"Hair, though seemingly a small and unimportant subject, when but a single shaft is considered, is, withal, one that much can be said about."
I've been looking at my book collection and I thought I might come back to this delightful tome. Its full title is: The Hair: Its Growth, Care, Diseases and Treatment.
It was published in 1879 and is more a home medical type book. The author, C. Henri Leonard, M.A., M.D., has a number of other medical texts listed in the back portion for purchase. The text goes through anatomy and physiology, dyeing, ethnic hair types, historical hair styles, and many different diseases and disorders. It also contains illustrations of various types to accompany the text.
An interesting thing that is spoken of is how the hair comes forth from the root. "At the first formation of the hair-cylinder it does not issue point first from its follicle, but it is bent over upon itself, so that a loop is formed; this loop gradually pushes its way through the follicular opening, and then, from its elasticity, the shaft straightens itself out." They continue on to compare the new hair to how a plant issues forth from a seed, starting looped over and straightening after it escapes the seed. This doubling over seems to be the cause of ingrown hairs, in that they never break the surface to grow straight and instead get trapped below the surface to continue growing in tight spirals until set free.
The book goes over some basic statistics about the different hair types and colors. This tome is very Euro-centric and so the advise therein is aimed at a "white" audience. There is some talk of which diseases the bearers of specific hair colors are more prone to. After which begins the discussion of proper hair care. Choosing an appropriate brush, "one made up of bristles... of slightly unequal length, so as to... favor the brush in covering every portion of the scalp." and an appropriate comb, "one whose teeth are even and regular, with points not sharp, but rounded." And some cautions specifically to women to treat their hair gently and allow it to be natural and not tortured by styles, colors or heat.
The next portions are all the various diseases and disorders. Each chapter focuses on one and the author explains what it is and how to treat it. Along with illustrations for some of the diseases and especially for mites and fleas and any other living creature that might be present. There is even a whole chapter dedicated to the greying of hair. There are some very interesting ingredients suggested including: potassium arsenite, chloroform, and nux vomica(which gives us strychnine). Assuming that these were only for use on the hair or scalp, I would still be cautious that you might be affected by these various potentially poisonous substances.
The book finishes with discussion about "Different modes of dressing the hair". Which covers not only "modern" fashion, but historical methods from around the world. There is also a piece about the Roman gods and heroes and how they wore their hair, or at least how they were depicted in art. The final chapter is in regard to beards and the barber's legacy. Mentioning that the first written talk of a razor is in the Bible, that indicates that razors were already in wide use by the time of the Old Testament. "In the ancient Roman and Greek days, the barber was also held in great estimation.... a loquacious barber, who knew all the news, was an acquisition the effeminate bather anxiously sought." So gossip is nothing new either.
This is a delightful little look at a nearly 150 year old book and what was thought about and known about hair from a medical perspective. Let me know what you think about this book, I would love to hear your thoughts.
