White Hair and Black - "A Fact Worth Knowing."

The Scientific American 50, 31.8.1850

Uuder this head the True Union, publishes the following from "an authentic source."

"A distinguished General (Twiggs,) return. ed from the Mexican war covered with 'glory.' He had, however, two marks of hard service which laurels could not hide — as they did Caesar's baldness. One was a head as white as wool; and the other a cutaneous eruption on his forehead. For the latter he was advised to try a mixture of sulphur, and sugar of lead and rose water. In applying it, some of the mixture moistened his forehead, and after a while resumed its original color. He then applied the mixture to all his hair, and it all became, and is now, of its primitive and sandy hue. He communicated the fact to some of his friends in Washington — especially to some exmembers, who are widowers and seeking preferment — and it has been found efficacious in every instance. It does not dye the hair, but seems to operate upon the roots, and restore the original color.

"The recipe is as follows: - 1 drachm Lac Sulphur, ½ drachm Sugar of Lead: 4 ounces Rose Water; mix them: shake the phial on using the mixture, and bathe the hair twice a day for a week or longer if necessary."

[The theory of the above is neither new nor valuable: it is the sulphuret of lead applied to dye hair its own color. The nitrate of silver is much better, but those who consult their health and a steady brain, will refrain from both, and prefer the snowy locks of nature to the sable locks of art.