Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-31
How Did That Hair Get
Where 1t was Found?
An Unprecedented Medical Case
at Compton,
Hair From Two Women's Heads Will
Cause ReacrOft's Death.
AMan's Intestines Obstructed By Lot
OF fHair-Half Brown Half Blonde and
a Foot Long-The Peculiar OBJ
structton Discovered by Sur.
gical Operation.

All Compton is talking about one OF
the most peculiar cases ever heard of.
1t all comes to light through a re-
markable operation performed by DR..
X. d. Wise, of this city, assisted by Drs.
Whaley, Downs and another young
doctor, whose name could not yesterday
be ascertained.
Several weeks ago harness-maker
named Reacroft, who lives at Compton,
was taken sick. The case baffled the
skill of the attending physicians. Up
till Tuesday Reacroft suffered intensely,
from apparently an obstruction in the
intestines. 1t was then decided that an
operation would have to be performed
in order to save the mans life. DR.. K.
d. Wise was called in, on account of his
reputation as one of the best surgeons
in California.
The operation which was performed
on Tuesday consisted in cutting open
the abdominal cavity and searching for
the cause of the obstruction. The re-
suit of the operation was that the doc
tors made discovery which is, as far as
known, without parallel in the history
of operations in this or any other cOun-
try. After finding the obstruction it
should be stated that it's removal could
only be brought about by Sitting open
the intestine. The doctors report that
the substance inside felt very hard.
The intestine was opened and the medi-
cal attendants were astonished to fl d a
large mass of woman's hair. The for
eign body was removed and the wound,
in the intestine carefully sewn together.
The patient rallied thoroughly and
seemed for the time to recover from the
effects of the operation, but, although
alone yesterday, it is hardly expected
that he will recover, as it was found
that six feet of the intestines was just
verging on gangrene on account OF the
long stoppage caused by the impacted
hair.
The hair plugged the intestine as
tightly as cork would bottle, and the
man was on the verge of death when the
operation was performed. The opera
tion was successfully performed in three
quarters of an hour. 1t had to be com
pleted hastily on account of the great
prostration Of the patient.
How did the hair come there? That
is the question every one is asking. It
most certainly did not grow there.
However, little description Of the dis
covery made inside the mans stomach
might throw some light on the subject.
The switch of hair was two inches in
diameter and about foot in length. 1t
was human hair to certainty. The
doctors were all unanimous on this
point, and that it was woman's hair was.
proved by its length and fneness.
The strangest part Of all is that one
half of the hair is black hair and the,
other half blonde. This was another
mysterious feature Of the case. All
sorts of theories are ahoat to account
how the hair got in the stomach.
The general impression is that Rea-
croft swallowed the hair. The medical
gentlemen say that he must have swal-
lowed it, as it was found above the big
intestine.
After the operation the patient denied
ever having swallowed any hair. This
tensely interesting for the doctors who
were trying to solve the mystery.
Reacroft has been married twice. His.
first wife was brunette, and is reported,
to have had jet black hair. Reacroft
took unto himself second wife about.
four months ago. She has blonde hair.
The supposition is that the switch of
hair found in the stomach was made up
of hair taken from locks of both wives Of
the patient. This theory is probably
correct, as is also the one that Reacroft
swallowed it as charm. If he did, the
charm will in all probability cost him
his life.
Another theory being discussed is
that Reacroft was induced, in conformity
with some fad of the Christian scientists,
to have gulped down the hair, which
must have weighed all of three ounces.
Reacroft must have had large faith and
big swallow. At all events, several
columns could be filed with the different
theories already advanced, but suffice to
say is that the hair was found there, and
every reader OF the HERALD will doubt
less have his or her opinion about the
matter.
Another point that the doctors could
not agree on was how long the hair had
been in the stomach. It was over a
month and probably lesss than four
months. Perhaps Reacroft swallowed
the charm after his second wedding.
Altogether, the case is inexplicable,
and will be more than nine days. WON
der. Nothing similar has ever come
under the observation of any of the
medical men talked to by HERALD re-
porter, last evening. The story will ap-
pear incredible to many, but it is the
~s-l,