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According to Vauquelin, the color of hair depends on the of a peculiar oil, which is of a sepia tint in dark hair, blood-red in red hair, and yellowish in fair hair. When extracted, as it may be by alcohol or ether, the hair is left of a grayish yellow. The color is destroyed by chlorine, and probably otherwise resembles closely that of the cuticle in the dark races. The substance of hairs is similar in chemical composition to that of horn. After being softened by maceration in cold Nitric-acid, it is soluble in boiling water, and the solution after evaporation becomes a gelatinous mass on cooling. The horny matter is said to be distinguishable from coagulated albumen or fibrine by its being readily soluble in caustic fixed alkalis, but not in caustic ammonia. The ashes amount to one-and-a-half per cent. of its weight; and contain oxide of Iron, a trace of oxide of Manganese, of sulphate, phosphate, and carbonate of lime, an1 of Silicea. Black hair contains most iron, and light hair least.

2. PLICA POLONICA.-PLAITED HAIR.

The most remarkable of all the diseases connected with vegetable growths on or within the human body is the plica polonica, which has its name from its most prominent symptom-the entangling of the hair into a confused mass. It is generally preceded by violent headaches and tingling in the ears; it attacks bones, joints, and nails, splitting them longitudinally. It often ends in blindness, deafness, or melancholy distortions of the limbs. As it progresses, the individual hairs swell at the root, and a slimy fat substance exudes, mixed with a noisome suppurated matter. The hairs now grow more rapidly; possess increased sensibility; when advanced farther, the hairs will bleed if cut near their base, others say at any part of their whole length; they twist themselves together inextricably, and become plaited into a "confused, clotted, disgusting-looking mass." Sometimes they form into a series of cords like ropes; and in one instance, in the case of a lady, the diseased hair grew into a long agglutinated mass fourteen feet long. Disgusted and distressed with such an unpleasant appendage, patients were treated by cutting it off, but it was found that this only resulted in the most terrible consequences. "Blindness, distortion of the limbs, cramps, death or insanity speedily followed the cutting off of the hair, and it was found that the hair while so oppressive itself, was merely contributing to the cure of the constitutional disease, by being the channel through which the corrupted matter is carried off from the body." From the moment the hair begins to entangle itself the painful symptoms which marked the beginning of the disease begin to disappear. Having discovered the relief which follows the entanglement of the hair, the peasants promote the procesa

of nature by increased filth, carelessness, and even soaking the hair with oil or rancid butter. After the disease has run its course the hair becomes gradually dry, healthy hairs begin to grow up under the plica, and at last they push it off. Sometimes it requires months and years to separate of itself, but at this stage it will bear to be cut off. Many have suffered from the premonitary symptoms of plica and sought relief in other countries without finding it; on returning to their own country they have been cured by the outbreak of this horribly disagreeable disease. Its origin has been generally sought in uncleanliness and unhealthy food; others regard it as epidemic in Poland and Livonia, in some parts of Russia. It is supposed to have originated in Tartary, and been introduced by the Tartars into Europe, in their invasion at the end of thirteenth century. (Russell's Tour in Germany, Encycl. Amer.) It is easy to understand, says Carpenter, (Physiology, 551,) from the analogy of cellular plants, in which no vessels exist, how the fluid that is supplied to the base of the hair may find its way upwards; and there seems reason to believe, from the well-known fact of sudden change of color in the hair under the influence of strong mental emotions, that in its healthy state, fluid secreted at the base may be conveyed to its extremity. As the peasants of Northern Europe have observed a host of anomalous symptoms disappear on the eruption of a plica polonica, and from this, believe that it is a preservative against all other diseases, they, therefore, adorn themselves by inoculation, with "cultivated Weichselzopf". The fact that it can in that way be communicated, proves the correctness of the views already given of its nature and origin.

So numerous have been the facts which have been accumulated by the observations of a few years, which can only be explained on the cryptogamic theory of the origin of many familiar diseases, that many authors have concluded that all diseases must maintain themselves in the bodies they infest in the same way. Dr. Jahn, in the Archiv. de la Med. Belge, 1844, closes an elaborate article with the following summary of his views: (Med. Chirur. Rev., Jan., 1845, p. 567.)

"It is now ascertained that in fermenting fluids there become developed vegetable productions of an inferior order, and in putrescent animal matter certain infusoria, which, in the opinion of some distinguished naturalists, are generated by spontaneous formation; although, when once formed, they may propagate themselves by a process of vegetation. Now it is probable that not unfrequently those morbid conditions, which consist in the supervention of similar decompositions in some part of the body, in the crystoblastema, or in the primitive molecules of the fermentation and putrefaction, and consequently the chemical elements of the crystoblastema or of the molecules, experience a derangement in the attraction, which is indispensable to the

continuance of the organization in a healthy condition; this derangement being occasioned by certain external agencies which entirely overpower the dominion of the general vital powers. Among these derangements we may enumerate various diseases, gangrenescences, putrescencies, &c." But in these conditions there may possibly be developed, by spontaneous generation, that is by the "ever-acting creative power of Nature on organic matter in a state of decomposition certain powers or properties," as are shown in fermentation or putrefaction.

Albino.-Selma Adams, of the Brothernout tribe of Indians, residing near Clinton, New-York, gradually became white during the last thirty years of his life, retaining his mental faculties in full. The change commenced soon after an attack of rheumatism in a small white patch on the pit of the stomach, and it gradually extended; other spots appeared in other places and spread to other points. He tried the effect of the mineral springs to arrest the change in his skin; but finding no effect from the waters, he finally resigned himself to his fate, saying he was compelled to submit to become "like the white men in everything but their dishonesty." (Letter from Dr. Bissel to the Ed. Eclectic Jour., Columbus, Ohio.)

Sclerema.-A boy in the Hospital des Enfans Malades, at Paris, showed the surface of the chest as firm to the touch as a cuirass. The general health seemed good; there was no fever or pain; on pressure the skin, over every part, except the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the ears, lips, and eye-lids, gave the feeling given out by "a membrane of considerable power of resistance on the tight stretch." There was no change of form, no swelling, nor pitting on pressure. The boy said he only felt a little stiffness for a week back. The heart gave a strong mitral bellows-sound; the urine nothing abnormal; no albumen, sugar, or excess of any ingredient. It is probably an extraordinary condensation of the cellular and adipose tissues.

WARTS.-Acetic-acid. They may be effectually removed by the strong acid. First carefully pare it down, then apply the acid with a camel's hair brush, and subsequently apply compresses soaked in vinegar in contact with the part.

Bichromate of Potash has often cured warts on the face.

*

MALIGNANT WARTS.-Arsenicum.-Dr. Leon, then of New-Orleans, gave a case of a lady, aged thirty, who had six painful warts on the back of the right hand, which prevented rest at night. They were of the size of a pea, very red and angry-looking; pains burning and pulsating, extending up the arm to the axilla, rendering the arm useless. Gave six globules of Arsenicum, 6°, dry, on the tongue. On the

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second day after taking the remedy all pains had ceased, on the fifth day the warts began to assume a blackish aspect and to shrivel up. On the tenth day they all fell off, and left a perfectly healthy surface. A year after there had been no return of the warts.

Internal Remedies.-Causticum will frequently cause warts to dis appear when they are fleshy or seedy.

Antim.-crudum.-Warts flat, hard and brittle.
Dulcamara.-Warts on the back of the fingers.

Calcarea-carb.-Warts on the sides of the fingers.

INDEX.

NOTE-II. indicates Vol. 2. Where there are no Roman Numerals, Vol. I. is meant

A.

Abdomen, dropsy of, II., 745.

Abdominal Respiration, 420.

Abdominal Viscera, diseases of, 256.
inflammatory do., 852.
sensorium, II, 573.

Typhus, 557,treatment,547.
Tympanitic, 894.

Dropsy, II., 745.

Neuralgia of, II., 509.

Cramp in, 311.

Abdominal Plethora, II., 503.

Abnormal Tissues, 646.
Abortion, II., 593.

Abscess of the Kidney, II., 775.
Abscesses, Metastatic, 926.

Diagnosis, 655.

Abscess, common 652, treatment, 656,
658.

Abscess of the Liver, 925, rupture of,
928, of antrum maxillare, 241, 263.
scrofulous, 654, consecutive, 654,
658.

Abscess, 652.
Absorption, II., 733.

Absorption, some remedies known to
act from, 130.

Absorption of Nutritive Materials,
221, 884.

Abstinence, 258, in preventing dis-

ease, 258, influence on health, 259.
inanition, 282.

Absurdity of Opinion, II., 398.
Acalipha Indica, in Hæmorrhage, II.,

255.

Acarus Scabiei, II., 879, II., 881.
Acclimation, 480, 483.
Aceto-nitrate of Copper, Diptheria,
772.

Acephalocysts, II., 822.

Acetic-acid in Typhus, 547, Skin Dis-

ease, II., 848, in nævus, II., 898.
Acetum in Burns, 681, Erysipelas,
681, foreign bodies in the eye, II.,
149, in Obsesity II., 838.
Achillea Millifolium, 800.
Achorous Exanthems, 615.

Acidity of the Stomach, 256.
Acids in Obesity, II., 838, ill effects of

312, poisoning by, 857.

Acid, Phos., in Pneumo Typhus, 585.
Acid Reactions of urine, IL, 781,
II., 783.

Acid, Uric, II., 785.

oxalic, II., 796.

Acid, Acetic, 547.

Acne, II, 854.

Aconite in Gout, II., 173.

in Cancer, II., 293.

in Syphilis, II., 319.

in Grangrenopsis, II., 356.

in Gonorrhoea, II., 377, 379.

in Orchitis, II., 383.

in effects of fear, II., 429.
in Insanity, II., 434, II., 435,
II., 438.

in Alcoholism, II., 460.
in Neuralgia, II., 485.
in Hemicrania, II., 502.
in Vertigo, II., 578.
in Tetanus, II., 534.
in Nervousness, II., 575.
in Apoplexy, II., 644.
in Palsy, II., 662.

in Amenorrhoea, II., 680.

in Dysmenorrhoea, II., 684.
in Leucorrhoea, II., 700.

in Metritis, II., 730.

in Crusta Lactea, II., 849.
Aconite, its sphere of action, 651.
in Pleurisy, 824.

in Urticaria, 613.

in Fever, 651.

in Toothache, 234.

in Infantile Fever, 525.
in Pleuritis, 824, Carditis, 842,
Aconite in Puerpural Fever, 892,

Pneumonia, 808, Croup,
777,Hæmoptysis,800,Ptyal-
ism, 251, Typhus, 550,
Yellow Fever, 577, Pneu-
mo Typhus, 584, Measles,
606, Urticaria, 613, Miliary
Fever, 616, Small-pox, 631,
in Encephalitis, 710, 706,

903

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