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his absence. All these observations prove that the hands and fingers of vigorous healthy men, like the poles of crystals, possess an attractive power for the hands of cataleptic patients.

92. But, in this comparison, the luminous phenomena which are now to be described, constitute a really brilliant point. When the author, for the first time after her violent convulsions, saw Mad'lle Reichel playing with the magnetic flame, he thrust his hand in the dark between her eyes and the magnet, when she began to play as before with the points of his fingers, and to speak of five little fires dancing about in the air. She did not see the hand, and she took the motion of his fingers, from the points of which flames came forth, for a spontaneous motion of the flames. She saw, in like manner, in the dark, flame from the points of all men's fingers, but from no women's, except in some cases a feeble light, neither bright nor flaming. As long as her illness continued she amused herself and her friends by her observations on these lights. But after she had recovered, it came out, that, not only during her illness, but also when quite well, she saw the magnetic flame, the crystal lights, and the light from men's hands, provided it was dark enough. Indeed she had possessed this power from her early youth; for while an infant, her mother had often to lift her up, to convince her that nails and hooks in the wall were not on fire, as she declared them to be. She had even brothers and sisters who in like manner saw luminous appearances everywhere, where others saw nothing. At this time, the author makes use of her power daily in researches on Electricity and Magnetism, which will soon be made public, and which have, by her means, led to important results. The author has had, for a long time, every opportunity of studying, soberly and comprehensively, the luminous appearances in the human hand, and he daily continues to study these phenomena.

93. With Mad'lle Atzmannsdorfer the same results, essentially, were obtained. But she saw all the flames larger. While Mad'lle Reichel saw the flames from the author's fingers from 2 to 3 centimeters long (0.7 inch to 1 inch), Mad'lle A. saw them 5 to 6 centimeters long (1.75 inch to 2 inches). The author promises to give drawings of these beautiful appearances, as obtained from Mad'lle Reichel, with a future memoir. Here it is enough to state, that from the finger-points of healthy men fiery bundles of light stream forth, exactly as from the poles of crystals, visible to the sensitive.

94. The properties of the force existing in crystals, as described in Section II., have now been compared with those of the force exerted by the human hand, throughout, without any exception; and the parallelism between them is, as may be seen, complete, and the agreement of both forces in their entire manifestations so perfect, that the two obviously fall together into one. We have seen

§ 78. That the hand, passed over sensitive patients, acts on them like the poles of crystals.

§ 79. That the power which here acts, is conductible through all bodies like the force of crystals.

§ 80. It is capable of being collected in other bodies, like the force of crystals.

§ 81. That it disappears from the bodies thus charged in a short time, like the force of crystals.

§ 82. That bodies can retain it, or have a coercitive power in reference to, as in reference to the force of crystals.

§ 82. That the capacity of being charged is the same for both forces in all bodies.

§ 88. That this force is polarized in the human body as the other is in crystals.

§ 89. That both are alike uninfluenced by the earth's magnetism. $90. That this force exercises a mechanical attraction on the hands of cataleptics, as does the force of crystals.

§ 92. That this force exhibits beautiful luminous phenomena, visible to the sensitive, of the same kind and strength as those exhi bited by the force of crystals.

And then we are brought back to the proposition of § 78, namely, that the same force exists in the human hand, which is found in crystals: that, consequently, the force of crystals and the so-called animal magnetism are absolutely one and the same; and therefore the laws which regulate the former, admit of being fully applied to the latter

[It appears to me that the author, by the above series of researches, has established, in a purely inductive way, the all-impor tant fact or principle, That there exists in nature a force, different from magnetism (although forming part of the total force of magnets), and capable of acting from one individual to another, even without contact. Also, that this force may be communicated to different portions of matter. Already these discoveries place be yond doubt some of the most important statements and assertions of Mesmer and his followers, and afford the means of investigating, experimentally, these very interesting phenomena. I may add, that I have already been enabled to confirm some of his statements in regard to the action, on a sensitive person, of magnets, of crystals, and of the hand. Nearly two years ago, moreover, I often saw a lad, who, in the mesmeric state, saw flames issuing from the points of my fingers, which I first noticed from seeing him playing with them. In that case, as I had never heard of the phenomenon, suggestion was out of the question.-W. G.]

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THE above cut, although not a complete sketch of the physiological organs of the brain, presents the most important localities in reference to physiological purposes.

To ascertain the amount of vitality, or vital force, in any constitution, grasp the basis of the occiput just behind the mastoid process and observe its depth and fullness. When vitality is defective, the occiput is shallow. To ascertain the comparative influ

ence of the animal nature and the higher faculties, compare Vitality with the elevation of the head in the region of Mortality-a region which subdues the turbulent and gloomy passions and produces a pleasant serenity.

To ascertain the tendency to corpulence or leanness, compare the fullness and prominence of the back of the neck in the region of Nutrition with the breadth of the head in the region of Atrophy.

The tendencies to Health and Disease must be judged by comparing their respective organs. The breadth of the face at the cheek bones indicates the capacity for disease, and this development becomes more marked in the victims of disease as the surrounding portions of the face shrink away and leave the cheek bones in ghastly prominence. In the very healthy organization the cheek bones have very little prominence and the head rises at the region of Health much higher than the parietal protuberances at the upper edge of Cautiousness.

The organ of Sleep has its antagonist in the center of the forehead-the organ of Consciousness. It may be remarked, however, that the organs located upon the neck are generally unfavorable to a very vigorous and steady action of the brain; consequently when the Cephalic region and Sanity are small-there may be a drowsy and lethargic condition of the brain produced by the basilar organs located near the neck, and especially by that located in front of Insanity on the forepart of the neck, which produces a torpid condition of the brain. A large development in the region of Somnolence wil exert a drowsy influence, favorable to sleep and dreaming. The indications of the relative activity of the brain, lungs, heart, liver, stomach, bowels, kidneys, and skin, marked successively Cephalic, Pulmonic, Cardiac, Hepatic, Gastric, Abdominal, Renal, and Cutaneous, are too simple to require any especial explanation. The Gastric organ, it should be remembered, lies just before the cavity of the ear-the Hepatic just above the origin of the zygomatic arch (or cheek bone), a position which is generally a little depressed. The Cephalic organ (lying near the arch or ridge which extends from the external angle of the brow upward and then backward to Sanity), is most conveniently measured by spanning across the top of the head and estimating its breadth.

The power of Vision may be judged by the development of the brow, a prominent development indicates a greater range of visual power adapted to distances, a sharp depressed development approximating nearly to the eye indicates activity and acuteness of vision rather than extensive range. Fullness in the temples below Somnolence indicates a tendency to sensitiveness of the eyes often acccompanied by debility.

The tendency to mental derangement, belonging to the basis of the brain, has its distinct indications in the region marked Insanity-the anterior portion of which especially impairs the intellectual powers. This connects with a region located at the back of the neck, which has an equally deleterious influence upon the circulation and action of the brain. Hence the importance of relieving all affections of the head by manipulations down the neck, and by manipulations, dry-cupping, or counter-irritation on the back of the neck.

The ardor or heat of the temperament is determined principally by the prominence and elongation of the lower part of the face, in the direction of the chin, which is to be compared with the breadth in the region of Coldness.

The tendency to disgust and nausea lies on each side of Amativeness, just below the occipital protuberance.

The various respiratory movements and the relative activity of the upper and lower portions of the lungs, are indicated in the region of Respiration, the lower part of which, when well developed, indicates a deep and vigorous respiration.

1850.]

Familiar Table Talk.

Familiar Table-Talk.

SPIRITUAL MYSTERIES.-The mysterious sounds are still heard in New York and all attempts to refute their existence or cast any discredit upon the parties concerned have entirely failed. One of the most illiberal editors of that city, judging from the previous course of his paper, visited the ladies, in the rooms at Barnum's Hotel, and heard the knockings, but denounced the whole as an imposition, without assigning any reasou whatever, but his own ipse dixit. In another instance a gentleman proposed to have a committee of investigation, which was assented to by the ladies on condition that the results should be published. This investigation was carried through by persons who were entire strangers to the parties, as well as decided opponents. The following is what occurred, according to the report of Mr. Fishbough (in the Tribune) who was present on that occasion:

"The gentlemen left the room; and, after being out about three-quarters of an hour, three or four of them were called in to examine the furniture, floor, &c., for the purpose of discovering any secret springs or wires by which the "rappings" and other displays of physical power might be produced. This part of the investigation being accomplished, the whole company were readmitted, and a report of the proceedings was presented by Mr. Davies himself in behalf of the ladies. It was to the following effect:

1. "That the ladies had been disrobed with the exception of their nether garments, and that the most thorough investigation had failed to disclose any machine by which the sounds might be produced.

2. "That the ladies, after being unclothed, had been placed in a variety of positions, and still the sounds were heard, while the most careful watching failed to detect any physical movements which could account for their production.

3. "That the furniture in the room had been overturned and ransacked, and no secret springs or wires, or anything of the kind, had been discovered, which could afford any explanation of the mystery.

4. "That the investigation went far to prove that there was no trickery or deception in the matter, and that the origin of the sounds and other manifestations were still involved in mystery."

"Mrs. Fish and the Misses Fox were subsequently placed on an insulated stool, and also upon bare glass tumblers, for the purpose of testing the question whether electricity voluntarily generated or directed by themselves, had anything to do in the production of the phenomena. But even while thus insulated, the sounds obstinately persisted in being heard-not on the tumblers as though produced by a stamp of the foot or a snap of the toe, but on the floor, causing it perceptibly to vibrate.

"Thus the parties who attempted by a coup de main, to put down this affair, succeeded only in essentially putting down themselves."

While the simple phenomenon of knocking in an intelligent manner, seems thus to have been established by the best kind of testimony from intelligent men, unimpeached A gentleman who has been in by any countervailing testimony, there are much greater wonders apparently in reserve, which have not been so substantiated publicly. the midst of these phenomena has proffered an essay for the Journal of Man, in which he says, "I shall allude to my course of investigation-then to what I have seen and felt of spirits from the spirit world, who from the atmosphere assumed the material form. Confining myself to facts, I shall say but little upon the philosophy of the phenomena, leaving readers to form their own conclusions. I will try to make it brief, but you must have patience if I state many facts new and strange."

A friend has sent me an extract from a letter received by a gentleman of Pittsburgh, which reads as follows:

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"On one or two occasions I have known of their writing short messages, and once of speaking, but they tell us that the time has not yet come for us to hold communication in that way. The idea that if they can do this thing, surely they can do that,' is not good philosophy. Certain laws with which we are not acquainted, may allow one mode, while they would not another. Beside the mode of communicating by rapping is no more awkward to us than the same mode of talking by telegraphic communication. Both will doubtless improve to something higher." According to the same writer they have now "the most beautiful and exquisite music in the room with nc visible instruments."

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