OR, A TREATISE ON PILE. 149 
fleece ; how is this to be obtained? Let him practice with the michrometer that we have 
proposed, until he is able to ascertain the relative fineness of wool; that will answer all 
his purposes. Let him then practice with the trichometer, until he is able to determine 
its ductility, elasticity* and tenacity, He will then be enabled to determine the four most 
essential properties of fleece, and will never be at a loss to judge of its value, for himself. 
It is to this platform of independence that we desire to elevate the American farmer and 
manufacturer. 
Or tut Streneru or Pire.—That the strength of pile depends, in a great measure, 
upon the vitality of the animal upon whose body it grows, cannot, we think, admit of a 
doubt. Having, by repeated experiments, ascertained the average strength of the hair of 
the head of oval-haired men, we compared that with the hair of persons of known vital 
power, and also with the hair of others ascertained to be defective in vitality, and we found 
that the strength of the hair corresponds with the vital power in a remarkable manner. 
For example, we took the hair of A Ss , who is about 28 years of age, 512 in 
height, in health, but who has ever been remarkable for a deficiency of vital powers; one 
lock of filament, being tried with the trichometer, broke with a weight of 470 grains. 
One inch of the hair of the head of J K. M——, who is 35 years of age, 6 feet high, 
of a good constitution, and in health, broke with 823 grains. 
One inch of the hair of the head of William M. Swain, Esq., who is 39 years of age, 
5 ft. 7% high, weighs 210 lIbs., and very remarkable for vital power, broke with 1573 
grains. 
That the strength of the filament does not depend upon the s¢ze and mezght of the 
animal, unless they are accompanied with a corresponding vital power, would appear from 
the following experiments : 
One inch of the hair of the head of the Quaker Giantess, Mrs. Elizabeth Hales, who is 
nearly eight feet high, and weighs 337 pounds, broke with 200 grains less than Mr. 
Swain, say 1373. And one inch of the hair of the head of her husband, Robert Hales, the 
Quaker Giant, who is 29 years of age, weighs 508 pounds, and measures eight feet, broke 
with 250 grains less than Mr. Swain, say 1323. 
That the strength of the integument does not depend entirely upon the diameter of the 
filament, is also apparent from the examination of the hair of the head of Professor Silli- 
man. One inch of his hair, taken when he was 20 years old, and in the full vigor of 
manhood, broke with 1820 grains. But one inch taken in the year 1848, when he was in 
the neighborhood of 70, broke with 1370. Besides which, the actual diameters of the hairs 
upon which the above mentioned six experiments were made, did not correspond with their 
strength, for the hair of A. S., is ;4; of an inch; that of J. K. M. 4, of an inch. Mr. 
Swain’s is 34, of an inch. Elizabeth Hales’ is 31; of an inch. Robert Hales’ is y}, of 
an inch, and Prof. Silliman’s is from 54, to ;1, of an inch. We have also compared the 
* 'The elasticity is the test of so/dess of wool. 
