Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-12
REMARKABLE WAR RELIC.
Hair Growing ON "a Bullet That Passed
Through a Mans Brain-A Very Curious
Relic.

through a Mans Brain-A very Curioua
Relic.
philadelphia Special.l
That hair grows upon the human
body after death has been theory
held by many prominent physicians,
but discredited by the profession generally.
Experts who follow the melancholy pur-
suit 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 palpable that even a novice would not
fail to detect them.
very curious relic in the possession of
a Pottsville bookkeeper, a veteran of the
late war, was examined by several Phila-
delphia doctors recently, and appears to
furnish conclusive proof that death does
not put an end to the growth of hair upon
portions Of the human body, even after
the lapse of many years. Henry Matthews
was a good soldier during the war, and
was at the front in some of the hottest en-
gagements in that great struggle. As
member of Company II. of the Forty
Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, he
was in the fight at Cold Harbor.
On May 26th, 1864, he was struck
down by. bullet, which entered the back
part of the head. The ball passed through
portion of the brain, and was taken out
above the forehead. The operation was
performed by DR.. w. Il. d. Blackwood,
then Surgeon General of the Division, who
now lives at No. 246 North Twentieth street,
in this city. During the progress of the
operation 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 adhered, was preserved and, upon
his departure from the hospital, was given
TO the wounded man, who, to the astonish
ment of the surgeon, recovered. He has
suffered no mental inconvenience, and now
occupies responsible clerical position in
the Reading Railroad Office at Pottsville.
When the bullet was presented to him
twenty years ago ut 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 flattened, and
somewhat resembled in shape miniature
clam shell.
As time elapsed Mr.. Matthews, who
greatly prized the relic, noticed an aston
ishing fact. The hairs, which at first were
scarcely prominent enough to be noticed,
were growing. Other hairs grew out also,
until thick black bunch appeared 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. Il continued to grow. About year
ago Mr.. Matthews came to Philadelphia
and sought out Dr. Blackwood, to whom he
exhibited the bullet with the bunch of ap
parently healthy hair. The surgeon, in
presence of professional witnesses, olt of
an inch OF the hair, measured that which
remained. boxed and sealed up the bullet,
and placed it in trusty hands for safe
keeping. Recently the package was opened
A careful measurement showed that the
hair had grown over an inch since the ball
had been last seen, and DIR. Blackwood
said Yesterday: s'The fact is be-
yond dispate. Apparently with
out nutrition. upon the dried-up
particle of scalp and brain. fhis hair had
been and is now growing as surely. II not
SO luxuriantiy. as it grew upon Matthews
head when he was shot I recollect the
wound. the operation, and the presentation
| Of the relic TO the injured man after his re-
markable recovery. 1t seems 60 me %
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. tat the men
| Who have charge Of the medical college
| subjects. those mysterious felioses who
have every opportunity 70 know, neafiy al
declare that they consianally witness the
proof ~ lt.
Ihat hair can bo transplanted and vii
contFaet orssnie adhesion i a rsronnikesi
fact. ansg The Aussficsa 1.yelereaiar says
~IIsirs ssill arow sitter deafh an3 iivs for
csnfaekssr Bos no sueh remarkable ia.
sfaafe ss the hair sfowiaz ua Mf.
/ Matthew Eoltef = ssih rpcafss
Thsfe seeos e. - 4 ksff title fsin ~ hn
fessf IL FfeefsIenf sefelsnI ~ifh all he efa4
| - snf @ffaasness kaa afe ihe kfsf nssss>.
efektf fSesi3ze* sfr1 sAH fefnafkesI Fis
;*e< - ~ Iresfs1eH* ete<4 us - nfs* I
1<af <<x fx<se{f wz< e. <1nil,nx fs{.ix