WCP3473

[1]^{1, 2}

The Cottage

Hermon Hill

S. Woodford. NE.

7 March 08

Dear Sir.

I take the liberty of writing to you as it is from your books that I have obtained much help in investigating the truth of some of the Spiritualistic Phenomena. Some 5 months or so I suddenly became aware, or rather, was forced to take notice of ^my poss[ess]ing[?] certain unusual powers, which I now believe to be Animal Magnetism & in your book "Miracles & Modern Spiritualism"³ you point out how great is the opposition to the belief in there being such a power at all, still more to the phenomena that [2] its believers claim for it:

I think I may say with certainty that I can ^{in a practical manner} (practically) prove that such a power does exist (call it what you will) & that no other Explanation will account for the Effects produced.

I first noticed that I can cause a glow or feeling of warmth in persons either by contact of my[?] hand with their bodies or through their clothes & even[?] at a distance of some feet from the receiver[?] of the magnetic current.

The force can be made to pass through a door or a brick wall th^o[ugh] with considerably diminished power.

My hand[s], I have since discovered, have the power of producing strong vibration in such articles[?] as cotton wool & I can raise the cotton wool from [3] contact with the table after a short time.

One One can produce the phosphorescent glow from the poles of a magnet, by encircling the magnet with one hand at the same time as one generates the current & a very similar[?] result can be produced by holding the left hand still in the place of the magnet. The hands on rubbing together are of a clear transparent purple & it has an almost similar effect to the use of the Screen & X Rays:

The Radius & Ulna & other bones can be seen through the clothes but are of a brighter colour than the surrounding tissues.

Sheets of phophorescence[sic.] can be produced from each hand up to 4' or even 5' in height.

This current has a most curious effect on an incandescent gas burner — when the current is made to pass through the meshes of the mantle the illuminating power is increased nearly 50%. The [1 word illeg.] too will burn much more willingly when the current is made to pass through the bars[?] —

Phosphorescent writing on the wall can be seen & will continue to shine for some time — so much so that I have been able to obtain a fair photo of the my writing & figures[?]

I have recently discovered one or two other extraordinary phenomena.

I am an old photographer of some 25 years [4] standing & for some time past I have been unable to obtain any two consecutive prints at all like one another from the same negative & frequently the prints are absolutely different to the negative I have last used. Several of the prints also contain unmistakable faces & figure forms as of departed Spirits (NB I am a Spiritualist by unavoidable compulsion & unanswerable conviction) I feel that it is my duty to offer my services in case they may be of any use in forwarding the movement. I have forgotten to mention one other important fact, I can stop my heart from beating for some 20 sec[ond]s or so without hurting myself — neither pulse nor [5] cardiac impulse can be felt & I have been examined by 3 of the staff of the London Hospital.⁴

I need hardly say that I am quite willing to demonstrate to you or any other scientific man these facts as I have stated. to you & shall be only too ready to see you or your friend at any time by appointment. I am a medical man practicing at the above address & the afternoon in the middle of the week are my freest[?] times.

I am | faithfully yours | F. Gilbert Scott [signature] | M.R.C.S[?] LRC.P.⁵

To:

A. Russell[sic] Wallace Esq[?] FRS⁶ etc