As modern lovers disapprove of eyebrows meeting over the nose,
superfluous hairs should be removed. Coarse irregular hairs in any part
of the eyebrow should be pulled out or kept in position by a _fixateur_.
“It is not well to trim the eyebrow generally, as it makes it coarse....
When it is desired to thicken or strengthen them, two or three drops of
oil of cajuput may be gently rubbed into the skin every other night; but
here, and _always_ when wiping them, the rubbing should be in the
direction of the hair, from the nose outward, and _never_ in the reverse
direction.” Among harmless dyes, pencils of dark pomatum or walnut-bark,
steeped in Cologne for a week, are recommended; or, for a transient
effect, a needle smoked over the flame of a candle may be used.
Regarding the general hygienic care of the eye, the following rules
should be borne in mind. Never read or work in a too weak or too glaring
light, or when lying down, or with the book too near the eye. Rest the
muscles occasionally by looking at a distant object. Bathe the eyes
every morning in cold water, _keeping them closed_. For disorders,
consult a physician immediately; a day’s delay may be fatal to ocular
beauty. For ordinary inflammation, an external application of
witch-hazel extract, mixed with a few drops of Cologne, is very
soothing. _Never_ sleep with your eyes facing the window. Ninety-nine
persons in a hundred do so; hence the large number of weak, lustreless
eyes, early disturbances of slumber, and morning headaches. Large
numbers of tourists in Switzerland constantly suffer from headaches, and
lose all the benefits of their vacation, simply because they fail to
have their head at night in the centre of the room, where it ought to
be, because the air circulates there more freely than near the wall.