The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-19
FITTED TO A HAIR.

Some time ago, beingin company with
a medical man, whom | will call Mr.
-, we fell into conversation on the
uses Of the microscope, in the manage
ment of which he was an adept Now,
said he, II will tell you story of what
happened to myself, ,-one which ! think,
we'll illustrates the importance of this
instrument to society, though | was put
in very unpleasant position owing to
my acquaintance with it.
i have, as you know, given a good
deal of attention to comparative anato-
my, especially to the structure of the
hair as it appears under the microscope.
To the unassistOd 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 micro
scope, however, the case is very differ
ent; the VIII te mans is round, the ne
gro's oval, the mouse's apparently joint
ed, the bats jagged, and SO on. In
deed, every animGl has hair of a pecu-
liar character. and, what is more, this
character varies according to the part
of the body from which it is taken,-
an important circumstance, as will APP
pear from my story, which is this:
81 once received a letter by post, con-
tanning few hairs, with request that
| would examine them, and adding that
they would be called for in few days.
Accordingly, submitted the hairs to the
microscope, when discovered that they
were from the human eyebrow, and had
been bruised. | made q note to this
effect, and folded it up with the hairs in
an envelope, ready for the person who
had sent them. In few days stranger
called and enquired whether / had made
the investigation. Oh, yes, | said,
there they are, and you will find them
and their description in this envelope,
handing it to him at the same time. He
expressed himself as being much obliged,
and offered me a fee, which, however, l
declined, telling him that l could not
think of taking anything for so small a
matter.
at turned out, however, of more con-
sequence than had imagined, for with
in q week was served with subpoena,
to attend as witness on trial for mur
der. This was very disagreeable, as /
have said, but there was no help for it
now. The case was this: A 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 a hammer in possession
of the suspected murderer. | was put
into the witness-box, and my testimony,
that the hairs were from the human
eyebrow, and had been bruised, was Just
L IL, hi ,f tuhS Snh
sufficed to convict the prisoner. The
Jury, however, were not easily satisfied
that my statement was worth anything;
and it required the solemn assurance of
the Judge that such conclusion was
within the reach of science, to convince
them that they might act upon it.
Zone iuryman in particular,-an old
farmer-was very hard to satisfy. Does
thee mean to to say, said he, that thee
can tell any hair of any animalg !
answered that / would not take upon
myself to assert positively that could
do so, although | believed ! could.
WELL said he, I'll prove thee
'The prisoner, as said, was convict
ed. and went home, and, in the busy
life of an extensive. practice, forgot all
about my obstinate old farmer. About
two years afterward, a person, an utter
stranger to me, called on me with few
hairs screwed up in piece of paper,
which he asked me to examine, and re-
port on.
SIS this another murder case? /
inquired; for if so. | will have nothing
to do with it. Eve had enough Of that
sort of work.
No, no said he, it is nothing of
the kind. It is only a matter Of curiosi-
ty. which should be very much Obliged
If Won would solve; and if YOU viii do
Il. will call or send for the result of
your examination in few days time.
Having received this assurance, under
took the investigation.
l.When he was gone, and had leisure,
nut the hairs under the microscope,
and soon discovered that they we're taken
from the back Of a Norway rat.
aTwoo or three DAYS afterwards, as Twas
sitting inny consulting room, an old far
naer-lookiug man was uslered in. Well
said he, has thee locked at them hairf
atYes. / answered, and ] find that
thev are from the back of 3 Norway
rat' We'll, exclaimed be, 50 they are.
Thou hast forgotten me, but ! have not
forrotten thee. Docs thee recoIlect 3
trial for murder at L. assizesf
said / would prove thee, and 50 have,
for them hairs come from the back ek =
rats skin nv son seslt me from Norway.
s. the old gentleman was quite satisfied
with the proof to which be had put me,
and Is vou max suppose, was well
pleased that ny skill and sasacit ty had
stood such queer proof as this, and
more convinced than ever Of the yalne
lof tie microscope.
Here the Doctor ended bis story
which / have given IS nearly as posi-
BE ii his own words, md upon which
believe that thorough dependence nAaA
Be placed.
souxe AurHoR e. 4 A1sslz 2cs
- |Na&i -