Oil, A T11KAT1SE OM 1'ILH. 



OF PILK GROWING AFTER DEATH. Among the elder writers upon this subject, we rind 

 several accounts, apparently well authenticated, of hair growing after death ; but Bostock 

 does not consider them worthy of credit. (See Syst. of Physi , p. 53.) Bichat, however, 

 assures us of one case, which came under his immediate notice, and his word is not to be 

 doubted. It was the beard of a chin of a subject preparing for anatomical examination, 

 it had been closely shaven, and after maceration for about eight days, in a cellar of the 

 dissecting-room, the beard was discovered to be grown, (how long we are not lold.) 



We have, in our collection of specimens of pile, a lock of fine, dark brown ha.ir from the 

 head of the gallant Lieutenant Ayres, who died in Mexico during the late war. The body 

 was buried in that country, but being disinhumed, after the lapse of a few months, it was 

 found that the hair had grown upon his head, which, during his illness, had been shaved 

 in order to apply blisters. 



We have also a lock of the head of John Dennis Garwood, an infant son of Mr. John 

 Garwood, of this city. This little innocent died and was buried, and disinterred after a 

 lapse of twenty-one years ; when alive, it had a remarkable long lock of hair, which pro- 

 jected from a peculiar spot on its head; this, when the child died, was cut off and pre- 

 served by the mother, and, when the coffin was opened, after having lain for this long 

 period in the earth, this lock had been renewed, and had sprouted beyond the rest of the 

 hair. 



Examination and Description of the Hair of John Dennis Garwood, which grew after 

 Death. Length, 4 inches ; shape, oval ; greatest diameter varying from ^ T to T1 ^-j-of an 

 inch; color, brown, no lustre; direction, flowing, slightly curling; inclination, unknown. 



Ductility, Elasticity and Tenacity. 



With 220 grains one inch stretched -fa of an inch, elasticity entire. 

 " 270 li " -fa " minus -fa 



" 320 " " V " " A 



370 " " Jv .< ^ 



" 42 " i 9% 



" 470 " broke. 



Button, very rare and thin, diminutive ; sheath, none; follicle, none; shaft, very unequal 

 in diameter, of different filaments ; upon rubbing between two pieces of glass the scales 

 disengage, the cortex separates from the fibres which are white ; no central canal percep- 

 tible ; coloring matter in lines in the cortex; apex, pointed, none furcated; among the 

 fibres was discovered one that was blue. 



Remark. This is an imperfect hair. 



We have heard it asserted that sheep's wool, left in its grease, (that is its yolk', or 

 natural soap,) after having been separated from the body, will increase in weight; but we 

 regard this as a popular error. In an Essay upon Sheep,* it is said that it may increase 

 iu weight for a few days, especially if kept in a damp place, but after that it rapidly 



* Library of Useful Knowledge, p. 74. 



