ALOPECIA, (Encycl.) Dele the marginal note.
The term is used among physicians to denote a total falling off of the hair from certain parts, occasioned either by the defect of nutritious juice, or by its vicious quality corroding the roots of it, and leaving the skin rough and colourless.
The word is formed from αλοπες, vulpes, "a fox;" whose urine, it is said, will occasion baldness; or because it is a disease which is common to that creature.
The alopecia properly differs from defluvium capillorum; as in the former certain parts or patches are left entirely bald, whereas in the latter, the hair only grows immoderately thin. It also differs from the ophiasis, as this latter creeps in spires about the head, like the windings of a serpent; whereas the former is not confined to any figure.
The remedies which remove the proximate cause of this malady, are called μετασυστικα, metasyncritica. Here, first, if any corrupt hairs still remain, they are to be drawn out either with tweezers, or by dropacism; or the place must be shaved by a razor. Then the head is to be washed every night at going to bed with a ley, prepared by boiling the ashes of vine branches in red wine. A powder made by reducing hermodactyls to fine flour, is also recommended for the same purpose.
In cases where the baldness is total, a quantity of the finest burdock roots are to be bruised in a marble mortar, and then boiled in white wine until there remains only as much as will cover them. This liquor, carefully strained off, is said to cure baldness, by washing the head every night with some of it warm. A ley made by boiling ashes of vine branches in common water, is also recommended with this intention. A fresh cut onion, rubbed on the part until it be red and itch, is likewise said to cure baldness.
A multitude of such remedies are every where to be found in the works of Valescas de Taranta, Rondeletius, Hallerius, Trincavellius, Celsus, Senertay, and other practical physicians. See Buxus, (Encycl.)