The Hair

Article #5: The Hair by J.J. Tilden, M.D.

The various pastes, or liquids, on the market for removing hairs are made of arsenic, or calcium sulphate or barium salts, or quick-lime (unslaked lime), or some combination of same.

They remove the hairs by burning them off. No depilatory gets into the roots to prevent more hair coming.

The electric needle is often used to remove hairs by destroying the roots, but it is a dangerous procedure at its best, for every point that the needle enters must leave a scar. It is a painful operation and leaves many regrets for the operator as well as for the patient.

There is another method of hair-removing that is not fully understood by the public. As it is the public that furnishes the patients, or victims, for any system of treatment or mistreatment, the public should be informed.

This “newer system” is known under many fancy names, but it has for its remover a form of electrical energy or “ray” that destroys the tissues gradually. Many repeat treatments have to be taken, when slowly the hairs wither and dry up and fall off.

As I have had several of these unfortunate victims to treat, I must give a word of warning, for this “unknown-ray” system leaves the skin, so it gradually dries and takes on the appearance of a “raisin skin.” (The ray is a form of X-ray.)

In London, England, the authorities have forbidden the use of this “unknown ray” for hair removing. One of the London medical officials claims that cancers are appearing on the faces of many who have had this “unknown ray” system of hair-removing used.

When used under the arms, the “unknown ray” often makes cripples by destroying the blood vessels and withering the nerves.

Other tissues must be destroyed to destroy a hair root.