Washes for Failing Hair or Baldness. Liniments or washes to make the hair grow, can. always be employed, with greater or less success, so long as there is any vitality left in the hair follicles or roots. If, however, these are entirely dead or destroyed, there is no possibility of inducing a fresh growth of hair. This will be evident from the shining or glistening appearance the scalp assumes when the hair roots are destroyed. The loosening of the hair, which frequently occurs to young persons, or those of the middle period of life, will generally, if neglected, become real baldness. Such a state is common in women, and generally terminates, in its mildest form, in excessive loosening of the hair. The case, however, is not the hopeless one which is generally imagined; and if proper treatment be pursued, the hair will grow afresh, and assume its pristine strength. A useful practice in men, and those of the opposite sex whose hair is short, is to immerse the head in cold water morning and night, dry the hair thoroughly, and then brush the scalp, until a warm glow is produced. For women with long hair, this plan is objectionable; and a better one is to brush the scalp until redness and a warm glow are produced, then dab among the roots of the hair one or other of the hair lotions. If the lotion produce smarting or tenderness, the brush may be laid aside, but if no sensation is occasioned, the brushing should be resumed, and a second application of the lotion made. This treatment should be practiced once or twice a day, or at intervals of a few days, according to the state of the scalp ; namely, if tender, less; if insensible, more frequently. When the baldness happens in patches, the skin should be well brushed with a soft tooth brush, dipped in distilled vinegar morning and evening, or dipped in one of the washes given below. If either of these lotions should be found too irritating to the skin, use them in smaller quantity, or diluted, and less frequently. If they have the effect of making the hair harsh and dry, this inconvenience may be removed by the use of oil or pomatum after each application of the lotion. Pomatums for the growth of the hair are very inferior to the lotions in efficacy. The basis of most hair invigorators and restorers is either the tincture or the vinegar of cantharides; the method of preparing the latter ingredient is given in the next receipt.

1178. To Prepare Vinegar of Cantharides

1178.     To Prepare Vinegar of Cantharides. This • preparation is not always obtainable in the drug stores, and is made by macerating, with agitation for 8 days, 2 ounces powdered cantharides in 1 pint acetic acid; then press and strain.

1179. Wash for Restoring - Hair

1179.      Wash for Restoring - Hair. Mix 1/2 ounce vinegar of cantharides with 1 ounce eau de Cologne and 1 ounce rose water. Or, 1/2 ounce tincture of cantharides, 2 ounces eau de Cologne, 1/2 drachm oil of nutmeg, and 10 drops oil of lavender.