Litchfield enquirer., 1871-07-20
STORY OF THE MICROSCOPE.

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 STORY OF THE MICROSCOPE. sao1i
 Some time ago, being in company with a medical man, whom will call MT. B--,we fell into conversation about the uses of the microscope, in the management of which he was an adept ''Now," said he, 'T will tell you story of what happened to my self-one which, I think. we'll illustrates the importance of this instrument to sO- eiety, though I was put in a very unpleass ant position, owing to my acquaintance with it. 9a ss.s-5s., a E ess,,,-' -e.ss:r.i.,,r e : ''I have, as you know, given good deal of attention to comparative anatomy, es- peclally 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 curley, ,coarse or fine. Under the microscope, however, 3. the case is very different; the white mans hair is round the negro's oval. the mouseis apparently 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 inn portant circumstance, as as will appear from my story. which is thus: fe Er,
 II once received letter by post, con.i taining few hairs, with 8 request that examine them, and adding that they would be called for in a few days. Accordingly, I submitted the hairs to the microscope, when discovered that they were from the human eyebrow. and had been bruised r. made note to this effect, and folded it up g with the hair in an envelope, ready for the person who had sent them. In few days a stranger called and enquired whether I had made the investigation. Oh, yes,' F. sad, there they are, and you will find them and their description in this envelope, handing it to him at the same time He expressed himself as being much obliged, and offered me 9 fec, which, however desr eclined, telling him that could not think. of taking anything for so small matter.
 '''It turned out, however, of more Conse-'s quence than had imagined, for within a a week was served with subpoena to at tend as witness on a trial for murder. This was very disagreeable, as have said, bat there was no hope for it now. The case was this: A man had been killed by O blow from some blunt instrument on the eyebrow, and the hairs sent to me for ex- animation had been taken from hammer in the possession of the suspected murdeFer. F I was put in the witness box, and my tes-s | timony, sthat the hairs were from the hu- man eoebrow, and had been bruised" was just the link in the chain of evidence which suficed to convict the prisoner Theiuty, F however, were not easily satisfied that my statement was worth anything; and the sol. emn assurance of the judge that such conclusion was within the reach of sclenCep to convince them that they might act upon it. .r-. ..-.,. -......ls..-t. .-..r.. ..
 "One juryman in particular-an old far. mer-was very hard to satisfy. Does thses mean to say,' said he, that thee can tell any hair of any animal?' answered that would not take upon myself to tell pos itively that could do so, although be- lieved l could. We'll said he, I'll proxs thee 5..sE .esqs- i. lf7rrs s,, 4,..,o4-,...-,-
 ''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 af., forwards, however,a person, an utter stran. ger to me, called on me with few hairs screwed up in piece of paper, which he asked me to examine and report on. at10Tg
 "rIs this another murder case,' I ius quired; for if so, will have nothing to do with it, I've had enough of that sort of work -'- ''@'7~9 S4a ao7f r8h7
 |" No, mo- said he, it is nothing of the kind. It is only matter of curiosity. which would be much obliged if you would solve; and if you will do it win call or send for the result of your examina- ton in 6 few days time. Having received this assurance. Undertook the investiga- tion. T@4
 "When he was gone, and I had leisure put the hairs under the microscope,s and soon discovered that they were taken from the back of a Norway rat. ,,. ..f.--.
 ''Two or three days afterward, as I was sitting in nay consulting room, an old far mer-looking man was ushered in. We'll said he, 'has the looked at them hairsY "'Yes. l answered, land find that they are from the back of Norway rat We'll exclaimed he, 'so they are. Thou has for gotten me, but I have not forgotten thea. Does the recollect the trial for murder ct It. assizes? said would prove thee, and so have, for them hairs come from the back of a rats skin my son sent me from Norway So the old gentleman was quite satisfied with the proof to which he put me, and I, as you may suppose, was well pleased that my skill and sagacity had stood such a queer proof as this, and more convinced than ever of the value of the mi- croscope." @@@ 4sfAasa3
 Here the doctor ended his story, which I have given as nearly as possible in his own words, and upon which I believe that Q thorough dependence may be placed Journal of Microscopy t1@47qias9d 6
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