depends on the papillae; consequently if there are no papillae there can be no hair. Moreover, the number of these papillae is constant, so that the idea of increasing their number by clipping the hair must be abandoned. the growth of the hairs depends rather on the well being of all the papillae, but they are constituent parts of skin and share its fate alike in both good and evil days. — Chautauquan.

Daily Bath For Beauty

1902

A daily bath in cold or tepid water is an indispensable aid in keeping the skin of the body in good condition, says the London Standard.

The complexion, also, very often suffers from insufficient washing in pure water, or, for preference, in rain water. It is impossible for those of us who live in large towns to keep the complexion quite as blooming and healthy as the inhabitants of country districts, but more care might be frequently taken to wash off the smuts that help to clog the pores of the skin, or the fine dust that covers the epidermis like a mass after a long day out, or, in any case, before going to bed.

Use hot rain water if it is possible to secure it, with two or three spoonfuls of oatmeal thrown in to soften the water. Next proceed to thoroughly massage the face with some good soap and a firm sponge; then rinse the skin in another basin of cold water, into which has been poured a few drops of eau de cologne or alcohol, finally rubbing into the face and neck a little cold cream.

This Man Had Courage — Sold His Skin for Grafting

1896

Half a dozen men were relating experiences of college days when a young physician said that in cases where students were obliged to eke out their expenses in a professional career by every possible means there often occurred pitiful examples of their courage.

"Suppose, for example," said he, "a case of skin grafting comes to the clinic, any student who will give up his skin is paid five dollars for each bit. I remember one instance in particular, that of a hard working young man who gave ten bits of flesh to graft a new face on a badly burned baby. As the flesh must be healthy and fresh nothing can be used to deaden the pain and it is cut from the inside of the upper arm, the most sensitive part. Slices the size of a silver dime are taken and laid quivering on the wounded part where a new skin is to be grown. This fellow stood there several days and allowed the surgeon to slice off pieces from both arms, each piece bringing the amount stipulate, which paid for extra books, clothing or food, and the poor fellow minded neither the pain at the time of the operation nor the lameness with which he was afflicted for weeks after, neither did he fear the risk of blood poisoning or other difficulties which might ensue.

"He had the satisfaction, however, of seeing a baby face resume its healthy form and his examinations were passed with brilliancy. He is to-day a man well known and honored in the profession." — New York Herald.

Carbuncles

1899

In a previous article it was stated that pimples, boils and carbuncles are essentially the same thing — an inflammation of the skin and of the tissues immediately beneath it — and differ only in size. But while this is true, the difference in size is fraught with consequences so serious as to constitute practically a point of distinction between two separate diseases. In a carbuncle the inflammation is usually more deeply seated than in a boil, and is spread over a much greater surface. It is also accompanied by signs of a general disturbance of the system, signs which are usually absent in the case of an ordinary boil.

The appearance of a carbuncle is generally preceded by a little feverishness, headache and a general ill-feeling, and sometimes by one or more slight chills or a chilly sensation. The first sign of the local inflammation is a swelling in the part affected. This may be nodular, as if several boils were beginning together, or even and rounded, like a pad of cloth or tightly pressed cotton.

After growing somewhat in circumference, the carbuncle begins to swell, pushing up the skin, which is of a purplish-red color and hot to the touch. Small blisters may form over it, break, and exude a clear, sticky fluid, which dries and forms scabs.

In time a number of small openings appear and discharge pus. All the tissue involved in the carbuncle dies and is thrown off. Whitish or blackish shreds are discharged through the openings already formed, and later the entire remaining mass becomes gangrenous and melts away, leaving a wide, deep hole, which may take weeks or months to heal.

The neck is the most frequent seat of carbuncles; then come the back, the scalp and the face; the trunk and limbs are seldom invaded.

The pain is at first comparatively slight, but soon grows excessive, with violent throbbing and burning sensations, as if a live coal were buried in the flesh. A person with a boil can usually attend to his regular duties, but one with a carbuncle is gravely ill.

Sufferers from carbuncles are almost never vigorous; the aged are much exposed to them, and they frequently attack sufferers from Bright's disease or diabetes.

The treatment of carbuncles coincides in part, with that of boils, but the patient is usually so ill that there should be no temporizing with simple remedies. The physician's aid should be invoked at once.

Now Futurist Face Powder

1914

Mauve, Yellow and Green Tints Made by Fashion's Leaders From Pearl Dust

The post-impressionist artists, painting, as they do, mauve, yellow, green, and brown flesh tints, have given a new idea to manufacturers of cosmetics. The fashionable woman may now tint her complexion in any tone as easily as she may assume a toilette in that color. One manufacturer is showing face powders in shades called violet yellow, emerald, old rose and ashen rose.

These new tints are recommended only for evening wear, as it is generally admitted that they would be too grotesque for daylight. The amazing thing, however, is that they really look well on the skin, and when applied give only the faintest suggestion of shadowy color. Thus, when the mauve powder is used, the shadows have a sort of purple bloom, which is rather becoming and lends softness to the face, accentuating in small degree the expression of the eyebrows and eyelashes, and also intensifying the color of the eyes. The purple tint is usually recommended for brunettes with blue or gray eyes.

Yellow powder is flattering to blondes, who need to intensify the yellow in their skins to correspond with the shadows cast from golden hair. This intensifies the type and makes it much warmer looking, therefore much more harmonious than if the face were tinted with either white or so-called flesh-colored powder.

The most difficult of all the new shades to conceive as having a place among beauty applications is the green powder. But through demonstration it is proved that certain types of coloring look well with the green tint, notably ashen blondes who have the reflection of green lights from the hair. This is also recommended for types too florid, whether blonde or brunette. It is said to give a cool, clean look to such skins.

The rose color is not at all the old fashioned flesh pink, but a sort of salmon tinted old rose. This is a color which would be well suited to a neutral brunette, as it would warm the type, giving body and a look of strength to the skin and a consequent health-like flush.

It is an interesting fact that these new cosmetics are made from powder of real pearls, a discovery of somewhat recent date, though for some time in quite current use in Paris.