Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

PLATE IV.(x) The apparatus of which the opposite cuts afford » representation are spiritoscopes, under modificationsto which 1 resorted suhsequontly to the contrivance in which Pease's dial is employed. ForPease's "dial," disks are substituted, roseml)liu;.; those ori^'inally employed by me, as represented inPlates I. and II. These last mentioned, however, were made to revolve under the index; while inPease's apparatus the index revolves, the disk remaining at rest. The advantajjjo of having; the diskto revolve is, that the letter is always to be looked for, within the same space; whereas in operatingwith the other the eye has to follow the index through all its rapid movements.(y) The conveniciuce and economy of casting the disks of iron was deemed a sufficient motive forresorting to the rotation of the ind»'x; as wluni made of that metal the disk becomes too heavy to berotated with ea.sc, lirst one way and then another.(z) In Fig. 1 the vibrating lover is resorted to, and the process is precisely the same as that alreadydescribed, in which Pease's dial is associated with the same mechanism.(aa) Tho words on the dial faces in Figures 1 and 2 are somewhat abbreviated.*(bb) The rod K slides in staples, so as to be made to extend farther or nearer fiom the fulcrum. Thelegs on which tho disk is supported, which are a part of the casing, terminate below in a socket whichfits upon a plug screwed into the base-board ; upon this plug it may bo fastened by the S(;t screw (s).By sliding the rod (r) inward, tho disk may be turned half round upon the plug, so as to place tholettered surface out of the sight of the medium, whose power to influence tho communications is thusnullified. This is one mode of attaining test conditions; in other words, those conditions which makeit impo.ssible that the communications received should be due to any mortal, (151 to 166,) unless, asgratuitously and erroneously, as I believe, alleged, the medium by clairvoyancy sees the letters.(cc) By another method test conditions are obtained which are not exposed to this evil.(dd) The method to which I allude has been explained in the description of Plate I. in reference totho spiritoscope formed with the aid of a Pea.se's disk, paragraph (e). The process is the same in thoemployment of Fig. 1 Plate IV. under consideration. It may be bettor understood in this case, as theillustration of the lever board L is more conspicuous. In the ordinarymodeof operating without testconditions, the hand of the medium is so situated as to have nearly half of it beyond the fulcrum,marked by the line FL. AVhen test conditions are imposed, the tips of tho fingers only reach to thatline, without going beyond it. Situated as last mentioned, the medium to whom they appertain cannotmove the rod Ji, because it is already against the lower edge of tho disk, which prevents it frommoving upwards. In the opposite direction the medium can create no pressure, since her efforts couldonly tend to lift her hand, j)e?- se, from the disk. It is important that the reader should pay attentionto this exposition, as the conditions thus made evident are often appealed to as one proof, amongothers, that my information and credentials are from the immortal worthies of tho spirit world.(ee) Fia. 2 is analogous in its mode of operating, to the apparatus represented in Plate IT. It is inthe substitution of a small board for a table that the principal difference consists.f The board requiresonly to be large enough to allow the hands to rest upon it in front of the disk. The index is actuatedby a horizontal motion to and fro, which, as in the apparatus, Plate II., causes the rotation of a supportingwheel, which by means of a band communicates rotation to a pulley supported behind thedisk on the pivot to which the index is .secured in front. The sliding pulley 1^ being liistened at adue distance from the disk (o), is used to keep the baud tight.(ff) This instrument is preferred by the spirits, and is easier for a feeble medium to employ effectually.I cannot as yet avail my.self of Fig. 1; through Fig. 2 I have had some interesting tests.(gff) This form, then, is best for incipient mediumship.(hh) Fio. 2 may be employed under test conditions, by so situating it as that the dial shall be onthe side opposite to that where the medium sits; under these circumstances she cannot see the indexor the letters, and con.sequently cannot control the spelling of spirits, so as to give results from herown mind instead of theirs. This mode of testing does not preclude the subterfuge, so often resortedto, of clairvoyant power, enabling the medium to see through the cast-iron, or read the letters in theminds of the bystanders. This power I have never witnessed; jet it is absurdly attributed to mediawho, as well as all their friends, arc ignorant of the existence of any such power.(it) Another mode of testing is that illustrated in Plate IT., where a plate upon two b.alls supportsthe hands of the medium, and forms the only means of conducting communication between the mediumand apparatus. It may be easily conceived that instead of the hands being placed upon theboard, the plate and balls being interposed, the hands c>f the mediiun may be supported over the boardof Fig. 2. as thev are represented to be supported over the table in Fig. 1, Plato II.See 167, 169, 172, 177, 196.(M-) Fig. 3, Plate IV., is a representation of an association of serrated strips of iron in a wooden frame,which sliding on the lever board of Fig. 1, so as to have the saws just above the back of the hand ofthe medium, is found to increase the efficacy of the mediumship. It is only of impoitance to use itwhen test conditions are requisite, as explained already. Fig. 1, (ll))^. The rationale, so far as it can besuggested, will be stated under the head of mediumship. Ttwill be perceived that the size of theframe is not in due proportion to the lever board, being ujm:*!! a larger scale. But this renders it moreconspicuous, and the reader can easily conceive its size to be such as to allow the grooves in thewooden sides of the frame to receive the edges of the lever board L, and thus to be secured firmlythereupon.* These di.sks cost at the foundry about 375 cents a piece. One may be used as a pattern by whichto cast others.f There is also thi^ difference, that in Fig. 2 the board is supported by only three wheels, so as tohave one in front under the hands of the medium, by which sufficient pressure is secured to make itsrotation certain. But .as the position thus given does not fall into the plane of the pulley at the backof the disk, the wheel in question is supported upon an axle which is secured in staples or holes, andcarries a pulley just at the position where it is coincident with the plane aforesaid. The w heel is visiblein front.