The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-06
A Remarkable War Relic.

PHILADELPHIA, October H. 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 theinelancholy 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 even 80 palpsble
that even novice would not fail to de-
tect them.
A very curious relic Is In the possession
of @ Pottsyiile book.keeper, & veteran OF
the late war, was examined by several
Philadelphia doctors recently, and ap.
pears to furnish conclusive proof that
death does not always put an end to tho
growth of hair upon portions of the
human body, even after, the lapse of many
years. Henry Matthews was good sol.
dier during the war, and was a. the front
in some of the hottest engagements Of
that great struggle. AS member Of
Company H, of the Forty.eighth Penn
sylvania Volunteers, he was in the fight
at Gold Harbor. On May 26, 1864, he
was struck down by n bullet, which en-.
tered the back part of the head.
The ball passed through portion
Of the brain. aud was taken out above the
forehead. The operation was performed
by DR.. w. r. d. Blackwood, then Sur
geon 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 q half and as large
as an egg, escaped. The bullet, to which
some Of the brain matter and portion
Of the scalp adhered, was preserved, and
upon his departure from the hospital was
given to the wounded man, who. to tho
astonishment of the surgeon, recovered.
He has suffered no mental Inconvenience
and now occupies responsible clerical
position in the Reading Railway office at
Pottsville. When the bullet was pre-.
sented to him twenty years ago at the
hospital door the brain matter and the
little patch of scalp had dried up, but O
few short hairs could be seen sticking out
from the latter. The bullet had been
considerably fattened, and somewhat
resembled in shape a miniature clam
she'll.
AS time elapsed Mr.. Matthews, who
greatly priced this relic, noticed an
astonishing fact. The hairs, which OF
frat were scarcely prominent enough to
be noticed, were growing. Other hairs
grew oct also until thick black bunch
| appeared at tho back end of the bullet.
Al frat his friends refused to credit tho
story, although he showed the precious
relic in proof Once or twice he cut of
the ends of the growing hair. 1t contin-
ued to grow. About q year ago MIR.
Matthews came to Philadelphia aud
sought out DR.. Blackwood, to whom he
exhibited the bullet with its bunch OF
apparently healthy hair. The surgeon,
In the presence Of professional witnesses,
cut off an iuch Of the hair, measured
that which remained, boxed aud sealed
up the bullet, and placed 1t in trusty
hands for safe keeping. Recently the
uremant showed that the hair had grown
over an inch since the ball had been last
seen, and DIR, Blackwood said yesterday
f'The fact 10 beyond dispute. Apparent.
ly without nutrition, upon the dried up
particle of scalp and brain, this hair
had been and 10 now growing as surely,
IL not 20 lu1uriantly, rs it grew upon
Matthews head when he was shot.
recolIect the wound, the opsrstion and
the presentation of the relic to the in
jured man nfter his remarkable recovery.
1t seems to mo to settle beyond doub,
that hair can aud does grow upon deau
bodies. The fact has steadily been de.
MED by medical journals and medical
men generally, but the men who have
charge of the medical college subjects,
those mysterious fellows who have every
opportunity to know, nearly all declare
that they continually witness the proof
OF it,"
That hair eau be transplanted and will
contract organic adhesion is recognized
fact, and the american Cyciopcdia says
"Haire will grow after death and live fol
centuries" But no such remarkable in.
stance as the hair growing on Mr.. Mat.
tipws bullet is on record.