OR, A TREATISE ON PILE. 127 
CHAPTER. Vit. 
Hair THAT HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE ANIMAL NEVER ACQUIRES A 
DISTINCT LIFE.—It has been supposed that a hair, laid for some time in a stream or pool 
of water, is transformed into a worm; but this isa popular error. It will appear to be 
animated; but that is owing to animalcules with which it becomes invested. There is an 
annelida called “the hair-worm,” (Gordius Aquaticus,) which is found in stagnant pools, 
and this zame has probably aided in propagating this error. Such a transmigration as a 
hair of a mammalia into a worm, which belongs to another class of animals, is unnatural, 
and should not obtain credence except upon positive testimony.* 
Or rue Execrriciry or Pire.—Pile, when dry, is electric, and by rubbing it, sparks 
and even detonations may be produced. 
L’Heéritier says, that many sick persons have died from cutting or shaving the hair of 
the head, and he attributes it to the disturbance of the currents of electricity. (Traité de 
Chem. Path., p. 616.) 
* In the Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, p. 296, is a letter from him to Dr. Southey, dated “Keswick, June 
6th, 1813,” in which he says :— 
“My Dear Harry:—Do you want to make your fortune in the philosophical world? If so, you may thank Owen Lloyd 
for the happiest opportunity that was ever put into an aspirant’s hands. You must have heard the vulgar notion that a 
horse hair, plucked out by the root and put into water, becomes alive ina few days. The boys at Brathay repeatedly told 
their mother it was true—that they had tried it themselves, and seen it tried. Her reply was, ‘Show it me, and If will 
believe it.’ While we were there, last week, in came Owen with two of these creatures in a bottle. Wordsworth was there; 
and to our utter and unutterable astonishment did the boys, to convince us that these long, thin black worms, were of their 
own manufactory by the old reveipt, lay hold of them by the middle, while they writhed like eels, and stripping them with 
their nails down each side, actually lay bare the horse hair in the middle, which seemed to serve as the back-boneof the crea- 
ture, or the substratum of the living matter which had collected around it. 
“Wordsworth and I should both have supposed that it was a collection of animaleule round the hair, (which, however, 
would only be changing the nature of the wonder,) if we could, in any way, have accounted for the motion upon this theory; 
but the motion was that of a snake. We could perceive no head; but something very like the root of the hair; and, for 
want of glasses, could distinguish no parts. The creature, or whatever else you may please to call it, is black or dark brown, 
and about the girth of a fiddle-string. 
“As soon as you have read this, draw upon your horse’s mane and tail for half a dozen hairs; be sure that they have roots 
to them ; bottle them separately in water, and when they are alive and kicking, call in Gooch, and make the fact known to 
the philosophical world.* Never in my life was I so astonished as at seeing, what even in the act of seeing I could scarcely 
believe, and now almost doubt. If you verify the experiment, as Owen and all his brethren will swear must be the case, 
you will be able to throw some light upon the origin of your friend the tape-worm, and his diabolical family. 
“No doubt you will laugh and disbelive this, and half suspect that I am jesting. But, indeed, I have only told you the 
fact as it occurred; and you will at once see its whole importance in philosophy, and the use which you and Gooch may 
derive from it, coming forth with a series of experiments, and with such deductions as your grey-hound sight and beagle 
scent will soon start and pursue. 
“And, if the horse’s hair succeeds, Sir Domine, by parallel reasoning, you know, try one of your own. R. 8.” 
* We presume that the horse’s hair did not succeed, for we hear no more of the matter 
32 
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