MEDICINES FOR BALDNESS.
During recent years the number of preparations put forward for the cure
of baldness has been increased by a new class, those, namely, which are
not applied locally but taken internally. The principal ingredient in
all seems to be the dried colouring matter of the blood of warm-blooded
animals—haemoglobin. The most widely advertised of them is sold under
the name of “Capsuloids.”
CAPSULOIDS.
The price was 2s. 3d. for a box containing 36 capsuloids.
On the outer package it was stated that:
Our special process used in making Capsuloids is never
used and never has been used outside our Laboratory. It
is known only to the Capsuloid Company, Ltd., and has
never at any time been communicated to any other person
or firm. This material is then enclosed in little
pear-shaped gelatine capsules which are made of the
finest and purest gelatine. As a result of our special
process, Capsuloids have that particular and remarkable
effect upon the hair through the medium of the blood
which is so well and widely known. There is no other
preparation which possesses anything like the same
effect.
Capsuloids not only cause the death of those harmful
germs which we have proved to be the cause of falling
out and prematurely grey hair, but they also restore
the injured growing cells of the hair roots, and
nourish them, and cause them to multiply so that
the roots become firm and grow rapidly, producing
thick and luxuriant hair, and where there has been
premature greyness, it is also cured. Recent scientific
investigation has definitely proved this, and has
demonstrated that hair cannot be made to grow by using
external preparations.
Directions. To stop falling out of the hair and to
restore the colour to prematurely grey hair, adults
should take two, or in very severe cases three,
capsuloids before eating or with the first part of each
meal, three times daily. The doses for younger persons
is one or two with each meal. Capsuloids never cause
constipation or indigestion, nor do they in any way
upset the stomach, or any part of the system.
A booklet of 20 pages was enclosed in the package, in which the above
statements were repeated and further elaborated with the aid of a
diagram of the root of a hair, with blood-vessels, oil gland, “growing
cells containing harmful germs,” etc.
The capsuloids were elongated gelatine capsules containing a dark
material, the average contents of one weighing 3·4 grains. The material
yielded 32 per cent. to a solvent suitable for extracting fats, and
this portion proved to be a mixture of about equal parts of a neutral
oil and a fatty acid, agreeing in their characters with olive oil and
oleic acid, respectively. Extraction of the residue with alcohol then
removed 10 per cent. of an aromatic balsamic substance, generally
resembling Peruvian balsam, but lighter in colour; a mixture of
equal parts of Peruvian balsam and purified storax gave a substance
practically identical. The residue, insoluble in both solvents, was
a red-brown powder, which was found by its characters to be dried
haemoglobin. Careful search was made for arsenic, alkaloids, and other
ingredients, but nothing else was detected. The results indicated the
following formula for the contents of the capsules:
Haemoglobin 1·97 grain.
Olive oil }
Oleic acid } of each 0·54 ”
Balsam of Peru }
Purified storax } of each 0·17 ”
In one capsule.
The estimated cost of materials for the contents of 36 capsules is 1d.
Other dealers have paid the company the sincere compliment of
imitation, and various similar articles appear to be largely sold. The
following particulars are taken from price lists and advertisements
intended for retail chemists; as haemoglobin is referred to as the
principal constituent in each case, they were not submitted to analysis.
CAPSULATED HAEMOGLOBIN OVALS FOR THE HAIR.
“Capsulated Haemoglobin Ovals for the Hair. Contain 2½
grains of Pure Haemoglobin.”
They were supplied by a firm in a south country seaside town, labelled
with name and address of the retailer. The wholesale price quoted was
for tubes of 25, 4s. per dozen.
HAEMOGLOBIN HAIR CAPSULES.
“Capsules for the Hair. When falling out or turning
prematurely grey, these capsules by enriching the blood
make the hair glossy, luxuriant, and full of vitality.”
These were not described on the package as containing haemoglobin, but
were quoted in the price list as “Haemoglobin Hair Capsules.” They
were supplied by a company in a seaside town. “Store price, 1s. 6d.”
Wholesale price, 7s. per dozen packages.
SOLUBLE CAPSULES OF HAEMOGLOBIN.
“Soluble Capsules of Haemoglobin. A natural hair food.
Produces Healthy, Strong, and Luxuriant Hair.”
The wholesale price of these, supplied by a London firm, was for boxes
of 36, 5s. 9d. per dozen.