The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-03-14
GROWTH AFTER DEATH.
Several Remarkable Cases Cited from
1.-THE Acts OF Leipsic."
Iet I.onis Glnha-neml


lst. Louis Globe Democrat
"In the year 17I9 woman was inferred
at Nuremberg in 3 wooden coffin, painted
black. according to the custom of the coun-
try. The earth wherein her body WAS de-
posted was dry and yellow, as it is for the
most part in the environs of the city. Of
three bodies buried in the same grave, this
womsn's was laid deepest in the ground.
In 1761, there being occasion to make
room for fourth body, the grave was dug
up anew. To the surprise of the digger
when he had removed the two uppermost
cofins, he perceived q considerable quantity
of hsir that had made its way through the
creYices of the coffin. The lid being re-
moved, there appeared q perfect resem-
blance of q human figure, the eyes, noEe
mouth, ears and all parts being very dis
tinct; but from the crown Of the head to
the soles of the feet it is covered with very
long. thick and frizzled hair. The grave
digger, after examining it for some time
happened to touch the upper part of the
head. To his surprise the entire body be-
gan at once to shrink, and at last nothing
remained in his hand but a mass of rough
hair, which insensibly assumed q brownish-
red color"
The learned Honorstus LIB. 8, De Plan
tis) and several other authors are Of opinion
that hair, wool, feathers, nails, horns, teeth,
etc., are nothing but vegetables. If such
be so we need not be surprised to find them
growing on bodies of animals after death,
q circumstance that has occasionally been
observed. Peter Borellus pretends that
these productions may be trsnsplsnted as
vegetables, and may grow in different
place from that where they first germina
ted. He cites in some observations on
the subject, among other examples, that of
q tooth drawn out aud transplsnted. In
the philosophical Collections" of Mr..
Hooke, it is, believe, stated on the author
ity of gentleman named Arnold, that q
man hanged at Tyburn for theft was found
shortly after his removal from the gallows
to be covered over in very extraordinary
manner with hair"
In q letter addressed by DR.. Bartholiee to
Mons. Sach, which is inscribed in the ''Acts
of Copenhagen" occur the following words:
"I do not know whether you ever observed
that the hair which in people when living
was black or gray, after their death, in dig.
giDg up their graves or opening the vaults
where they lie, is found changed to fair OF
scarce know them again by such mark
The change is produced undoubtedly by the
hot and concentrated vapors which are ex.
hailed from the dead bodies.
ORCHARD EDeEBUMBE.
"No. 26 Telworth Square, Chelesa."
1 remember hearing the following story:
During the Crimesn war an officer vel
known for his fine beard died or was killed
in action. He was buried wrapped in his
blanket; q little while afterward his body
was exhumed for some reason, and it was
said that his beard had grown through hi
blanket.
There is no need to 60 as far as the Vati
can library to see head of hair of the Ro
man period, as in the fne museum of the
Yorkshire Philosophical Society at Yorl
there is the hair of young lady coiled il
the modern fashion, into which are stucl
Jet pins, found in q sarcephsgus during thu
erection of new railway station at York