Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29
HE ATE A HAIR SWITCH.
Tangled Tresses Discovered by . Surgical
Operation.

Tangled Tresses Discovered by q surgical
Operation.
Los Angeles special to San Francisco Examiner
The Los Angeles Herald publishes an accoun,
OF an unparalleled discovery. 1t all comes to
light through remarkable operation per.
formed by DIR. K. D. Wise Of this city, assisted
oy Drs Whsley, Downs and another young doc
tor whose name could not be ascertained.
Several weeks ago q harness-maker named
Reacroft, who lives at Compton, was taken sick.
His case baffled the skill of attending physi-
clans. Up till few days age Reacroft suffered
intensely from an apparent obstruction Of the
intestines. 1t was then decided that an opera
save the mans life, and DR.. K. b. Wise was
called in.
The operation which was performed con-
sisted In cutting open the abdominal cavity
and searching for the cause of obstruction.
The result 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 country.
After finding the obstruction it should be
stated that its removal could only be brought
about by Sitting open the intestine. The doc
tors report that the substance inside felt very
hard. The intestine was opened and the medi-
col attendants were astonished to find a large
mass OF womans hair. The foreign body was
removed and the wound in the intestine care
fully sewed together.
The patient rallied thoroughly and seemed
for the time to recover from the effects Of the
operation, but although alive it is hardly ex-
pected that he will recover. as it was found
that SIX feet of intestines were just verging Oh
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 operation was most successfully per-
formed In three quarters of an hour. 1t had
to be completed hastily on account of the great
prostration Of the patient. The switch of hair
was two inches in diameter and about foot in
length. 1t was human hair to q certainty.
The doctors were all unanimous on this point,
and that 1t was q wOmans hair was proved by
its length.
The strangest part Of all is that one half
OF the hair is black and the other half blonde
1hls was another mysterious feature Of the
case All sorts of theories are aaoat to account
Tor the presence of the hair in the stomach.
The general impression is that Reacroft swal-
lowed the hair. The medical gentlemen say
that he must have swallowed it, as it was found
above the big intestine.
After the operation the patient denied ever
having swallowed any hair. This statement
made the matter more intensely interesting
for the doctors who we're trying to solve the
mystery.
Reacroft has been married twice. His first
wife was brunette and is reported to have had
Jet black hair. Reaeroft took unto himself a
second wife about four months ago. She has
blonde hair. The superstition is that the switch
OF halr found in the stomach was made up of
hair taken from the locks of both wives of the
patient. This theory is probably correct, as is
also the one that Reacroft swallowed it as a
charm. II he did, the charm will in all proba-
bllity cost him his life. Another theory being