Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/310

 busy or too careless to dust their clothes. This is called dandriff, and is simply the scarf-skin which has served its time, and has been thrown off, as it constantly is from every part of the body. Its presence in moderate quantities signifies nothing, except as an admonition to greater cleanliness.

When, however, this branny dust becomes quite conspicuous in amount, it betokens some disease of the skin. A close examination may reveal several reddish patches over the head, with irregular but well-defined outlines surrounded with a red margin, which patches are covered with minute white scales, and have a slightly itchy feeling. The hair upon them is thin and weakened, showing dry and flattened under the microscope, if they have been of long standing. This is the complaint called in medical works pityriasis capitis. It is very common, and is a fertile cause of loss of the hair.

If it is taken early, the following ointment well rubbed on the spots every morning, after the skin has been carefully cleaned by soap and water, will effect a speedy cure:—

Powdered borax                            a scruple; Dilute solution of subacetate of lead     two drachms; Clean lard                                one ounce; Otto of roses, or any scent               a few drops.

Or the first two ingredients may be dissolved in three ounces of rain-water, and half an ounce of glycerine.