of the spectre quite easy; thus, on going into the dark, or on looking upon a dark object, the same form reappears.

485. Eckhartshausen received some of this narcotic compound from a Scotchman, who had learned the art of preparing it from a Jew. On one occasion, he was desired (after he had learned its terrible effects upon the brain) to make trial with a small quantity, in company with another. "I did so one day, after dinner," says he, "when the physician had been dining with me; but scarcely had I cast the quantity of ingredients into the chafing-dish, when a figure presented itself. I was, however, seized with such a horror, that I was obliged to leave the room. I was very ill during three hours, and thought I saw the figure always before me. Towards evening, after inhaling the fumes of vinegar, and drinking it with water, I was better again, but for three weeks afterward I felt a debility; and the strangest part of the matter is, that when I remember the circumstances, and look for some time upon any dark object, this ashy-pale figure still presents itself very vividly to my sight." The same Scotchman gave him also another powder, asserting "that if it were burnt in a church-yard during the night, a multitude of the dead would be seen hovering over the graves." *

This assertion of the Scotchman was sufficient to give a specific direction to the nervous action, under the influence of the narcotic, had the latter been used. This, however, was never done, as the experiment was too terrifying.

486. We might fill volumes with similar details, showing the wonderful powers with which Deity has endowed the brain, and which may be readily evolved by the fluence of drugs. We might refer to the methods used in some of the heathen temples of burning narcotic compounds, for the purpose of throwing the priestesses into the prophetic condition; to the similar methods of some of the Eastern magicians in developing the divining power of their * Ibid. p. 125.

subjects; to the means used in the days of witchcraft of anointing with powerful narcotic pomade, or of drinking decoctions of narcotic plants, to establish the trance in which they seemed to ride to the witches' sabbath.

487. But the most important point presented in the foregoing array of facts, and in those we might in addition. present, is that of the peculiar condition established in the cerebrum, which brings it into relation with the external world, independent of the normal five senses, developing, indeed, the presensing power of the brain, called by some foreknowledge.

We would here remark, however, that foreknowledge cannot be predicated of the brain, for knowledge is an act of the mind with regard to facts, or principles, while sension is an act of the brain with regard to the events of matter. So, while the brain can only sense an event in the world of matter, it is only the mind can know it.

This particular point of discussion, however, does not belong here. We have devoted a chapter especially to its discussion, wherein will be seen the difference between the inspiration (excitement) of the brain, with reference to and under the influence of mundane things, and the inspiration of the mind, with reference to and under the influence of spiritual things. It is in consequence of the confounding of these two points that many have lost all sight of the superlative or really divine inspiration of Christianity.

488. We have seen, in one case presented, that the condition of the nervous system produced by a piece of iron remaining in a wound, was that which favored cerebral presension. The reflection of this upon the organ of language gave the language of prophecy, without, in the least, involving necessarily the action of the mind. We have also seen, in the case preceding this, the same presensing condition of the brain produced by the poisonous drug; and this influence of the drug, and the influence of mundane agencies upon the cerebral convolutions, independent of the woman's personality, were supposed to be the agency and power of a spirit that had taken possession of her organism. 489. Again, we see, in this and the preceding case, that

the influence of the drug upon the nervous system was to produce exactly that cerebral condition which, by suspending the free controlling action of the mind over it, leaves it to be influenced by the specific cerebral actions of surrounding individuals. Thus, through the organ of language was reflected the sentences of Latin, Greek and Hebrew, of others. The same phenomena among mediums we now hear attributed to spirits. It was excusable in an ignorant age, and among an ignorant people; but in this age of boasted enlightenment, when thousands of facts attesting the automatic character of the phenomena have been exhibited in every city and village, it is a reproach to our philosophical mesmerizers, biologists and pathetizers, that they have run in as wild a fanaticism, on the spiritual theory, as Calmet, and Mather, and Glanvel, in the days of the wildest superstition and blankest ignorance.

490. Again; in the case of Mad. Ranfaing, we see exhibited, in a very marked manner, the susceptibility of the brain to represent a fictitious personality. This condition, as we have seen, was produced by a poisonous drug. We shall, in a few chapters hence, show that the same condition of brain is produced in our "mediums" by an earthly influence as potent as the drug. We will close this chapter with the following deductions.

First, That, inasmuch as the influence of drugs in producing catalepsy, somnambulism, ecstasy, "spirit visions," and "clairvoyance," is a physical influence, namely, upon the brain, it follows that the condition established and the effects resulting are physical.

Second, That, inasmuch as, in this same physical condition produced by drugs, and amid its cerebral results, is that of a false or fictitious personality, and inasmuch as from this specific cerebral condition responses were obtained to questions as if from a real personality, it follows, that at any time, by establishing a like condition of the brain, like responses may be obtained, that is, responses as if from a possessed demon or spirit, when, in fact, neither demon nor spirit has anything to do with the phenomena. Third. It follows, therefore, that we have no warrant

that the phenomena of responses at the present day flowing from our "mediums," depending, as they do, upon persons of a peculiar cerebral and nervous susceptibility,-are anything more than the reflex action of cerebral ganglia. Let those who assert the affirmative prove their position, as, so far, it has only been assumed.

Let us now look a little deeper in this matter of supposed responses from the spirit world. We will view, for a moment, the oracular responses of the imaginary heathen gods, and see under what conditions they were obtained.

CHAPTER VIII.

INFLUENCE OF LOCAL EMANATIONS IN OBTAINING RESPONSES, ORACLES, AND PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS.

Facts demonstrating mundane emanations-Its influence upon the organism-The influence of this mundane emanation upon an object standing in relation to the affected person — Case of the Seeress of Prevorst-Thouvenel's observations compared with Professor Faraday's and Baron Reichenbach's How this new agent brings the organism into relation with the world of matter - The Oracle of Delphi depended upon the action of local emanations upon the priestess - Testimony of Diodorus, and other classical writers Heathen predictions depend upon the relation of the brain to the events of time, or the changes of matter-Discovery of the Delphic oracle- Local mundane influence exhibited in the phenomena of the present day- Local mundane emanations exhibited in the phenomena of haunted houses.

491. ONE of the most interesting points of inquiry in this field of investigation, as we have already seen, is that of the influence of geological localities in the development of these phenomena. However strange it may appear, it is none the less true, that there are powerful local influences emanating from the earth, which do have an evident effect upon the nervous organism, and through it upon external objects.

We have already given numerous instances, in the first part of this work, which place the above fact beyond any reasonable doubt, in the mind of the honest inquirer. And now we are to notice the practical bearing of this fact upon our present inquiry; namely, what influence has geological location upon the so-called spiritual manifestations.

492. Notwithstanding the numerous facts already presented, showing the influence of local emanations of mundane agents upon the sensitive nervous organism of many persons, producing otherwise unaccountable phenomena, yet