Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-12-20
/ REMARKABLE WAR RELIC.
uair Growing on Il Bullet that Passed
Through n Mans Brain.

That hair grows upon the human body
after death has been . theory held by
many prominent physicians, but dis
credited by the profession generally.
Experts who follow the melancholy pnr-
suit OF laying out and dressing the dead
hold IL some contempt this professional
Cpiulo1, and declare that cases OF hair
growth after death are frequent, and
often 80 palpable :nat even q uovice
would not fail 10 detect them.
A very curious relic n the possession
CT a Pottsvilie bookkeeper, Q veteran OF
the late war, was examined BY several
Philadelphia doctors recently, and APP
pears 20 furnish conclusive proof that
death does not always put an ead to the
growth Of hair upon portions Of the hu-
nan body, even after the lapse OF many
gears. Henry Matthews was a good
soloier during the war, and was al the
mont in some OF the hottest engage
ments OF that great struggle. As q
member Ct Company H, Of the forty
eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, lie was
II tie fight NJ Cod HarboE. On May
g, 1854, he was struck down by a bul.
iet, which entered the back part Of the
acad. The bail passed through a por-
ton OF the brain, and was taken ont
above the forehead. The operation was
performed by DR.. ". r. =. Biackwood.
hen Surgeor-General Of the division,
who now lives at No. 246 North Twen-
.!e.il street. Phiialelphia.
During the progress "i the operation
I nass Of the BRAN, weighing abont al
ONCE ana 2 half and is large es al egg,
escaped. The bullet, to which some of
he brain natter and @ portion Of she
-calp adhered, was preserved, and upon
his departure from the hospital was given
20 the wounded man, VINO, 20 the as.
constituent Of the surgeon. recovered.
| He las suffered no mental Inconvenience,
and now occupies q responsible clerical
p~osition in tie BEADING Railroad Office
Il n'ottsviilG When the bullet WAS pre-
sented to him twenty years ago at the
hospital door, the brain ma.tez and the
.ittic patch Of scalp had dried, but q few
short hairs co}.id be seen sticking out
rom the latter. The bullet had been
considerably fa1tened. and somewhat
resemhled il shape q miniature clam
shell.
As the time elapsed NJ. Matthews
who greatly priced this relic. noticed an
astonishing fact. The hairs, which at
FIRST were scarcely prominent enough to
be noticed, were growing. Other haits
grew ont also until a thick black bunch
appeared at the back Of the bullet. at
FIRST his friends refused to credit the
story. although he showed the precious
relic III proof. Once or twice he ,us Of
the ends Of the growing hair. It con-
tinuea to grow. Abol: a year ago Mr..
Matthews came to Philadelphia and
so.ght out DR.. Blackwood. to whom he
exhibited the bnIiet with its bunch of
apparently healthy LAIR. The surgeon
Iii he presence OF professional witnesses,
cut of an inch Of the hair, measured
thai which remained, boxed and sealed
np the bullet, aud placed it in trust,
bands Tor safe keeping.
Recently the package was opened.
!. careful measurement showed that the
hair had grown over an inch since the
bail had been last seen, and DR.. Black
wood said: 1.-The fec. ie beyond dispute.
App arensly without nutrition, upon the
dljed up particle Of scalp and brain, this
TAR had been and Is now growing Is
surely. Il not 50 .n~zuriantlv, as 1t grew
GpoI. Natinevs's head when he WAS
shot. / recoilect the wound. the oier-
alton, AID the presentation Of the relic
u the injured mar after his remarkable
recovery. Ii seems to me to settle be.
yonJ doubt that HAIR can and does grow
IEoI &eai s0.les. Tue fact has steadily
leta denied - medical journals and
medical lCeu generally. but the mer
who nave charge o: the medical college
subjects, those mysterious fellows who
have every opportunity 20 know, nearly
al dccIare ila; ;Ley continually wltneos
tie proc! OF l."
That hair can be traasplanted end vii
contract organic adhesion 5 arecognize,
"a, sal lie An.eric0n Cyclop'djt
=. "Hars will grow offer death ant
.,~e To- ctl:ur,-s." But 10 such re
msrk"hle Instance as the hair growing
CT NJ. Mathcyo's bullet is oa record
She snoi;cd q Coed Story.