Another proof of the reality of this thing we call °animal magnetism" is furnished by spiritualistic or mediumistic phenomena. The "animal magnetism" is believed to be the cause of the 'Laura," of which every student has read, but which few have seen. Spiritualistic mediums often speak of witnessing an individual's aura, but this evidence will satisfy only those who believe in mediumship. To actually see the aura or evidence of human magnetism this experi ment is suggested : Arrange a perfectly black background and place a large, strong man about five feet in front of it, at dusk or twilight. Take a position 20 to 40 feet away, and gaze steadily on the scarcely visible form of the man. When the conditions and distances are right anyone of good sight will see a faint radiance or aura emanating fromand outlining the man on the black background. It is claimed that the more moral the man the brighter the aura, and that this is why the old masters painted auras about the heads of pictures of saints and especially of Jesus Christ. Another evidence of the reality of this magnetism comes from the spiritualistic mediums. They claim that the work of medium ship is extremely exhausting, and deprives them of their magnetism, and that this is why they cannot give genuine exhibitions ad libitum as visitors may demand. And many who have investigated mediumship are convinced that this is so.
The term electro-biology was coined about 1850 to describe the relationship between elec tricity and life. We do not know what electricity is, and we do not know what life is; we have to judge of both by their manifesta tions. We know little of the nature and nothing of the origin of either, although some scientific men and some theologians are apt to be dog matic in asserting that this or that must be or cannot be possible. But we do know that
through some medium the will controls man's sensory organism and physical functions, and we choose to call this thing "animal magnetism," as Mesmer called it, and to consider it of the nature of electricity. Reasoning analogously, that as the wireless telegraph conveys a certain vibra tion which may be picked up by an instrument hundreds of miles away through etheric vibra tions, caught by a coherer or detector, so we conclude that the will also originates vibrations, which many call thought-vibrations, and sends them through the etheric magnetism that im bues all men and animals, and perhaps all nature. But ordinarily these vibrations are picked up and responded to only by the organism of the man who sends them out, presumably because his magnetic vibrations harmonize with his physical body. It is also logical to reason that this sort of magnetism exists everywhere, as we suppose electricity pervades the universe, and that the phenomena of telepathy or thought transference, and mind-reading, are explainable through harmonic vibrations of the ether which this magnetism permeates and pervades. Clair voyage and clairaudience likely are closely related, so that in solving the problem of physical magnetism probably these will also se solved.
It is stated in Great Psychological Crime) (p. 178) that "animal magnetism is an important factor in the development of me diumship," and that athe room in which the sittings are held must become thoroughly mag netized with the animal magnetism of the controlling intelligences." The reader who cares to pursue the subject further should consult this book.