do not present a single legitimate characteristic of this force.

Is it possible we are to be driven to the conclusion that the ground of faith in spirituality is identical with that of ignorance, superstition, fanaticism, bigotry?

CHAPTER II.

PHENOMENA OF THE NEW PHYSICAL AGENT IN THE

HUMAN ORGANISM.

(CONTINUED.)

Movement of objects, and sounds without visible instruments and without the characteristics of intelligence.-M. Arago's investigations in the case of Angelique Cottin. - Important results of this inquiry. Every phenomenon of nature may be repeated by an exact fulfilment of its conditions. — Application of this important law of nature. - What do the above facts testify? - Deductions from the foregoing.

85. THUS, we have seen that the phenomena of the movement of objects, and the production of sounds without visible instruments, is really by a physical force associated with the human organism; and that under peculiar conditions (which we are yet to notice), this physical force is made to emanate from that organism with a most terrible energy, and without any necessary conjunction with either spiritual or psychological agency. The phenomena certainly fall, then, within the legitimate province of science, and should be most thoroughly investigated.

86. The case we are now about to enter upon has received such an investigation in the hands of M. Arago. This renders it the most important. It is an extreme case, and presents the phenomena in the boldest relief. Not

only M. Arago, but many other scientific men, experimented and observed in this case.

essentially the same as those of Arago.

But their results are

We have two accounts of this case; one given by Catherine Crowe in the "Night-side of Nature," the other by the "Courrier des Etats Unis." In the latter

it was published at the time of the occurrence. The former does not give the investigations of the case by MM. Arago, Laugier and Goujon, which the latter does, as presented by M. Arago before the Paris Academy of Sciences, at its sitting on the 16th of February, 1846. We shall, however, give both, as the former contains some items which are not noticed in the latter, and vice versa. The insulation and the deviation of the needle, mentioned by C. Crowe, are not noticed by Arago in his report.

87. "Angelique Cottin was a native of La Perriere, aged fourteen, when, on the 15th of January, 1846, at eight o'clock in the evening, while weaving silk gloves at at oaken frame, in company with other girls, the frame began to jerk, and they could not by any efforts keep it steady. It seemed as if it were alive; and, becoming alarmed, they called in the neighbors, who would not believe them, but desired them to sit down and go on with their work. Being timid, they went one by one, and the frame remained still till Angelique approached, when it re-commenced its movements, while she was also attracted by the frame; thinking she was bewitched or possessed, her parents took her to the presbytery, that the spirit might be exorcised. The curate, however, being a sensible man, refused to do it, but set himself, on the contrary, to observe the phenomenon; and, being perfectly satisfied of the fact, he bade them take her to a physician.

"Meanwhile, the intensity of the influence, whatever it was, augmented; not only articles made of oak, but all sorts of things, were acted upon by it, and reäcted upon her; while persons who were near her, even without contact, frequently felt electric (?) shocks. The effects,

which were diminished when she was on a carpet or a waxed cloth, were most remarkable when she was on the bare earth. They sometimes entirely ceased for three days, and then re-commenced. Metals were not affected. Anything touching her apron or dress would fly off, although a person held it; and Monsieur Herbert, while seated on a heavy tub or trough, was raised up with it.

In short, the only place she could repose on was a stone covered with cork; they also kept her still by isolating her. When she was fatigued, the effects diminished. A needle, suspended horizontally, oscillated rapidly with the motion of her arm, without contact; or remained fixed while deviating from the magnetic direction. Great numbers of enlightened medical and scientific men witnessed these phenomena, and investigated them with every precaution to prevent imposition. She was often hurt by the violent involuntary movements she was thrown into, and was evidently afflicted by chorea," or St. Vitus' dance.

88. The French paper mentions the circumstance that, while Angelique was at work in the factory, "the cylinder which was turning was suddenly thrown at a considerable distance without any visible cause. That this was repeated several times; that all the young girls in the factory, terrified, fled from the factory, ran to the curate to have him exorcise the young girl, believing she had a devil." After the priest had consigned her to the physician's care, the Courrier des Etats Unis goes on to say: "The physician, with the father and mother, brought Angelique to Paris. M. Arago received her, and took her to the observatory, and in the presence of MM. Laugier and Goujon made the following observations, which were reported to the Paris Academy of Sciences.

89. "First, It is the left side of the body which appears to acquire this sometimes attractive, but more frequently repulsive property. A sheet of paper, a pen, or any other light body, being placed upon a table, if the young girl approaches her left hand, even before she touches it, the object is driven to a distance, as by a gust of wind. The table itself is thrown the moment it is touched by her hand, or even by a thread which she may hold in it.

"Second, This causes instantaneously a strong commotion in her side, which draws her toward the table; but it is in the region of the pelvis that this singular repulsive force appears to concentrate itself.

* See Night-side of Nature, page 380.

"Third, As had been observed the first day, if she attempted to sit, the seat was thrown far from her, with such force that any other person occupying it was carried away with it.

"Fourth, One day a chest, upon which three men were seated, was moved in the same manner. Another day, although the chair was held by two very strong men, it was broken between their hands.

"Fifth, These phenomena are not produced in a continued manner. They manifest themselves in a greater or less degree, and from time to time during the day; but they show themselves in their intensity in the evening, from seven to nine o'clock.

"Sixth, Then the girl is obliged to continue standing, and is in great agitation.

"Seventh, She can touch no object without breaking it or throwing it upon the ground.

"Eighth, All the articles of furniture which her garments touch are displaced and overthrown.

"Ninth, At that moment many persons have felt, by coming in contact with her, a true electrical shock.

"Tenth, During the entire duration of the paroxysms, the left side of the body is warmer than the right side.

"Eleventh, It is affected by jerks, unusual movements, and a kind of trembling, which seems to communicate itself to the hand which touches it.

"Twelfth. This young person presents, moreover, a peculiar sensibility to the action of the magnet.

"When she approaches the north pole of the magnet she feels a violent shock, while the south pole produces no effect; so that if the experimenter changes the poles, but without her knowledge, she always discovers it by the difference of sensations which she experiences.

"Thirteenth, M. Arago wished to see if the approach of this young girl would cause a deviation of the needle of the compass. The deviation which had been foretold was not produced. The general health of Angelique Cottin is very good. The extraordinary movements, however, and