South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-30
Miscellaneous.
Fitted TO a Hair.

SOME time ago, beng In company with
medical man, whom Twill call Mr. R.,
we fen into conversation on the use of the
microscope, In the management of which
he was an adept Now said he, 81 will
tell you story of what happened to my
self-one which, think, well illustrates
the importance of this, Instrument, to So
ciety, though 1 was put in 8 very unpleass
ant position owing to my acquaintance
with it
at have, as You know, given good deal
of attention TO cc1.parative anatomy, es-
pecislly to the structure of the hair, as II
appears under the microscope. Tothe un-
assisted eye, indeed, all hair appears very
much alike, except as it is long or short,
dark or fair, straight or carly, coarse or
fine. Under the microscope, however, the
case is very different; the white mans is
round, the negro's oval, the mouse's appa-
rently ioiated, the bats Jagged, and so on.
Indeed, every animal has hair of pecu-
liar character, and, what is more, this cha
racter varies according to the part of the
body from which it is taken-an important
circumstance, as viii appear from my story,
which is this: '--
az once received q letter by. post, con-
tanning few hairs, with a request that
would examine them, and adding that they
would be called for IN a few DAYS. Ac.
cordingly, l submitted the hairs to the mi.
croscope, when discovered that they
were from the human eyebrow, and had
been bruised. Imade note to this effect,
and folded it up with the hairs in an enEel-
ope, ready for the person who had sent
them In few days stranger called and
inquired whether / had made the investi-
cation. oh, yes said, there they are,
and you will find them and their descrip-
ton In this envelope handing it to him at
the same time He expressed himself as
being much Obliged, and offered me fee,
which, however, l declined, telling him
that could not think of taking anything
for so small a matter. ssl M g ,h Sd =
at turned out, however, of more con-
sequence than had imagined, for within
a week was served with a subpoena, to
attend as a witness On a trial for murder.
This was very dissgreeabie, as have said
but there was no help for it now. The
case was this: A man had been killed by
a blow from some blunt instrument on the
eyebrows, and the hairs sent to me for ex-
animation had been taken from hammer
IN the possession of the suspected mur-
derer 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 sut1ced to convict the
prisoner. The jury, however, were not
easily satisfied that my statement was
worth anything; and it required the
solemn assurance of the judge that such a
conclusion was within the reach OF
science, TO convince them that they might
act upon it. = ..
"One juryman in particular-an old
farmer-was very hard to satisfy. Does
thee mean to say said he, that thee can
tell any hair of any animal?' answered
that / would not take upon myself to as.
sert positively that could do so, although
believed could. Well said he, 'Tlll
prove thee - -.--vs n ,.....
1.-THE prisoner, as 1 said, was convicted
aud, in the busy life of an extensive prsc-
tice, forgot all about my obstinate old
farmer About two years afterward, how
ever, q person, an utter stranger to me
called on me with a few hairs screwed uE
in piece of paper, which he asked me tC
examine and report on. 80 Z fsf-E
ssIs this smother murder case? 2 1 in.
quired; for if so, will have nothing tC
30 with it. I've had enough of that sort
OF work 4 = = cay 20
No no. said he, 1T is nothing of the
kind 1t is, only a matter of curiosity
which should be very much obliged i
YOU would solve; and if you will do it, ]
will call or send for the result of your ex
animation IN few days time Havine
received this assurance, l undertook the
investigation. .o is 's' 81
iswhen ne was gone, and I had leisure
Iput the hairs under the microscope, anC
soon discovered that. they were taken from
the back of Norway rat. e-'s- Lgs 3 z-.
/" Two or three days afterwaTd, as / wa!
sitting in my consulting room, an ole
farmer looking man = was ushered in
We'll, said he, has thee looked at then
hairs ~ -, ~ ..----.l,,.... -, -.-.....
eyes, answered, and I find that they
are from the. back. of a Norway rat
well, exclaimed he $50 they are. Thot
hast forgotten me, but I have not forgot
ten. thee. Does thee recollect the trial fol
murder at j. assizes9A L said
would prove thee, and 1 have, for then
hairs come from the back aofsa7 rats skin
my son sent me from Norway So, tn,
old gentleman was quite satisfied with thi
proof to which he had put me, and i, a
you may suppose, was well pleased tina
my skill and sagacitY had stood such
queer proof as this, and more conyiIcet
than ever. of the value of the micro
scope. - -. .7-.-s -
Here the doctor ended his story, whicl
Ihave given as nearly as possible in nj
own words, and upon which believe tina
thorough dependence may be placed
Journal Of Microscopic ai 5sf.fv--