Spontaneous Super-Contraction of Animal Hair

Abstract

SUPER-CONTRACTION induced in silk fibres by acid, and in wool by means of steam and chemical reagents, has been described by Farrell¹, Astbury and Woods² and Speakman³ respectively. I have recently obtained evidence of super-contraction in the guard hairs of raw pelts taken from fur-bearing animals, the phenomenon probably arising through oxidation of the disulphide link in keratin. As the furs had received neither heat nor chemical treatment, the condition described below apparently developed on the living animals. The fibres under consideration are distinguished by extra-normal curvature (Fig. 1a) which is generally greatest at the tip of the hair, and has been observed most frequently on the pelts of white and red foxes. The phenomenon may occur locally or be general to the whole skin, and when severe it gives a markedly frizzy appearance to the affected region.