The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-22

| Capillary Growth Upon Parts of Dried-UP
Scalp After Twenty Years.
Philadelphia Record.

scalp Atter twenty HSarSs
Philadelphia Record.
That hair grows upon the human body after
death has been theory held by many promi
nent physicians, but discredited by the profes
sion generally. Experts who follow the melan-
choiy pursuit of laying out and dressing the
dead hold In some contempt this professional
opinion, and declare that cases of hair growth
after death are frequent and often so palpabe
that even novice would not fail to detect
them
A very curious relic in the possession Of a
Pottsvile book keeper, veteran of the late war,
was examined by several Philadelphia doctors
recently, and appears to furnish conclusive proof
that death does not always put an end to the
growth OF the hair upon portions of the human
body even after the lapse of many years.
Henry Matthews was good soldier dur
ing the war, and was at the front in
some of the hottest engagements of that
great struggle. AS q member of Company H,
of the Forty eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
he in the fight at Cold Harbor On May 26
1864, he was struck down by q bullet which en-
tered the back part of his head The ball passed
through portion of the brain, and was taken
out above the forehead The operation was per
formed by DR.. w. r D. Biaekwood then sur
geon- general of the division, who now lives at
No. ZIG North Twentieth street, in this city.
During the progress of the operation mass of
the brain, weighing about an ounce and a half,
and as large as an egg escaped. The bullet, to
which some of the brain matter and portion
his departure from the hospital was given to
the wounded man, who, to the establishment of
the surgeon, recovered. He has suffered no
mental inconvenience, and now occupies re-
sponsible clerical position in the Reading rail
road office at Pettsville. When the bullet was
presented TO MIN twenty years ago at the hos
pital door the brain matter and the little patch
OF scalp had dried up, but few short hairs
could be seen sticking out from the latter. The
bullet had been considerably flattened and
somewhat resembled in shape q miniature clam
shell
AS time elapsed Mr.. Matthews, who greatly
priced this relic, noticed astonishing fact.
The hairs, which at first were scarcely promin-
nent enough to be noticed, were growing Other
hairs grew out also, until a thick BLACK bunch
appeared at the back end of the bullet. AT first
his friends refused TO credit che story, although
he showed the precious relic in proof Once or
twice he cut off the ends Of the growing
hair. It continued to grow. About year ago
Mr.. Matthews came to Philadelphia and sought
out DR.. Blaekwood, to whom he exhibited the
bullet with its bunch of apparently healthy hair
The surgeon, in the presence of professional
witnesses, cut off inch of the hair,
measured that which remained, boxed and
sealed up the bullet and placed il in trusty hands
for safe keeping Recently the package was
opened careful measurement showed that
the hair had grown over an inch since the ball
had been last seen, and DR.. Blackwood said
yesterday; "The fact is beyond dispute. Ap-
parently without nutrition, upon the dried up
particle of scalp and brain, this hair has been
and is now growing as surely if not so luxor
antly as it grew upon Matthew's head when
he was shot. recollect the wound the
operation, and the presentation of the relic to
the injured man after his remarkable recovery
1t seems to me to settle beyond doubt that hair
can and does grow upon dead bodies The fact
has steadily been denied by medical journals
and medical men generally, but the men who
have charge of the medical college subjects
those mysterious fellows who have every oppor-
tunity to know, nearly all declare that they con-
tinually witness the proof of it,"
That hair can be transplanted, and will CON
tract organic adhesion is a recognized fact, and
the American Cyclopedia says: Hairs will
grow after death and live for centuries" But
no such remarkable instance as the hair growing
on Mr. Matthewss bullet is on record