Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/207

 from some local disorder, or if its loss of beauty is owing to the insidious approach of some general malady, then of course these lotions will fail of their effect. Hygiene must then give place to Medicine.

Furthermore, to insure their proper action, not only must the precepts about bathing and exercise, which we have already given, be observed, but especial attention must be paid that the bowels and other organs perform their functions regularly. Without this is looked after, no real improvement can be hoped for from any local remedies whatever. The general health must always be guarded by every one who aspires to prolong the fleeting days of beauty.

EMULSIONS AND POMADES FOR THE SKIN.

Some persons who cannot use soap without experiencing unpleasant sensations, substitute for it various sorts of emulsions, as they are called, formed chiefly of ground seeds and nuts which are rich in oil, for example, almonds, cocoanuts, pistachio nuts, etc. These are perfumed to the taste, and can readily be had from leading druggists.

We have already mentioned one of these which can be prepared at home—that made of kernels of English chestnuts, dried and ground into a fine powder. It is quite as good as any. The kernels of bitter-almonds may be used also, but they are poisonous, and therefore objectionable.