The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-01-16
Hair Made Gray by Fright
Some Notable and Authentic In
stances Referred to. r.

COAAAO 4NOOSOAO SsAASA AOOAAOAASAS - :
stances Referred to. n.
That hairs are cylindrical, or
more generally eiiptical, tubes is
well known, and the sudden whiten-
ing ofthei hair is produced from a
severe nervous sheck is q settled
fact, says the Cincinnati Enquirer.
So far the scientists agree, but when
they endeayor to assign an imme-
diate cause for the almost phenom-
email change they are at variance.
One will say that air finds an en-
trance into the tubes, while another
claims that a secretion of an acrid
fluid, superinduced by great nerv-
Gus excitement, and its evaporation
causes the blanching. The former
theory is the one which is almost
universally accepted by the medical
fraternity, Notwithstanding the fact
that within black hairs that had
been submitted to an atmospheric
pressure of thirty pounds for sever
al months, air could not be discOv-
cred, nor was any change notice
able in the color. Landors, med
ical authority, narrates case of de-
lirium tremens in which dark hair
became gray the next day after sew
eral hours of acute madness. Mi
croscopic examination revealed
great quantity of air bubbles both
in the medulIary and cortical sub
stance.
In C@sar's time young patric-
ian who was cast inuo prison was SO
in fear of being condemned and ex-
/ ecuted that by the next day his
hair and beacd had changed from
their original dark color to gray.
The Emperor suspected at first that
some trick was being practiced.
Finding, however, upon examina-
ton that it was a freak of nature
dependent upon fright, he forgave
the prisoner the crime for which he
had been incarcerated.
John Anderson, a circus perform
er, who was good looking, for which
he prided himself not a little, whose
head was ornamented with beauti-
full Jet black hair, and who was
thirty mine years of age at the time
of the occurrence, was one day.
while with the show, placed, SO to
speak, between the Scylla and the
Charybdis, During an accident to
one of the cages in which a huge
bear had been confined, the animal,
a savage beast, succeeded in getting
out. Andersen found himself con-
tronted by the bear, which guarded
enc avenue of escape, and by an
elephant, which the performer had
insulted by giving it meuthful OF
tobacco a short time before, guard
ing the other avenue. Poor Ander'
son, who doubtless regretted that he
had made an enemy of the ele,
phant, thought that his time had
surely arrived, and that it was
question of only a few minutes be
| fore he would be destroyed by :
loving embrace from Mr.. Bruin o.
by a blow from the elephants
trunk. The man was unable tt
move, being paralyzed with fear
Great beads of perspirationi stoot
out all over him, and in a few mo
ments the raven locks he was 81
| proud of were turned to a snowy
white. Anderson was rescued from
his perilous position. Future glance
at his hair in a mirror Away
brought back vividly to his min'
the trying ordeal he passed througl
on the day when he was in clos
companionship with a savage bsa
and an infuriated elephant. 3 .af
| At Auburn, N. Y, some year
| ago resided a man by the name G
Shepherd, and he may still live il
that city, if he has not since dice
Mr.. Shepherd was a man of cul
ture and wealth. 1t was aioni
about the year 1865 or 1866. o.
had been struck in various parts c
the country through Pennsyivafi
and Western Virginia. The peopl
were going wild with excitemen,
Companies were being formed eac
day with immense capital. Oi
land, or land whore oil was suppos
ed to exist, was being purchased i
large bodies. Fabulous amounts {
money were being rapidly mad
and lost. The poor man Of yester
day was Cresus the day follow
ing. Many who possessed larg
| fortunes invested in the baubl
which in many instances burstin
| would leave them beggars. SheI
| pherd was seized with the oil feve
| Thinking that he could double {
t quadrupIe his already large forum
in a short time, he invested not onl
} his ready money but every cent !
| could raise on his property. Flick
| fortune failed to smile on him, an
| one night, while in the midst of b
$ | family, thinking perhaps Of th
, great gains he would soon receiv
. | from his investment, a telegral
} | message was brought him whic
! | contained the intelligence that b
earnings and accumnlations ft
D | years were all gone at, one fe
S | swoop, and be was left q begga
without either home or money
Aequaintances meeting him the 10
| lowing day failed to recognize hin
E | 30 greatly was he aged in appeal
| ance. His jet7black hair and flow
. | ing beard of the same color had !
! a night changed to white. eIo'
E An instance is related by ID
J Turner, wherein . young man,
], | Spaniard, by name Of Don deg
Osorious, who was deeply in lov
. lwith q lady of the Spanish Conr
one n1rht. met, his, inam0ratas an