the vital message(主信)-第23章
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through her skin； partly from her hands； partly from the orifices of her face；
especially her mouth。 This was photographed repeatedly at every stage of
its production； these photographs being appended to the printed treatise。
This stuff； solid enough to enable one to touch and to photograph； has
been called the ectoplasm。 It is a new order of matter； and it is clearly
derived from the subject herself； absorbing into her system once more at
the end of the experiment。 It exudes in such quantities as to entirely； cover
her sometimes as with an apron。 It is soft and glutinous to the touch； but
varies in form and even in colour。 Its production causes pain and groans
from the subject； and any violence towards it would appear also to affect
her。 A sudden flash of light； as in a flash…photograph； may or may not
cause a retraction of the ectoplasm； but always causes a spasm of the
subject。 When re…absorbed； it leaves no trace upon the garments through
which it has passed。 This is wonderful enough； but far more fantastic is
what has still to be told。 The most marked property of this ectoplasm； very
fully illustrated in the photographs； is that it sets or curdles into the shapes
of human membersof fingers； of hands； of faces； which are at first quite
sketchy and rudimentary； but rapidly coalesce and develop until they are
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undistinguishable from those of living beings。 Is not this the very strangest
and most inexplicable thing that has ever yet been observed by human
eyes？ These faces or limbs are usually the size of life； but they frequently
are quite miniatures。 Occasionally they begin by being miniatures； and
grow into full size。 On their first appearance in the ectoplasm the limb is
only on one plane of matter； a mere flat appearance； which rapidly rounds
itself off； until it has assumed all three planes and is complete。 It may be a
mere simulacrum； like a wax hand； or it may be endowed with full power
of grasping another hand； with every articulation in perfect working order。
The faces which are produced in this amazing way are worthy of study。
They do not appear to have represented anyone who has ever been known
in life by Doctor Geley。＇8＇ My impression after examining them is that
they are much more likely to be within the knowledge of the subject； being
girls of the French lower middle class type； such as Eva was； I should
imagine； in the habit of meeting。 It should be added that Eva herself
appears in the photograph as well as the simulacra of humanity。 The faces
are； on the whole； both pretty and piquant； though of a rather worldly and
unrefined type。 The latter adjective would not apply to the larger and most
elaborate photograph； which represents a very beautiful young woman of a
truly spiritual cast of face。 Some of the faces are but partially formed；
which gives them a grotesque or repellant appearance。 What are we to
make of such phenomena？ There is no use deluding ourselves by the idea
that there may be some mistake or some deception。 There is neither one
nor the other。 Apart from the elaborate checks upon these particular results；
they correspond closely with those got by Lombroso in Italy； by Schrenk…
Notzing in Germany； and by other careful observers。 One thing we must
bear in mind constantly in considering them； and that is their abnormality。
At a liberal estimate； it is not one person in a million who possesses such
powersif a thing which is outside our volition can be described as a
power。 It is the mechanism of the materialisation medium which has been
explored by the acute brain and untiring industry of Doctor Geley； and
even presuming； as one may fairly presume； that every materialising
medium goes through the same process in order to produce results； still
such mediums are exceedingly； rare。 Dr。 Geley mentions； as an analogous
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phenomenon on the material side； the presence of dermoid cysts； those
mysterious formations； which rise as small tumors in any part of the body；
particularly above the eyebrow； and which when opened by the surgeon
are found to contain hair； teeth or embryonic bones。 There is no doubt； as
he claims； some rough analogy； but the dermoid cyst is； at least； in the
same flesh and blood plane of nature as the foetus inside it； while in the
ectoplasm we are dealing with an entirely new and strange development。
＇8＇ Dr。 Geley writes to me that they are unknown either to him or to
the medium。
It is not possible to define exactly what occurs in the case of the
ectoplasm； nor； on account of its vital connection with the medium and its
evanescent nature； has it been separated and subjected to even the roughest
chemical analysis which might show whether it is composed of those
earthly elements with which we are familiar。 Is it rather some coagulation
of ether which introduces an absolutely new substance into our world？
Such a supposition seems most probable； for a comparison with the
analogous substance examined at Dr。 Crawford's seances at Belfast； which
is at the same time hardly visible to the eye and yet capable of handling a
weight of 150 pounds； suggests something entirely new in the way of
matter。 But setting aside； as beyond the present speculation； what the exact
origin and nature of the ectoplasm may be； it seems to me that there is
room for a very suggestive line of thought if we make Geley's experiments
the starting point； and lead it in the direction of other manifestations of
psychomaterial activity。 First of all； let us take Crookes' classic
experiments with Katie King； a result which for a long time stood alone
and isolated but now can be approached by intermittent but definite stages。
Thus we can well suppose that during those long periods when Florrie
Cook lay in the laboratory in the dark； periods which lasted an hour or
more upon some occasions； the ectoplasm was flowing from her as from
Eva。 Then it was gathering itself into a viscous cloud or pillar close to her
frame； then the form of Katie King was evolved from this cloud； in the
manner already described； and finally the nexus was broken and the
completed body advanced to present itself at the door of communication；
showing a person different in every possible attribute save that of sex from
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the medium； and yet composed wholly or in part from elements extracted
from her senseless body。 So far； Geley's experiments throw a strong
explanatory light upon those of Crookes。 And here the Spiritualist must； as
it seems to me； be prepared to meet an objection more formidable than the
absurd ones of fraud or optical delusion。 It is this。 If the body of Katie
King the spirit is derived from the body of Florrie Cook the psychic； then
what assurance have we that the life
