BALDNESS.
In seborrhceic cases in the early stage the baldness can be arrested or cured by the liberal use of animal fats with antiseptics applied after careful cleansing of the scalp Borax or equal amounts of soft soap and Alcohol and the removal of all traces of the soap before using the pomade. If the baldness be due to senile change, treatment is useless. In ordinary cases where the health is good, and where there is nothing to give a clue to the cause of the baldness, the treatment will consist of local stimulation to the atrophied hair bulbs.
A slow continuous current passed through the scalp by brush electrodes has a powerful influence over the nutrition of the hair bulbs in their early stage of atrophy. Cutaneous massage, shaving, shampooing, or blistering the scalp may he tried, but the most convenient and effectual plan is by the application of irritants or stimulants in such proportion that actual vesication is avoided, and a chronic congestion or erythema is habitually kept up.
Cantharidin is the best agent for this purpose, and it may be combined with other local stimulants. The writer has found the following the best combination: . Liquor. Efiispastiei 3ij.
()lei Rosmarini 5iv.
Olei .1mygdal. Dulc. 5ij.
Camphoric 5ij. Glycerin. Boracis 5j. Otto de Rosre g11. viij.
Tina. faborandi 5j. Alisee.
Fiat Linimentinn. Sig.—" To be well rubbed into the roots of IN hair morning and night." The following pomade produces good results. It may be tried where lotions cannot be used: Pilocarpince Hydrochlor. gr. xx.
Aqure Destillatce 3ij. Misce.
Fiat solutio el addc Lanolin. Puriss. 5x.
Olei Petrolei (" .S'noujlake") 3vi. Oki Bergamot. ass.
Olei Verbence ass.
Fiat Unguen1um.
Pilocarpine has been also administered hypodermically and by the mouth in various forms of alopecia, and even in universal baldness Arsenic certainly has sonic effect upon the hair when administered inter.
nally. Thyroid Extract gives surprising results in the baldness o myxcedema.
Gull's Linimentum Myristicm (r part of Expressed Oil of Nutmeg to 3 of Olive Oil) is a safe and mild stimulant. Erasmus Wilson recommended the following Ammonia stimulant to be rubbed in once or twice a day :— Lig. Ammon. Fort., Chloroformi, 01. Sesami, and 01. Limonis, of each oz., and Spirit. Rosmarini to 4 oz.
Volatile Oil of Mustard, if well diluted, is of some value—Olei Sinapis, 2 drs.; Olei Petrolei, r oz.; Olei 9 oz.; misce. Capsicum, Mustard, Euphorbium, and strong Acids have been used, but their application is not to be recommended.
For syphilitic baldness, in addition to the usual constitutional treat ment, a pomade made by adding 2 drs. of White Precipitate to 4 oz. ordinary Marrow Oil is of value.
Germicides have been used on the theory of the parasitic nature of baldness. They can only be of use when applied in such strengths as to cause irritation. The best is the White Precipitate pomade, and next come solutions of Salicylic Acid (1 in 2o) and of Perchloride of Mercury (1 in soo). Where psoriasis of the scalp is present a weak Chrysarobin ointment (ro grs. per oz.) may be cautiously used. Walker recommends an ointment consisting of Precipitated Sulphur and Salicylic Acid 20 grs. each tor oz. 2 per cent. Resorcin in water makes a good application.
No matter what local agents are employed, the general health must be closely looked after. The patient should be advised to wear head cover ing as seldom as possible, and never when indoors; massage of the scalp is always beneficial.