The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-07-24
rHE mIcRoscoPE A. A DEFECTIVE

/ THE mIIHostoPE A. bi'I bAIiNb
Some time ago, being in company will
medical mau, we fell in conversation
on the uses of microscope, in the manage
ment of which he was an adept: Now
said he, will tell you story OF what
happened TO myself--one which think
4 illustrates the importance of this instru-
ment to society, although was put in u
very unpleasant position, owing to my
acquaintance with it. have, as you all
know, given a great deal Of attention 10
comparative anatomy, especially to the
structure of the hair as it appears under
the microscope TO the unassistcd eye
indeed, all hair appears very much alike.
except as IL 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 round, the
negro's oval, the mouses apparently
jointed, the bats jagged, and SO on. IN
deed, every animal has hair of peculiar
character and what is more, this charac'
ter varies according TO the part from
which it is taken-an important clrcum-
stance, as it will appear from my story,
which is this: once received letter
| by post, containing few hairs, with a
request that should examine them, and
adding that they would be called for in q
few days. Accordingly, submitted the
hairs TO the microscope, when ! discover
ed that they were from the human eye
brow, and had been bruised. made 0
note to that effect, and folded it within
an envelope, ready for the person who
sent them. In few days a stranger
called and inquired whether had made
the examination.
Ohl yes, said; there they are, aud
you will find them aud their description
/ in this envelope, handing ii to him at the
same time. ...
lie expressed himself rs being much
obliged and offered me lee, which how
ever, declined, telling him that | could
not think Of taking money for so small a
matter.
/ 1t turned out, however, TO be OF more
consequence than had imagined; foI
within week was served with snb'
ppna to attend as witness ia trial ol
murder EThis was very disagreeable, a
( ! have said; but thcre was no help for il
now. The case was This: \ man had
/ been Killed By u blow from some blunt
/ instrument on the eyebrow aud the hairs
/ sent to me for examination had been TAX
/ en- from a hammer il the possession oi
/ the suspected murderer. | 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 suillced tc
convict the prisoner The jury however
/ were not easily satisfied that my state
meut was worth anything; and IT requir.
ed tina solemn assurance OF the judge
/ that such conclusion was within the
reach Of science, to convince them tina
they might act upon it. One juryman Ia
particuar-an old tsrpcr-was very hasd
10 satisfy.
Does thee mean 10 say, said be, that
thee can tell the hair OF an auimslt
Iauswered that would not take upor
myself to assert positively that | could d,
30, though believed could
Wen, said be, l.l prove thee
The prisoner as saii, was cougieiet
aud went home. Ia busy Hie Of ex
tcnsisc practice. forgot aIi about th'
obstinate Old farmer. About two years
al,erwarl a person, 40 entire stranger Z,
me, called on ne aith lew hair. screw
ed up 10 a piece Of paper, which be aske'
me to examine and report on.
l. tbs another murder cases inquired
for If 10, 1 viii have nothing 20 90 viii
it have had enough Of thsl sort oi
woTg.
No-no, said BE-. ~ nothing of th'
kind. rs only a matter Of curiosity
which would De very mneb Obliged q
sou ifyoa would solve; and IL yon Wii
DO itIw VIII cagl o. sHd f5r the result o
your examinations Ia few dayR Hay
ing received this assurance, | undert0 ol
the investigation When be was gone,
had leisure, ! put the hairs under th