Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-08-03
THE VALUE OF SCIENCE.
Fitted to a Hair-A Story OF the
Microscope.


medical man, whom / will call DR..
R, we fell into conversation on the
uses of the microscope, in the manage
ment of which he was an adept
Now" said he, 81 will tell YOU story
of what happened to myself-one which,
| think. well illustrates the Importance
OF this instrument to society, though |
was put in very unpleasant position o w.
ing 20 my acquaintance with it,"
Il have, as you know, giver good
deal of attention to comparative anatomy,
especially to the structure of the hair as it
appears under the microscope. To the
unassisted eye, indeed, all hair appears
very much alike. except as it is long or
short, dark or fair, straight or curly, coarse
or fine. Under the microscope, however,
the case is very different; the white mans
is round, the negro's oval, the mouse sap
parently jointed, the bats jagged and so
ON. Indeed, every animal has hair of a
peculiar character, and, what is more,
this character varies according to the part
of the body from which it is taken-an
important circumstance, as it will appear
from my story, which is this:
81 once received letter By post, con-
tanning few hairs. with request that
examine them, and adding that they
would he called for III few davs. Ac-
cordingly | submitted the hairs to the mi
croscope, when | discovered that they
were from the human eyebrow and had
been bruised. made note to this eff
feet, and folded it up with the hairs in an
envelope, ready for the person who had
sent them. In a few days stranger
called and inquired whether | made the
investigation. %, YES, said, there they
are; and you will find them and their de-
scription in this envelope handing it TO
him at the same time. He expressed him
self as being much obliged, and Offered
me a fee, which, however, declined, tell
imp him that could not think of taking
any thing for so small a matter.
1T turned out, however. of more con
sequence than | had imagined, for within
a week was served with subpoena to
attend as witness on trial of murder
This was very disagreeablc, rs have said,
but there was no help for il now The
case was this: \ man had been killed by
blow from some blunt instrument or
the eyebrow, and the hairs sent to me for
examination had been taken from a ham,
mer in the possession of the suspected
murderer. l WAS put into the witness
box, and my testimony that the hairs
were from the human eyebrow, and had
been bruised was just the link in the
chain of evidence which suificed to con-
vict the prisoner. The jury, however,
were not easily satisfied that my state
ment was worth anything; and it required
the solemn assurance OF the Judge that
| such a conclusion was within the reach
of science. 10 convince them that they
might act upon it.
"One jouryman in particular-an old
faymcr-was very hard to satisfy. Does
thee mean to say said he, that thee can
tell the hair of any animal.' answered
that would not take upon myself TO as
scrt positively that | could do so, al
though believe could. We'll, said he,
III prove thee
The prisoner, as | said. was convicted
and went home, and in the busy life OF
an extensive practice forgot all about my
obstinate old farmer. About two years
afierward, however a person. an utter
stranger to me, called on me with few
hairs screwed up in piece of paper,
which he asked me to examine and report
on.
"Is this another murder case?' | in
quired; for, if so, will have nothing to
do with it. I've had enough of that sort
of work
"'No, no. said he, 1T is nothing of the
kind. 1t is only a matter of curiosity,
which should be very much obliged il
you would solve; and if you will do it.
will call or send for the result of your
Examination in few days time Hav-
ing received this assurance, undertook
the investigation.
when he had gone, and had leisure,
put the hairs under the microscope, and
soon discovered that they were taken
from the back of a Norway rat.
1.-Two or three days afterward, rs
was sitting in my consulting room, an old
farmer looking man was ushered in
Well said he, has thee looked at them
hairs?'
=" Yes answered. and find that they
are from the back of Norway rat.
Well exclaimed he, so they are. Thou
hast forgotten me, bat have not forgot
ten thee Does thee recollcct the trial for
murder at Il assizes? | said | would
prove thee, and so have, for them hairs
came from the back ola rat 5 skin my sou
sent me from Norway So the old gen
tleman was satisfied with the proof to
which he had put me, and i, as you may
suppose, was well pleased that my skill
and sagacity had stood such queer proof
as this, and more convinced than ever of
the value of the microscope"
III ere the doctor ended his story, which
l have given as nearly as possible in his
own words. and upon which l believe
that a thorough dependence may be
placed. -.
The colorcd men of the Eighteenth
Congressional District Of this State will
hold convention at Akron early next
month. t.
| The .arssir Nrtional is charged with
eliminating the French Government,
and has been criminally proceeded against
in that court. III DO.
The Orleans princes have taken the
hint conveyed in a resolution TO declare
certain seats in the French Assembly va.
/ can't. and have resigned. .....ts