Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-07-30
The Microscope as a petcctl,c.

ihe Microscope ~ Detective.
Some time ago, being in company with
medical man, we fell in conversation on
the uses of microscope in the management
Of which he was an adept Now, said he,
will tell you a story Of what happened to
myscli-one which think illustrates the
Importance Of this instrument to society.
although ! was put in very unpleasant
opposition, owing to my acquaintance with
IT, | have, as you all know, given great
deal OF attention to comparative anatomy,
especially to the structure Of the hair as il
appears under the microscope. 70 the un.
assisted eye, indeed, all hair appears very
much alike, except as it is long or short,
dark or fair, straight or curly, coarse or fno.
Under the microscope, however, the case is
very different the white mans round. the
negro's oval, the mouse's apparently Joint
ed, bats jagged, aud so on. Indeed, every
animal has hair Of peculiar character and
what is more this character varies accord.
ing to the part from which It Is taken--an
important circumstance, as it will appear
from my story, which is this: once re.
ceyed a letter by post, containing a few
hairs, with arequest that should examine
them, aud adding that they would be called
for in few days. Accordingly submit.
ted the hairs to the microscope, when I die
covered that they we're from the human
eye brow and had been bruised. made
a note to that effect, and folded it within an
envelope, ready for the person who sent
them. In few days stranger called ami
inquired whether had made the examina.
ton.
Oh yes" | said there they are,
and you will find them and their description
10 this envelope, handing it to him al the
same time"
lie expressed himself as being much
obliged and offered me fee, which how
ever, declined, telling him that could
not think Of taking money for 50 small
matter.
1t turned out, however, to be Of more
consequence than [ had imagined for
within week | was served with a sub
pWna to attend rs a witness in a trial fer
murder. This was very disagreeable, as
have said but thorewas no help for it now.
The case was this A man had been killed
by blow from some blunt instrument on
the eyebrow aud the hairs sent to me for
examination had been taken from hammer
in the possession Of the suspected murder
er. | was put in 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 that
suifced to convict the prisoner. The jury,
however, were not easily satisfied that my
was worth anything; and it re-
qulred 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 iuryman in par.
ticuar-an old farmer was very hard to
satisfy.
Does thee mean to say" said he, that
thee can tell the hair Of an animal2"
answered that would not take upon
myself to assert positively that | could do
so, though believed could
"Well," said he, " I'll prove thee
The prisoner, as | said, was convicted
and | went home. In busy life of ex-
tensive practice, forgot all about the OBJ
stinate old farmer. About two years after
callea on mo ,r;,h T. c'a ~. a;.a s.o, " "e'
in n;oco or nanar ,rL;aL ~ -
ovam;no and renor, rus ON "'0" Nv "'Ne' NV ~
az ,h;s ~ a o,r;
on;red :" er ;r 90 7 w;Il horo % -.
40 with II bsya bad "nou,h o1 oe H., ~
sort of work"
Kind H. oniv % matt, s ~ os-;a,;,. ~ a.o
which 7 would be verv mnch ohI;aoJ -
Won if Won would solve and ;f zoe, v;II
lott I will call or send for the rosmIt or
vour examinations in n Gcw dnvsn Nav.
inc received mis- assnranco / nraor,oot
The investigation When he was como I