Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page contains cosmetic recipes using substances now known to be poisonous, such as lead, mercury, or arsenic compounds, which cause cumulative and serious harm when absorbed through the skin or eyes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Hair Restorative
Take 1 drachm milk of sulphur, 1 drachm acetate of lead, 2 drachms muriate of soda, 2 fluid ounces glycerine, 8 fluid ounces bay rum, 4 fluid ounces Jamaica rum, and 1 pint water. Mix together, and shake before using. D epilatories.
Preparations for removing superfluous hair from the skin. The constituents of most of these are lime, and the tersulphuret of arsenic (orpiment), but the use of orpiment is dangerous, especially in case of any abrasion of the skin.
The safest depilatory is a strong solution of sulphuret of barium made into a paste with powdered starch. It should be applied immediately after it is mixed, and allowed to remain there for 5 or 10 minutes. (See Nos. 1223 to 1225.)