From the Unconscious to the Conscious 



can stand even full daylight. The magnesium flashlight 

 causes a violent start in the medium, but it is borne, 

 and allows of instantaneous photographs. 



In the effects of light on the substance, and its 

 repercussion on the medium, it is difficult to distinguish 

 between real pain and mere reflex; both, whether pain 

 or reflex, impede investigation. For this reason the 

 phenomena have as yet not been cinematographed. To 

 its sensitiveness the substance seems to add a kind of 

 instinct not unlike that of the self-protection of the 

 invertebrates; it would seem to have all the distrust of 

 a defenceless creature, or one whose sole defence is to 

 re-enter the parent organism. It shrinks from all con- 

 tacts and is always ready to avoid them and to be 

 re-absorbed. 



It has an immediate and irresistible tendency towards 

 organisation; not remaining long in its first state. It 

 often happens that this organisation is so rapid as not 

 to permit of the primordial substance being seen. At 

 other times the amorphous substance may be observed 

 with more or less complete representations immersed 

 in its mass; for instance, a finger may be seen hanging 

 in the midst of fringes of the substance; even heads 

 and faces are sometimes seen enwrapped by it. 



I now come to the representations; they are of the 

 most diverse character. Sometimes they are indeter- 

 minate, inorganic forms ; but more often they are organic, 

 of varying complexity and completeness. 



Different observers Crookes and Richet among 

 others have, as is well known, described complete 

 materialisations, not of phantoms in the proper sense 

 of the word, but of beings having for the moment all 

 the vital particulars of living beings ; whose hearts beat, 

 whose lungs breathe, and whose bodily appearance is 

 perfect. 



I have not, alas, observed phenomena so complete, 

 but, on the other hand, I have very frequently seen 



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