162 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 1922

SEPTEMBER, Ectoplasm and Ectoplasm Fakers The Other Side of the Psychic Picture, as Seen by a Skeptic By Ja mes Black

PIRITISM seems to be as old as time ; but the which she was always prepared for this necessity. Franck Kluski, a medium, took wax casts of ectoplas­ S records are mainly of witchcraft and "black magic" The Rev. Stainton-Moses, an "amateur," is worthy mic hands and feet ! Dr. Crawford's ectoplasm extruded until about the sixteenth century, when ghosts, specters special mention. He performed only before friends, from the lower part only of his medium's body and and apparitions of a type similar to those of modern and neither he nor his controlling spirit "Imperator" would strike sledge hammer blows on the floor, lift spiritism demand our attention. Early in the seven­ would brook investigation. His phenomena were, on tables and several times poked him in the ribs so forci­ teenth century one Pierre Ie Loyer endeavored to form­ their face, quite remarkable, but are, of course, utterly bly that he likened it to being poked with the blunt ulate a science of specters. A little later reports of without confirmation. And his logic was very bad ; he end of a metal rod. 'Geley has it luminous, and the wonderful feats of levitation were current. For one of resigned from the Society for Psychic Research when action of light causes it to be reabsorbed instantly these Bishop Jeremy Taylor and Lord Orrey were that body was at pains to prove that many well-known by the medium. But Crawford in all his 87 experiments sponsors ; and Dr. Joseph Glanvill, F. R. S., records mediums were carrying previous convictions for swin­ never saw the plasma, and is at pains to prove that it cases of spirit rapping, among them the famous Ted­ dling. In fact, spirits and professional mediums were is neither luminous, phosphorescent nor fluorescent. worth Drummer and the Little Burton Ghost. In this getting so much into disrepute at this time that Fred­ Crawford and Doyle agree that the mystery stuff in­ superstitious age, however, organized critical investi­ erick Myers said "It does not seem worth while, as a stantly dissolves in light, yet both Geley and Schrenk­ gation was not to be expected ; and these cases are of rule, to examine the testimony on psychical marvels Notzing have taken flashlight photographs of it. significance to us only through the suggestive fact that occurring in the presence of professional mediums." The, most alarming contradictions appear when the they always involved a central figure--a medium-asso­ A very significant statement from such an authority, scientists come to the question of analysis. Geley states ciated with the phenomena, and in whose absence peace and as true today as it was then. definitely that the plasma cannot be analyzed, for to usually prevailed. Spirit circles were troubled to account for many detach a portion from the medium would "grievously For about a century and a half spiritism developed ghostly peculiarities and inconsistencies. The visiting harm and probably kill her. Then Schrenk-Notzing rapidly from these beginnings. The visiting spirits usu­ spirit would occasionally be material enough for his gives an analysis and the contents are repo.rted as ally had an object in view-to solve a murder, to warn light foot-falls to be heard, yet not sufficiently material mainly cellular matter, such as is found in the mouth of death, in one case to collect a debt of 90 cents ; and for a brick wall or a closed door to bar his passage. and throat. Stanley de Brathe, the translator of Geley's this accomplished, they usually withdrew. But the The rapping spirit's visibility was in inverse ratio book, tells us that analysis shows the contents to be, 50 Cock Lane Ghost episode, of 1762, provided a check with his noise-making ability. These and other things at least per cent water, some sulfur and albumin, to the growth of spiritism. One Kay invoked the law led to the effort to account for the materialization on and gives the hemical formula as "something resem­ to collect a debt from his landlord . Parsons ; and a some new basis, that would make the discrepancies less bling" C'20 Hl134 N218 S. 0,.9. This formula will be quite retaliatory spirit promptly accused Kay of having damning. The fraud and deceit that had walked hand­ familiar to a chemistc -but he will not call it ectoplasm. poisoned his wife. Many people of note were interested, in-hand with spiritism since its inception were a big Lebiedzinski-a Polish scientist-has ectoplasm analy­ including Goldsmith, Walpole and Samuel Johnson. Dr. handicap to the researchers, but obviously if they had ses showing the contents as fats and human cellular .T ohnson proved beyond all doubt that Parsons' daugh­ real ' spirits these must be made of something. Some matter, and the appearance like that of well-beaten ter Elizabeth made the rappings with a piece of wood, suggested a mysterious force, others an ethereal sub" white of egg. Then, presumably to clear up any con- while her mother, a ventrilo- fusion of opinion, Conan quist, provided 'the spirit Doyle assures us that science voices. The conviction and knows absolutely nothing imprisonment of Parsons and AST month Mr. Black put forward the evidence, hinted at b:y Dr. Prince in our issue of Jul:y, about ectoplasm, and im­ his wife put spiritism under against spirit photograph:y. We believe there is little ground for taking an:y other view proves on this statement by I'D adding that analysis proves a cloud f m which it toward this phenomenon than that it is alwa:ys fraudulent-the opportunities for in emerged only in 1848. it to be composed of carbon­ Lmodern trick photograph:y are in an:y event such as to make it practicall:y impossible to Modern spiritism really ates, phosphates and other started with the exhibition these pictures on an:y basis other than that of blind credulit:y. This month We give Mr. Black matter unknown to anyone ! of rapping given by the Fox space to set down the ver:y considerable bod:Y lof evidence against another of the current ps:y�hic A logical and scientific Sisters at Rochester in 1849. manifestations. Here we think the ps:ychic ma:y have a bett er defense. But he must defend : mind is absolutely unable to The vogue spread, and soon Mr. Black's criticisms milst be met, and not side-stepped. It is true, as he sa:ys, that most pro­ imagine such a mass of con­ they had many imitators. fessional mediums have ver:y bad records ; that intelligent precaution against fraud seems to be a flicting data passing under Their methods were exposed strong inhibitive of ectoplastic action; and that the average ps:ychic believer loses whatever sense the name of scientific evi­ by several well accredited ,of scientific method he ma:y ever have possessed. These facts are of course not necessaril:y con­ dence. Try to imagine a sub­ stance that dissolves in light. investigators, the late Dr. clusive against the validit:y of all ectoplasm. but the:y are certainl:y. something to be explained Carpenter for one. Daniel yet does not do so ; that can rather than deliberatel:y ignored or explained awa:y.-::- Douglas Home, next on the be analyzed, and cannot be list, escit p e d exposure ­ analY7.ed ; but when analyzed doubtless through his utter THE EDITOR. is found to consist of one refusal to be investigated, assortment of elements, and save on one occasion when also of several other very he failed to produce any phenomena while under test stance ; and the struggle to obtain harmony gave birth different- assortments. That shrinks from all contacts by the Dialectical Society of London. Levitation was to a combination of· the two theories and the present but will throw tables and chairs around. That science his strong point. Much is made of the fact that Home "ectop1!lsm" theory of spirit manifestations. knows nothing about ; then promptly tells all about it ! did ot perform for money ; but the court records will It will be in ·order to consider this theory, and , the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle recently stated that scientists show that he was obliged to restore some $300,000 evidence in its favor, from a critical ··and judicial and psychic researchers were "scandalously skeptical" whichn he had extorted from Mrs .•Ta ne Lyon, a wealthy standpoint. Many reports of the remarkable nature of about ectoplasm. Need we echo anything about scandal­ widow, whose husband "appeared" and instructed her this substance are current, but little definite informa­ ous credulity ? ;': to give up the money. tion is to be had. Vague generalities and the as ur- Dr. Geley and Baron Schrenk-Notzing used the same In spite of his complete failure to vindicate himself ance that investigation has proved this to be a real and medium in their research work, this medium being before the court, Home was considered genuine by many true phenomenon are· not sufficient. To turn ' to sthe known as Eva Cariere. As the results of the research prominent men, notably Sir D. Brewster and Robert "scientists" who have done the investigating gives are being offered as a contribution to scientific knowl­ Dale Owen. But Brewster, within one week, wrote two us interesting information, but involves us in hopeless edge, it is natural to look for a medium of unimpeach­ highly contradictory opinions, the one appearing in contradiction. able integrity and for indications of the methods of Home's Life and the other in Brewster's own, and this All agree that ectoplasm is a plasma of psychic origin, Rcience in the details of the researchers. Unfortunately may fairly be taken as disqualifying him ; while Owen's extruding from the medium. Most add that it is the we look in vain. Geley assures us that there was no incompetence as a judge is shown by the fact that in stuff of which perambulating spirits from the great possibility of trickery on the part of the medium, but 1874 he reported the Thomas Brothers as entirely genu­ beyond are made. It is unanimously possessed of some he fails to mention any adequate precautionary meas­ ine, only to see them later caught faking the very acts power or force that enables it to tip tables, rap floors, ures that were adopted. When Schrenk-Notzing makes on which he had passed. Owen's style of investiga­ fabricate faces and limbs, and indulge in varied and some attempt to guard against fraudulent methods the tion is well illustrated by his circumstantial account remarkable phenomena. Here agreement ends ; when results indicate quite clearly that fraud was not only of a man who died after breakfast in Rhenish Prussia, our psychic friends endeavor to set out in scientific possible, hut highly probable. and appeared in the spirit to a friend in New York, style the results of their research, and to state just Dr. Geley's investigations took place in darkness. The before noon on the same day-several hours before his what ectoplasm is and just what it does, it becomes medium took her place in a cabinet and went into a demise, after correcting for the time difference. All plain that the investigations have been conducted in trance. Extrudations of the plasma began and were things conSidered, the court's opinion of Home is prefer­ anything but a scientific manner ; and any ordinary built up into spirit hands, faces and sometimes heads able to Brewster's or Owen's. science student would be pardoned for considering that complete, topped with real hair through which Dr. Other mediums followed in rapid succession, down ectoplai>m, in view of the nature of the evidence for it, Geley ran his fingers-forgetting for the moment that to the notorious impostors Slade, Eglington and Palla­ is principally inflammation of the imagination. the plasma must not be touched. The heads and faces dino. Palladino is still cited as an exponent of true Dr. Geley and Baron Schrenk-Notzing are the two always appeared in the vicinity of the medium, in no psychic phenomena, notwithstanding her exposures in most quoted authorities, with Dr. Crawford as a sup­ case more than 27 inches from the cabinet-just about Cambridge in 1895. and subsequently in New York. port. According to Dr. Geley, the plasma extrudes arm's length. The development of the plasma took behind the curtain of the cabinet. These exposures are calmly admitted, and the plea is from the head of the medium in knobs, ribbons and place The partly advanced that when "her spirits failed her," her fringes, of different colors ; sometimes it is stiff and formed head or face would suddenly appear in an anxiety to produce results led her to resort to trickery. sometimes soft and elastic ; and at all times it shrinks opening of the curtain, disappear and then reappear (Continued on No explanation is offered for the facility with from any contacts. Yet Geley, with the assistance of page 215)

© 1922 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC SEPTEMBER, 1922 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

Fak and seated unfetter d ' Ectoplasm and Ectoplasm ers � . on a chair, she J?ro- 215 duced the usua SpIrIt head , fac (Continued from . � . � �s: YOlCes page 16'2) and 11ghts ; all m the ImmedIate vlclmty of in a short time in a further state of de- I where her hands and head were likely to be. I velopment. The same thing happened in 'l' hen when her hands were shackled she reverse on dematerialization. Too much hap- still produced phenomena, but in a more pened behind the curtain. It seems a pity limited area and of fewer varieties. In an­ that Dr. Geley did not hold on to the hair other test the possibility of fraud was fur­ he had his fingers in ; he might have found ther narrowed by inclosing her in a cabinet Eva in the neighborhood. with sides of 'VB-inch mesh twine net. The Baron Schrenk-Notzing's experiments results were very disappointing: few phe- were conducted in a similar manner to nomen a appeared, and the spirit lights could Geley's, and showed like phenomena. On not get more than an inch or so from the one occasion when Eva was searched before net. Next seance the medium was searched entering the cabinet there was a marked thoroughly and placed in a cabinet which diminution of phenomena, both in kind and had been searched also. The results were degree. Two spirit faces, phosphorescent in negative : thorough investigation killed these appearance, were seen hovering near the as other spirits. cabinet, and a small blob of ectoplasm on In the final seance, however, really won­ the lips of the medium. One of the ob- derful things happened. Miss Bessinet was servers took a flashlight photograph of the not searched, wore her own clothes, and no faces and on development the plates showed effort was made to prevent her indulging them to be photographs of two well-known in fraud. Dne of her controlling spirits men, touched up with luminous paint to give kindly tied her to a chair and she drifted the spirit-like effect. into a trance. Very shortly the usual voices The British Society for Psychic Research and faces were in evidence, and roamed much invited Eva Cariere to London to demon- farther than the medium could do, as she strate her mediumship. At a seance under was tied to the chair. After a time one of the auspices of the society Eva was subjected the spirit faces, wonderfully clear and ra­ to searching tests, and rigid conditions. Be- diant with an ectoplasmic light, slowly ap­ fore entering the cabinet she was thoroughly proached the table at which the investigators searched, and the cabinet was also thorough- were sitting, and seemed to be hovering in ly investigated. Nothing of a contraband the darkness quite close to one of them. This nature was found. Eva went into a trance was considered a suitable time for a close and produced-absolutely nothing, neither investigation, so Mr. Mackenzie flashed a heads, faces nor ectoplasm ! Eva blamed light. Once more Geley's absorbing and the London atmosphere ! It seems pretty Crawford's dissolving theory regarding ecto­ well established that if Eva takes no "props" plasm received a severe jolt. The light re­ into the cabinet nothing out of the ,ordinary vealed the "ectoplasmic soul exteriorization" happens. Briefly stated-no search, spooks ; as the very material Bessinet herself, her search, no spooks. right hand resting on the table, her body With such strong presumptive evidence leaning forward toward one of the sitters, of fraud on the records, and as no and in her left hand a small electric torcll psychic researcher can be more reliable on turned toward her face provided the ecto­ psychic matters than his medium, it will be plasmic light. Gossamer draperies around well to look into Eva Cariere's record. As her head enhanced the spirit-like effect. An far as can be ascertained she was born in inspection of the rope and chair showed that the south of France as Marthe Beraud, and the "spirit" who tied the medium knew all for some years practiced there and in Algeria about slip hitches, for he tied Bessinet with as a clairvoyant and medium under that one that enabled her to free herself quite name. She finally attracted considerable easily. An electric indicator showed that attention by means of many. demonstrations while she was supposed to be tied safely to new and extraordinary, especially her ex- the chair she had been free and standing trudations of ectoplasm. Eugene Marsaut, more than half the time of the seance. a French notary and member of the French Space forbids the mention of the scores Society for Psychical Research, decided , to of other instances of plain fraud in the investigate her. He made no effort to pre- production of spirit phenomena, but in inves­ adopted by tigations extending over more than vent fraudulent methods being 20 years canMR develop. thatINVENTOR and build that working the writer has yet to meet with a WE IDEA the medium she so desired, but during the medium MODEL for you. Consult us-with our staffof expert en· if whose manifestations have (Reg. S. Pat. gineer8� and thoroughly equipped experimentalmacbine manifestations he turned a flashlight on the stood the test of UNU.IS Off.) OLsh ops, we can develop any invention into a commercial and Marthe was caught red- critical examination. The most useful ap­ Daily blowing down. and the proper use of mo operations gradually removes boiler scale. prevents scaleUN forma­ISOL, WO"I¥� . handed. Her spirit faces were just "props," paratus that can be used in psychic inves­ tion, stops and prevents corrosion and pitting, and ft�O�:I!�Yi'. removes grease from steam boilers. on d tigations is simply constructed a plain ake has her ectoplasm nothing more supernatural -just 0 • All confidential-:� and absolute se· crecy Iruaran e. � than gossamer veiling and a disgusting mess flashlight. Pamphlet on reque.t. Money back guarantee. MFG. ET.K MFG. CO., Ine. of regurgitated albuminoid matter. M. Mar- A remarkable aspect of this research is .• , UNISOL CO Jersev Ci N. J. 19�On Hron.f1 "Wny NeW"1:�t;ina� Tork!�:�� saut obtained a signed confession that" her that when a medium is detect-ed in the act of t whole gamut of spirit and ectoplasmic mani- fraud so many psychists refuse to accept the festations was produced by fraudulent means, evidence as being against the medium. It is y . The and a record of the frauds and exposure is the spirits who are blamed. Eva Cariere STEELOMETER to be found fully set �orth in the proceedings (nee :l\1arthe Beraud) Einer Neilson and instrument that will prove of of his society. da Bessinet are still high in the esteem great assistance to the hardener R 1\ Marthe eraud's debacle occurred in 1914. of many noted spiritualists, although they of any tool steel as it indicates She returned. to France, laid low for a time, must know their respective records. It seems An then came forth from her retirement under that when the psychic "scientists" wanders the exact heat for hardening. her present nam�, to fool all and sundry into the spirit realms he leaves behind him of our cu,lomers can� down to date. Such is 'the story of the me- his keen, critical mind, taking with him one One the writetoo u,: highl ..y. We" Siodomekr (lium, on whose manifestations and integrity childlike in its simplicity, and a will to not prabe the scientific evidence of Geley and others believe anything he sees and all that is told Price sent parcel post. favor of the reality of ectoplasmic mani- him. make a careful study of the cir­ $7.00 in '1.' 0 Send for descriptive matter. festations rests itself. Preserve us from such cumstances and the nature of the phenom­ 502 N. Q'tPST. science ! ena, ,,·ith reference to causes other than ST. iLo U IS, " Mo. There are other notable producers of this psychic, seems to be considered neither wise THE STEELOMETER CO. ectoplasm. Einer Neilson created a stir in nor necessary nor even fair. Ordinary rules GLEN RIDfigentsGE. WantedNEW JERSEY Stockholm until the Norwegian Society for of evidence are discarded and new ones, pe­ Psychical Research investigated his claims. culiar to spiritism, are adopted. In place of the At a seance under the observation of mem- desire to make an open-minded search for the FIRST AID KIT bers of the society the usual phenomena truth we see an absolute determination to get appeared, but one of the investigators had psycllic results and verify the spiritistic no fear of the dangers of ectoplasm, so dur- claims. ing the extrudation took a chance on it dis- There is too much of the "hole and cor­ solving or being reabsorbed. He turned a ner" method in the psychist's investigations ; flashlight on the medium. The investigation too much darkness, and a disregard for in­ showed that the ectoplasm of Neilson was telligent investigation that places the whole nothing more than shreds of silk gauze which business in a ridiculous position when viewed he alternately swallowed and regurgitated. by men who are accustomed to weigh evi­ The records of the ,society afford proof of dence. Careful consideration of the evidence the fraud of the ectoplasm investigated upon for and against the reality and truth of ecto­ this occasion. plasm forces the critic to pronounce it a Another medium of wonderful power and fraud. That wriggling, wormlike, reptillian attainment is Ada Bessinet, of Toledo, Ohio, mess, that caused Conan Doyle to shudder who produces practically every phenomenon when he touched it, is as disgusting in the known to psychic science - spirit faces, manner of its production as it is doubtful and so forth. The means in origin. Ectoplasm, the foundation of pres­ MARINE ENGINES 3000 voices, levitations Our cylinder, cycle, electrically equipped en­ Set 4 4 ONo.hm she employs are "ectoplasmic soul exterior- ent-day spirit ism, being fraudulent, one gine is easily adaptable to to foot runabouts 163 zations," which ,no doubt is quite all right should see the superstructure fall of its own to loot cruisers. 21 30 i or 28 32 $600 you know what means. 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