LIVING SUBSTANCE 127 



Runjeet Singh, the seal and all the walls were found uninjured. 

 In the dark room of the building, which was examined with a 

 light, the sack containing the fakir lay in a locked box, which was 

 provided with a seal likewise uninjured. The sack, which pre- 

 sented a mildewed appearance, was opened, and the crouching 

 form of the fakir was taken out. The body was perfectly stiff. A 

 physician who was present found that nowhere on the body was a 

 trace of a pulse-beat evident. In the meantime the servant of 

 the fakir poured warm water over the head, laid a hot cake upon the 

 top of the head, removed the wax with which the ears and nostrils 

 were stopped, with a knife forcibly opened the teeth, which were 

 tightly pressed together, drew forward the tongue which was bent 

 backward and which repeatedly sprang back again into its position, 

 and rubbed the closed eyelids with butter. Soon the fakir 

 began to open his eyes, the body began to twitch convulsively, the 

 nostrils were dilated, the skin, heretofore stiff and wrinkled, 

 assumed gradually its normal fulness, and a few minutes later the 

 fakir opened his lips and in a feeble voice asked Runjeet Singh, 

 " Do you believe me now ? " 



Similar cases are reported in great number by more or less 

 reliable witnesses. An analogous instance was observed in Europe, 

 and is cited likewise by Braid. It is the well-known case of 

 Colonel Townsend, of whom Dr. Cheyne, a physician of Dublin, 

 well-known in scientific circles, narrates as follows : 



" He could die or expire when he pleased, and yet, by an effort 

 or somehow, he could come to life again. He insisted so much 

 upon us seeing the trial made that we were at last forced to 

 comply. We all three felt his pulse first ; it was distinct, though 

 small and thready, and his heart had its usual beating. He com- 

 posed himself on his back, and lay in a still posture for some time ; 

 while I held his right hand. Dr. Baynard laid his hand on his heart, 

 and Mr. Skrine held a clear looking-glass to his mouth. I found 

 his pulse sink gradually, till at last 1 could not feel any, by the 

 most exact and nice touch. Dr. Baynard could not feel the least 

 motion in the heart, nor Mr. Skrine perceive the least soil on the 

 bright mirror he held to his mouth. Then, each of us, by turns, 

 examined his arm, heart, and breath ; but could not, by the nicest 

 scrutiny, discover the least symptom of life in him. We reasoned a 

 long time about this odd appearance as well as we could, and 

 finding he still continued in that condition, we began to conclude 

 that he had, indeed, carried the experiment too far ; and at last we 

 were satisfied that he was actually dead, and were just ready to 

 leave him. This continued about half an hour. By nine in the 

 morning, in autumn, as we were going away, we observed some 

 motion about the body, and upon examination found his pulse and 

 the motion of his heart gradually returning : he began to breathe 

 heavily and speak softly. We were all astonished to the last 



