Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-22
THE STORY OF A BULLET.
Capillary Growth Upon Parts of Dried
Up Scalp After Twenty Years.

That hair grows upon the human body
after death has been theory held by
many prominent physicians, but discred-
tied by the profession generally. Experts
who follow the melancholy pursuit of lay
ing out and dressing the dead hold in some
contempt this professional opinion, and de-
clare that cases of hair-growth after death
are frequent, and often so palpable that
even novice would not fail to detect
them.
a very curious relic in the possession of
a Pottsville bookkeeper, Il veteran of the
late war, was examined by several Phila-
delphia physicians recently, and appears
to furnish conclusive proof that death does
not always put an end to the growth of
hair upon portions of the human body,
even after the lapse of many years. Henry
Matthews was good soldier during the
war, and was at the front in some of the
hottest engagements of that great struggle.
As a member of Company Ii of the Forty
eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, he was in
the fight at Cold Harbor On May 26,
1864, he was struck down by bullet,
which entered the back part of his head
The ball passed through portion of the
head. The operation was performed by
DR.. w. r. ID. Blackwood, then Surgeon
General of the division, who now lives at
No. 246 North Twentieth street, In this
city. During the progress of the opera
ton mass of the brain, weighing about
an ounce and half and as large as an egg,
escaped The bullet, TO which some of the
brain matter and a portion of the scalp adj
hered, was preserved, and upon his depart
ure 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 occu-
pies responsible clerical position in the
Reading Railroad office at Pottsville.
When the bullet was presented to him
twenty years ago at the hospital 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 fialtened, and
somewhat resembled in shape a miniature
clam shell.
As time elapsed Mr.. Matthews, who
greatly priced this relic, noticed an aston
ishing fact. The hairs, which at first
were scarcely prominent enough to be no.
ticed, were growing. Other hairs grew
out also until thick, black bunch APP
peared at the back end of the bullet. At
first his friends refused to credit the story
although he showed the precious relic in
proof. Once or twice he cut off the
ends of the growing hair. 1t continued to
grow About year ago Mr. Matthews
came to Philadelphia and sought out DR..
Blackwood, to whom he exhibited the bull
let with its bunch of apparently healthy
hair The surgeon, in the presence of pro-
fessional witnesses, cut off an inch of the
hair measured that which remained,
boxed and sealed up the bullet and placed
it in trusty hands for sale-keeping. Re
Gently the package was opened. care
full measurement showed that the hair had
grown over an inch since the ball had been
last seen, and DIR. Blackwood said yester-
day "The fact is beyond dispute. APP
parently without nutrition, upon the dried
up particle Of scalp and brain, this hair
had been and is now growing as surely, if
not so luxuriantlv, as it grew upon Mat
thews' head when he was shot. | recollect
| the wound, the operation, and the pres
entation 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 jour
mails and medical men generally, but the
men who have charge Of the Medical Col
legc subjects those mysterious fellows
who have every opportunity to know
nearly all declare that they continually
witness the proof of it,"
That hair can be transplanted, and will
contract organic adhesion, is recognized
fact, and the American Cyelopedia says :
Hair will grow after death and live for
centuries But 10 such remarkable in
stance as the hair growing on Mr.. Mat
thews' bullet is on record Philadelphia
Record