410 Notices of Books. [July? 
The full details are given in Colonel Olcott’s “ People from the 
Other World,” pp. 425- — 478. 
Another alleged exposure is introduced in the followingterms 
“ I could tell you the particulars, in my possession, of the detec- 
tion of the imposture practised by one of the most noteworthy of 
these lady mediums in the distribution of flowers . . . these 
flowers having really been previously collected in a basin up- 
stairs and watered out of a decanter standing by — as was proved 
by the fadt that an inquisitive sceptic having furtively introduced 
into the water of the decanter a small quantity of ferrocyanide of 
potassium, its presence in the 4 dew ’ of the flowers was after- 
wards recognised by the appropriate chemical test (a per-salt of 
iron) which brought out prussian blue.” 
In his article on the “ Fallacies of Testimony,” in the “ Con- 
temporary Review” of January, 1876, where Dr. Carpenter first 
gave an account of this alleged exposure, it is stated that “ a 
basin-full of these flowers (hollyhocks) was found in a garret with 
a decanter of water beside it,” that the ferrocyanide was mixed 
with this water, and that all this was not hearsay, but a state- 
ment in writing in the hand of the “ inquisitive sceptic ” himself. 
It turns out, however, that this part of the statement was wholly 
untrue, as we know on the authority of a letter written by the 
lady of the house, and afterwards published, and Dr. Carpenter 
now seems to have found this out himself; but instead of with- 
drawing it wholly (as in common fairness he ought to have done), 
he still retains it ingeniously modified into an inference, but so 
worded as to look like the statement of a fact ; — “ these flowers 
having really been previously collected in a basin,” &c., — “ as was 
proved ” — not by finding them, but by the chemical test ! What 
an extraordinary notion Dr. Carpenter must have of what is 
“ really” proof. Let us, however, look a little further into this 
matter, of which more is known than Dr. Carpenter adduces, or 
than he thinks advisable to make public. Dr. Carpenter’s in- 
formant was a member of the family in whose house the medium 
was staying as a guest. He had therefore full knowledge of the 
premises and command over the servants, and could very easily 
have ascertained such fadts as the bringing of a large bunch of 
hollyhocks, asters, laurels, and other shrubs and flowers into one 
of the visitors’ bedrooms, and whether they disappeared from the 
room when the lady medium left it previous to the seance. This 
would have been diredt evidence, and easily attainable by one of 
the family, but none such is forthcoming ; instead of it we have 
the altogether inconclusive though scientific-looking chemical 
test. For it is evident that the flowers which appear must be 
brought from somewhere, and may naturally be brought from the 
shortest distance. If there are flowers in the house, these may 
be brought — as a baked apple was actually brought when an 
apple was asked for, according to one of the reports of this very 
sdance ; — and if a sceptic chooses to put chemicals with such 
