The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1874-07-08
a STORY OF TnE MICROSCOPE.


A STORY OF TIE MICROSCOPES.
Some time ago. being in company with
a medical man. whom will call Mr.. B /;
We fell into conversation on the uses Of
the microscope. in the management Of which
he was an adept.
Now, said he, | will toll you story Of
what happened TO mysclf--one which, /
think, wen illustrates the importance OF
this instrument to society. though was
put ip avery unpleasant position. owing
| to my acquaintance with il.
| have. as you Know, given o good dea.
! Of attention to comparative anatomy. es-
/ pecially to the structure Of the hair rs il
/ appeared under the microscope. 10 the
uaassisted eye. all hair appears yefy lucl
alike. except as il is long or short. dark OF
fair, straight or curly. coarse or fine,
Under the microscope, llowever. the case
is different ;the white man Is round. the
negro oval: the mouse apparently joint
ed, the hats jagge.l, and - on. Indeed.
every anima has hair Of peculiar charac-
ter; and, what is more, this character
varies according to the part Of the body
from which il is tsken--au important cir
cumstance. Is will appear. from my story.
whicn is thus:
once received letter BY post. contain
ing few hairs. with request that would
examine them. ald adding that theg would
be called for III 4 few days. Accordingly
submitted Tie hairs To the microscope,
when | discovered that they were ].
FROM Tile HUMAN EYEBROW,
and had been bruised. made iipte to
this effect. aud folded it up with the hairs
il an envelope. ready FOR the person who
sent them Ia few days stranger called
and inquired whether | had made the in
yesiigation.
Oh. yes; there they are : and Jon will find
them and tie description in this envelope.
handing i TO him at the SAME time.
lie expressed himself as being much o.
bliged. aud offered tie fee. which. how
ever. | declined. telling him that | eould
not think Of taking anything for 70 small a
matter. 81 IL Il
Il turned out to be Of more consequence
than had Imagined for. within i week,
was served with a Subpoena to attend as
witness on trial Tor murder. This was
very dissgreeable. as have said. but there
was no help for il 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 were
taken from hammer IN the possession Of
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 Jf evidence that sufiiecd 10 c,ayici
the prisoner. Thejnry. however. was not
easily satisfied that my statement was worth
anything. aud il required the solemn rs
sursncc Of the judge that such a conclusion
was within the reach of fscience, to convince
them that they might act upon Il.
Ono juryman 10 rariicular---an old farm.
er---was hard to satisfy. Does thee mean
70 say. said be. that thee can tell any hair
of any animal? | ANSWERED that | would
not take upon myself to assnrt positively
that could 10 ., although | believe |
could. s.
WELL, SAID HE, Ill PROVE THE
Tie prisoner, as | said was convicted,
aud went home, and IN ihe busy life Of nj
extensive practice furga all about my OBJ
stinate old farmer. About two years after
ward. however, person. m utter stranger
70 me. eallod uL me With few hairs
screwed up 10 piece oi paper, which he
asked me to examine aud report on.
L this another murder case inquired.
Erif =. | willlase ssthing .ods silh thai
soil It woik. Z, 2.
No. no. said 5e. is nothing u lLe Kind.
It's only matter Of curiosity. which !
should be very much obliged i you would
solve. and Il you will DO IL, [ rll call or
send for ihe result VI jour examination ip
few days tim,.
Having received this assurance under
took the Investigation, When be was gone
and Ihad leisure | pun ~ Ifasss athJsf
microscope. and soou ,liooyeled that llloy
we're taken flom tho back of q Norway
rat.
Twc or three days sftsfwsfj, as I was
sitting in my CONSULTING. ~ old far
uier hooking niau was ushercd in. Well.
said be. has ths lcskedrt them hair! Yes,
answered. fAdtbcy arcftom sl.e back q
. Norway rat, Wsn, exclaimed he. 50
they are Tbou hast forgotten nc. but |
have nci forgotten thee. Does thee not
rccolirct The trial sor murder II l.----
sssiscs I said | would lhvsc thee and 70 !
have. Gov them hairscaan frvm he back "
q raj skin my sou sent NE from Norway.
20 tAa old Ecnllsman Has quitc satisfied
with tbs prOof 70 which IL had.nnt ne.
aud 1. as SON ma J supppse was wen pleased
that my skill And sHgAcity hsd stooi suDh
queer proof - thu. a,ld nsars convinced
tlaHe ever u shs yalus uf The microscope.
Hero tho Doctor ended Lis story which
| have giysnas nearly - possible u his
own woTds. ard upau which believe
iLOrCugh dependence NAY ts placed.
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