p. 11 | The Hygiene of Hats

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 29, 1904

The Hygiene of Hats

From an article bearing the above title, which appears in Cosmos (Paris, July 16), we learn that the new fashion of going without a hat is not limited to this country. According to the writer it has everything, hygienically, in its favor, and the arguments against it need only be stated to be refuted. He says:—

“The mass of hair that covers the top of the head is a feature of the human race in both sexes, and appears to be one of its most stable physical characteristics. Nevertheless, long observation is unnecessary to prove that this characteristic is weakening, and that the vigor of the hair is decreasing in man. Now a question presents itself: Is this due to a transformation of the species, or must we attribute the fact to man’s habits? This second solution appears to be correct, which is consoling, since it allows us, to hope that the evil may be checked. This loss of hair that has become more striking from one generation to another by heredity is due, according to some scientists, to the habit of covering the head.

“This habit must affect the hair injuriously in three ways: (1) By depriving it of the life-giving light of the sun, of free ventilation, and of the movement of the hairs by air currents; (2) by pressure on the small arteries of the scalp which bring nourishment to the hair; (3) finally, because all head coverings are an excellent culture medium for microbes, and facilitate their development. In fact, the hat, since it prevents the germicidal action of the sun’s rays and the movement of the air, and retains on the head the heat and moisture of the inclosed air, offers all the most favorable conditions for obtaining a culture of micro-organisms. Furthermore, it is well recognized that the chief causes of baldness are the microbian affections of the scalp, which destroy the sebaceous glands.

“We may, then, suppose that it is the custom of covering the head that diminishes, little by little, the vigor of the hair. Although this is not absolutely proved, it is infinitely probable, and in any case it would cost nothing to try a change in the present fashion.”— Literary Digest.