“I have seen sparks of light rise from the table and to the ceiling and fall back on the table with a distinct noise of solidity. “I have obtained, alphabetically, a communication, by means of flashes of light, produced in mid air, before my eyes, while my hand moved around in the rays of the communicating light; I have seen a luminous cloud float up and rest on a picture. “On several occasions, under similar conditions of severe control, a body solid in appearance but crystalline, having a light of its own, has been placed in my hand by a hand not belonging to any person present in the room. In _the full glare of light_, I have seen a luminous body fly to the top of a heliotrope placed on top of a _console_, break off a small branch of the plant and carry it to the hand of a lady present. “I have sometimes seen similar luminous clouds _visibly condense, assume the form of a hand_, and carry small articles to people, but these phenomena properly belong to another class of manifestations.” (_Crookes_). The only phenomena of this nature that I have noticed were produced under the following circumstances: One evening, after commencing some experiments with Madam L. B., in the parlor of Dr. Puel, we were obliged to cut the _seance_ short owing to a convulsive hysterical attack that overcame the medium—an attack which lasted more than an hour and which was only stopped by the application of metallic plates to the thorax. Having regained consciousness, the lady, with her husband and Dr. Puel, retired to the latter’s consultation office, where I was summoned a few moments later by my _confrere_. Madam L. B. was standing, supported by my two friends,[86] while from her chest arose phosphorescent vapors, which grew more dense and thick as the lights in the room were turned down. These phenomena lasted more than a quarter of an hour, during which Madam L. B. uttered long and painful groans. These vapors had the odor of phosphorus, and seemed to rise from the epigastric region. I was called some months later to attend to Madam L. B., whom I found in a condition of profound anæmia and mental prostration, reminding me of the _seance_; I prescribed granules of phosphoric acid for her with excellent results. CLASS IX.—_Apparition of hands, either luminous or visible under ordinary light._ “One finds himself frequently touched by hands, or something having the form of hands, during _dark seances_, or under circumstances which do not permit us to see these forms; but _I have seen these hands_. “I shall not speak here of instances in which the phenomenon occurred in obscurity, but will simply choose some of the _numerous instances_ in which I have seen the hands _in the light_.