The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-10-30
Growing White in a Single Night.


citation at Manchester, DR.. j Davy read a
paper 'On the Question whether the Hair
is or is not subject 10 Change in Color" Ii
is thus abridged and reported
The popular notion is decidedly in favor
ofthe affirmative, and many naturalists and
Psychologists have come TO the same con.
clnsion. They adduce instances of The
change of the hair 10 white or gray, in The
case of persons under strong emotions OF
grief or terror. Halter, in his ssElemeEta
Physiclogi9," refers TO eight authorities for
examples OF such changes; but all that he
seems 10 admit for himself is that under the
influence of i'm paired health such change
may take place slowly. Marie Antoineite
was cited by fayors of the popular notion as
striking and well authenticated instance
but when fairly considered, the case came
under The condition admitted by Hal.er-
Had it been possible for mental emotion'
whether OF terror or of grief, TO render hair
suddenly gray, surely in the Queens case
the change should have been witnessed at
an earlier period than that of The arrest OF
the Royal Family in their attempt TO leave
France. If such a sudden change could be
presumed, might we pot expect 10 witness
ii IN soldiers engaged in an active campaign
amidst all the dangers and horrors of war
He had himself examined thousands of sol
diers, men prematureiy worn out in various
climates, and .conceuIed in' many a hard
fought bsiile-many of them grievously
wounded-but he never met with an in.
starce of the Kind. The case of rebel
Sepoy is stated By DR. Laycock, in the "A pril
number of the British and Foreign Medico
Chirnrgical Review on the authority of
Surgeon Parry. il being said that The mans
hair changed from black to gray in half an
hour He was undoubtedly under the be.
lief that he would be condemned to death.
Might not this be the explsnationa The
man was hurried in, profdsely perspiring !;
he was naked, and cooling and drying rap
idly, his hair, previously gray, being dark
ened by moisture, resumed its natural color.
The effect OF war in intensifying color is
well known, and a further circumstance in
aid o. the explanation given may be found
in the sact that the natives of Bengal are in
the habit ofs;sining their hair. The Trans.
actions" Of The Royal Society, extending
over 200 years, do not contain an instance
of such change in the color of the hair, a
circumstance opposed 70 the conclusion
that il ever took place. for had it ever been
undoubtedly Witnessed it is not likely thai
Il would have remained undescribed.
The author is not aware that, Irrespective
ofrecordeG evidence, anything in support
of the popular notion can be adducsd on
physiological grounds Human hair cannot
be injected. Using coloring fluids such as
a solution of nitrate of silver aud solution
OF iodine, the author has not observed any
change Of color, except in the portions ac-
tualIy immersed. Whether it owes It's col
or TO fixed oil, to peculiar arrangement
of IFS constitutional molecules, or to both, it
resists decay in remarkable manner; il
fesisis the action of acids and aikalies, ex-
cept the strongest, which dissolve it. hire-
sisis maceraiioH, and even boiling water,
except eonlinued Tor long time, under
pressure, when it suffers disintegration and
decom position. Exposure to the sun will
bleach han, but this will noi account for any
very sudden change of color. Supporters
Of the popular opinion refer to changes in
ihe plumags of birds, such as the ptarrni-
gan, and in the hair Of certain quatfupeds,
ssch as the .mouutain hare and ermipe,
which become white towards winter, and
of adarker hue when in tbs winler is pass