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HPB-SB-7-219: Difference between revisions
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| author = Blake, C.Carter | | author = Blake, C.Carter | ||
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| source title = Spiritualist | | source title = London Spiritualist | ||
| source details = August 9, 1878 | | source details = No. 311, August 9, 1878, p. 70 | ||
| publication date = 1878-08-09 | | publication date = 1878-08-09 | ||
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... | {{Style S-Small capitals|Sir}},—I feel certain that all lovers of scientific exactitude in the study of Spiritualism must feel grateful to you for your suggestion that a section be made of the ivory ring which, I understand, has been taken to Leipzig, with a possible view to microscopical examination. I have not seen the specimen in question; yet, for the sake of those numerous readers who share with me this ignorance, it might be advisable to place on record now some of the conditions which may occur if a transverse section is made of the ring. | ||
What is an “ivory” ring? It may be of three descriptions—animal, vegetable, or even of the compound mineral (?) nature, which an ingenious manufacturer has applied to the formation of such objects as billiard balls. | |||
I will not attempt to describe this last compound, of which the manufacture is a patent, but merely remark that in the transverse or broken sections I have seen the fracture is crystalline. For the same reason I shall not say anything on the histological characters presented by the vegetable ivory, as the description belongs to the duties of the botanist. But with regard to the animal ivory, I deem it necessary to call your attention to the fact that each several description of animal ivory, whether derived from the elephant, the walrus, the manoti, or the hippopotamus, shows a clear and definable section. It is possible to discover from the slightest shred or splinter, which may be broken off from a section of ivory (and, for the purpose of examination by transmitted light, the narrower the section the better), not merely the order of mammals from which the shred of ivory has been derived, but even the species. | |||
I cannot indicate the peculiar “engine-turned” pattern which is exhibited by some of the sections of elephantine ivory without a diagram, and I must refer all readers to Professor Owen’s ''Odontography'' for further particulars. | |||
While the pattern of the elephant’s ivory is perfectly unique, and easily distinguishable from the different patterns which are shown by the hippopotamus or other ivory, it must not be forgotten that the characters of the longitudinal sections are quite different from those of the transverse ones. Such rings as curtain rings, when turned from an elephant’s tusk, are naturally cut in a transverse direction to the axis of the tooth, and would consequently show along their round surface examples of every curve which would be taken by the transverse or the longitudinal sections of ivory. | |||
I would therefore respectfully suggest to those who have the care of this interesting specimen that a preliminary microscopical examination be made to enable us to realise the fact of what sort of ivory the ring is made. | |||
I have, of course, accepted as a provisional hypothesis the statement that one of the rings was really composed of ivory, and not of bone, which latter often bears a high polish; and I hope that the microscopical- botanists of the country of Unger will tell us of what sort of wood the other ring was composed. | |||
In a case like the present, which appears to be an important piece of evidence in favour of the passage of ‘‘form through form,” or, as some term it, “matter through matter,’’ it behoves scientific Spiritualists to be very careful that the original conditions of the problem should be stated, as it is only on a foundation of exactly defined fact that we shall be able to appreciate the true nature of the forces which operate in the production of results which may be induced by the “four dimensional” things, the nature of which we are all endeavouring to ascertain. | |||
The fact that the present experiment has been made with substances which show variability' of texture, such as wood and ivory, renders it of an entirely different nature to the effects which have been produced by welded iron rings. One of these, made in July or August, 1875, at Middlesboro’-on-Tees, showed externally no trace whatever of the secret joins. When rung on the ground, no sign of join was visible, and it bore the examination of several skilled iron-hammerers with glasses on. Yet it was really hammered in two pieces, and there were consequently two solutions of continuity on the circumference. This ring cost £1 12s., which was a fair price for an iron ring only eight inches across. | |||
I may state that at ''seance ''after ''stance ''some of us have seen two ordinary curtain rings, composed of differently coloured pieces of wood, placed in the cabinet, and on all occasions they have been left untouched. | |||
Such constant failure in the presence of witnesses of every shade of thought, leads the cautious speculator to ponder on the causes which have led to the unparalleled success which has crowned the experiments of Herren Gillis and Christian Reimers with a reward for which so many others have waited with patience, | |||
{{Style P-Signature in capitals|C. Carter Blake}}. | |||
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<gallery widths=300px heights=300px> | |||
london_spiritualist_n.311_1878-08-09.pdf|page=12|London Spiritualist, No. 311, August 9, 1878, p. 70 | |||
</gallery> | |||