The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-07-11
FITTED TO A sskERi

FITTED I'D ssAkSi
Some time ago, being in company
with medical man, whom / will cal
Mr.. R, we fell into conversation OF
the use of the microscope, in the man
agement of which he was an adept
"Now," said he, Il will tell you a story
of what happened to myself-one which
| think, well illustrates the importance
of this instrument to society, though
was put in a very unpleasant position
owing to my acquaintance with it.
81 have, as you know, given good
deal of attention to comparative anato-
my, especially to the structure of the
hair, as it appears under the microscope
TO the unassisted eye, indeed, all hail
appears very much alike, except as it is
long or short, dark or fair, straight OF
curly, coarse or fne Under the micro
scope, however, the case is very differ
ent; the white mans is round, the ne
gro's oval, the mouse's apparently joint
ed, the bats Jagged, and so on. Indeed
every animal has hair of a peculiar char
acter, and, what is more, this character
varies according to the part of the body
from which it is taken-an important
circumstance, as will appear from my
story, which is this:
Il once received letter by post, con
tanning a few hairs, with q request that
would examine them, and adding that
they would be called for in few days
Accordingly submitted the hairs to the
microscope, when discovered that they
were from the human eyebrow, and hao
been bruised. I made note to this eff
feet, and folded it up with the hairs in al
envelope, ready for the person who had
sent them. In few days stranger
called and inquired whether L had made
the investigation 'Oh, yes l said
there they are, and you will find then
and their description in this envelope,
handing it to him at the same time. Ht
expressed himself as being much obliged
and offered me fee, which, however,
declined, telling him that I could no
think of taking anything for so small
matter
ut turned out, however, Of more con
sequence than l had imagined, for withiI
a week was served with subpoena, t
attend as witness on trial for murder
This was very disagreeable, as | have
said, but there was no help for it now
The case was this: A man had been kill
ed by a blow from some blunt instru
ment on the eyebrows, and the hairs sen
to me for examination haG been takel
from hammer in the possession Of th,
suspected murderer. | was put into tn
witness box, and my testimony, that the
hairs were from the human eyebrow,ant
had been Bruised was just the link in th
chain of evidence which sufficed to con
vict the prisoner. The jury, however
were not easily satisfied that my state
ment was worth anything; and it requir
ed the solemn assurance of the judge
, that such a conclusion was within tn
reach of science, to convince them tha
they might act upon it.
"One juryman in particular--an oil
: farmer-was very hard to satisfy. Doe
thee mean to say said he, that thee cal
: tell any hair of any animal ? answer
ed that ] would not take upon myself tt
assert positively that | could do so, al
; though l believed I could. sWell,' sai'
he, 'Pll prove thee
"The prisoner, as said, was convict
ed, and, in the busy life of an extensiv
practice, forgot all about my ohstinat
old farmer. About two years afterward
, however, a person, an utter Stranger t
me, called on me with a few hairs screw
ed up in piece Of paper, which be ask
ed me to examine and report on.
"Is this another murder case ? / in
: quired 'for if so, l will have nothing tt
do with it. I've had enough of tha
sort of work
"'No,' said he, 'it is nothing of tn
kind. 1t is only matter of curiosity
which should be very much obliged
you would solve; and if you will do it,
will call or send for the result of you
examination in few days time Hav
iEg received this assurance, l undertook
the investigation,
"When he was gone,and l had leisure
l put the hairs under the microscope, ant
soon discovered that they were take
from the back of Norway rat.
1.-TWO or three days afterward, as
was sitting in the consulting room, a
: old farmer looking man was ushered il
t Well said he, 'has thee looked at ther
hairs
y "'Yes,' l answered, 'and l find tha
| they are from the back Of Norway rat
r WELL exclaimed he, $50 they are. Tho
3 hast forgotten me, but l have not forgot
: ten thee. Does thee recol.ect the tria
for murder at l. assizes? l sal
would prove thee, and have, for ther
hairs come from the back of rats ski
my son sent me from Norway So tn
old gentleman was quite satisfied wit
the proof to which he had put me, an
l, as you suppose, was well pleased tina
my skill and saeacity had stood such
queer proof as this, and more convince
than ever of the value of the micro
,, scope"
= Here the doctor ended his story, ,whic
l have given as nearly as possible in hi
! own words, and upon which | believ
thot n tborouob donopdepoa NAV hp nj lar