Orientals are in the habit of dyeing their hair and beards the deep jetty black which they admire, if nature have not given them the desired depth of color. For this purpose Turks and Egyptians use a thick solution of native iron ore in pyrogallic acid, which gives the blackest and most unimpeachable color. The Persians prefer blue-black, and use indigo to produce it. European hair-dyers use a solution of iron, with hydrosulphate of ammonia to develop and fix the color, but the odor is objectionable. Dyes need to be applied once a week to keep the color vivid, and it is well to touch the partings twice as often with a fine comb dipped in the dye, as the hair always shows the natural color as fast as it grows from the roots. Red and flaxen hair is changed to gold with little trouble, but dark hair must be bleached with chlorine before the desired tinge is given. The bleaching is the most difficult part of the work. Solutions sold for the purpose oftenest consist of peroxide of hydrogen--a somewhat costly liquid, I am told. Solution of sulphurous acid will also bleach hair; so will solutions of bisulphide of magnesia and of lime. The hair, properly faded or whitened, is colored yellow with solutions of cadmium, arsenic, or gold, but the cause of the change is the same that produces black dye. The reaction of sulphureted hydrogen on silver or lead turns things black, but on the metals first named turns them yellow. Arsenic in the shape of orpiment or realgar, two deadly poisons, is the base of most golden hair-dyes, and numerous cases of poisoning have resulted from their use. Cadmium is harmless, and yields quite as brilliant a tinge as arsenic, though less used. Chloride of gold dyes a very satisfactory brown, available for eyebrows, lashes, and whiskers. It must be used with exceeding care, however, for it stains the skin as well as the hair. If applied with a fine-tooth comb dipped in the liquid, combing the ends first, and ceasing just before the skin is reached, the dye will probably “take” by means of capillary attraction, without affecting the face. Cautious use of this preparation on the brows and lashes gives very pleasing results when these are much paler than the hair. They should be first carefully oiled, and the oil wiped off the hair, which is then touched with a fine sable pencil.