There
is no doubt that some persons are supercharged with magnetism and
electricity. For instance, it is quite possible for many persons
by drawing a rubber comb through the hair to produce a crackling
noise, and even produce sparks in the dark. Some exhibitionists
have been genuine curiosities of this sort, while others by
skilfully arranged electric apparatus are enabled to perform
their feats. A curious case was reported in this country many
years ago, which apparently emanates from an authoritative
source. On the 25th of January, 1837, a certain lady became
suddenly and unconsciously charged with electricity. Her newly
acquired power was first exhibited when passing her hand over the
face of her brother; to the astonishment of both, vivid electric
sparks passed from the ends of each finger. This power continued
with augmented force from the 25th of January to the last of
February, but finally became extinct about the middle of May of
the same year.
Schneider mentions a strong, healthy, dark-haired Capuchin monk,
the removal of whose head-dress always induced a number of
shining, crackling sparks from his hair or scalp. Bartholinus
observed a similar peculiarity in Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua.
Pages:
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836