Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-07-21
THE MICROSCOPE AS A DETECT
I'VE.

medical man, we lell III CoHfci odoioh
on the uses of the microscope, in the
management of which he was an adept:
"Ncw," said he, 81 will tell you story
of what happened to myself-one which
| think illustrates the Importance of this
instrument to society, although | was
put in very unpleasant position, owing
to my acquaintance with it. ! have, as
you all know, gwen great deal of at
tention to comparative anatomy. especi-
ally to the structure of the hair as it ap-
pears under the microscope. To 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 fine. Under the microscope,
however, the case is very different; the
white mans is round, the negro's oval,
the mouse's apparently jointed, the bats
jagged, and SO on. Indeed, every ami
NAL has hair of peculiar character
and what is more, this character varies
according to the part from which it is
taken-an important circumstance, as it
will appear from my story, which is
this: | once received letter by post,
containing a few hairs, with request
that | should examine them, and adding
that they would be called for in a few
days. Accordingly, l submitted the
hairs to the microscope, when | discov-
cred that they were from the human
eyebrow, and had been bruised. made
note to that effect. and folded it with
in an envelope, ready for the person
who sent them. In a few days stran-
ger called and inquired whether 1 had
made the examination.
'Oh !! 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 himself as being much
obliged and offered me fee, which how
ever l declined, telling him that could
not think of taking money for so small
matter.
1t turned out, however, to be of more
consequence than I had imagined for
within week was served with a SUBJ
pena to attend as a witness in trial of
murder. This was very disagreeable. as
have said but there was no help for
it now. The case was this: man had
been killed by blow from some blunt
instrument on the eyebrow, and the hairs
sent to me for examination had been
taken from hammer in the possession
of the suspected murderer. l was put
in the witness box, and my testimony
that ''the hairs were from the human
eyebrow and had been bruised" wa:
just the link in the chain of evidence
that suficed to convict the prisoner. Tht
jury however, were not easily satisfied
that my statement was worth anything
and it required the solemn assurance o
the Judge that such conclusion wa
within the reach of science, to convinc
them that they might act upon it. On,
juryman in particular-an old farmer
was very hard to satisfy.
''Does thee mean to say" said he
''that thee can tell the hair of an ami
NAL ?''
Unanswered that l would not take up
on myself to assert positively that
could do SO, though l believed I could
"Well," said he, "I'll prove thee
The prisoner, as | said, was convict
ed and l went home. In busy life Q
extensive practice, forgot all about tn
obstinate old farmer. About two year
afterward person, an entire stranger
me, called on me with a few hair
screwed up in piece of paper, whic
he asked me to examine and report OF
''Is this another murder case 2" I il
quired; ''for if SO, will have nothin
to do with it. I have had enough
that sort of work.
Mono" said he, '.it's nothing {
the kind. It's only a matter of curios
" ty, which would be very much oblige
= to you if you would solve; and if yo
d will do it l will call or send for the r.
suit of your examinations IN few days.
le Having received this assurance, | III
dertook the investigation. When |
was gone, had leisure, put the hal
under microscope, and soon discovert
~ that they were taken from the back Of
- Norway rat. .
Two or three days afterwards as
ur was sitting in my room, an old farme
looking man was ushered in.
,u "Well. said he, "has thee looked
them hairs %
n "Yes," 1 answered, s.and l find tn
II they are from the back Of Norw;
rat"
~ ~ We'll! !' he exclaimed, $50 they al
Thou hast forgotten me, but l have n
IT, forgotten thee Dost thou recolle
al the trial of murder at L assizes
&c | said | would prove thee, and so
have, them hairs came from the back
rats skin my son sent me from NJ
vt way"
So the old gentleman was quite sat
a fed with the proof to which he had ?