"Moreover, I noticed the process by which the soul and the mind detached themselves from the body.

The brain attracts to itself the element of electricity, magnetism, movement, life, and sensibility, scattered about in the whole organism. The head becomes luminous, and I noticed at the same time that the extremities of the body become cold. The brain took on a particular brilliancy.

"From this fluidic atmosphere which surrounded the head, I saw another head being formed, which took shape more and more distinctly. It was so brilliant that I could barely gaze upon it, but in measure as this fluidic head became condensed the brilliant atmosphere disappeared. I deduct from this that the fluidic elements which had been attracted from all parts of the body towards the brain and then eliminated under the form of a particular atmosphere, were previously solidly united according to the superior principle of affinity of the universe, which makes itself felt in every particle of matter. With surprise and admiration I followed the phases of the phenomenon. In the same manner as the fluidic head became detached from the brain, I saw being formed successively the neck, the shoulders, the torso, and finally the entire fluidic body. It was evident to me that the intellectual parts of the human being are endowed with an elective affinity, which permits them to reunite at the moment of death. The deformities and defects of the physical body had almost entirely disappeared from the fluidic body.

"While this spiritualistic phenomenon was developing clearly before my clairvoyant faculties, before the material eyes of the people present in the room the body of the dying one seemed to be experiencing all symptoms of disturbance and pain. These, however, were fictitious, for they announced only the departure of the vital and intellectual forces, withdrawing from the whole body in order to concentrate in the brain, and finally in a new organism. The mind or disincarnated intelligence raised itself up at a right angle above the head of the deserted body, but before the final separation of the tie, which had united the material and intellectual parts for so long, I saw a vital current of electricity forming itself on the head of the dying one and becoming the basis of a new fluidic body. This gave me the conviction that death is only a rebirth of a soul where the spirit rises from an inferior state to a superior one, and that the birth of a child in this world, or the formation of a spirit in the other, are identical facts. Nothing was lacking, even the umbilical cord typified by the tie of vital electricity. This bond between the two organisms continued for some time. I discovered then what I had not perceived in my psychic investigations, that a small portion of the vital fluid returned to the material body as soon as the cord or electrical bond was broken. This fluidic or electric element flowing over the whole organism prevents the immediate dissolution of the body. As soon as the soul of the person under my observation was released from the tenacious bonds of the body, I noticed that this new fluidic organism had become appropriated by its new form, but that the general appearance resembled its terrestial shape. It was impossible for me to know what was passing in this revivified intelligence, but I remarked its calm and its astonishment at the profound sorrow of those who were weeping near her body. She seemed to take into consideration their ignorance of what was really occurring." 1

Observations of this nature are valuable. Certainly we are not unaware of what small credence must be accorded to clairvoyancy in general: but when it is a question of exceptional clairvoyants, whose honor has been constantly affirmed through a long life, it would be folly not to take such testimony into account. The above description answers exactly to a true vision because it agrees with many similar observations. I acknowledge, nevertheless, that we should accept nothing of what the clairvoyants describe concerning the life beyond because they interpret according to their personal conception the things perceived on the mental plane, and these are often indefinable: yet we may believe them when they concern the physical plane. Here it was a question of the physical process of disincarnation.

1 F. N. Erney, Experimental Psychical Science, pp. 94-97.

But we have other testimony than that of the clairvoyants - the statements of the dying when they have been called back to life, and these latter correspond fully with the observation of clairvoyants. The return to life, after having crossed the threshold of death, permits a few of them to recount their impressions: when the latter are doctors and keen observers their testimony takes on an added value. Here is an example, the case of Dr. Wiltse, a physician of Skiddy, Kansas, examined by Dr. Hodgson and F. Myers, the records collected by the annals of the Society F. P. R., vol. Ill, p. 180.

The fact was published in the Journal of Surgery and Medicine of St. Louis, in November, 1889, and in the Mid-Continental Review of February, 1890. I abbreviate the narration of Dr. Wiltse:1

"Finally the pupil of my eye contracted, my perceptions became feeble, my voice weakened, and I felt myself overpowered by a general sensation of heaviness. I made a violent effort to stretch out my limbs. I crossed my arms on my chest, then, joining my stiffened fingers, fell suddenly into complete unconsciousness.

1 From Human Personality, Vol. II, pp. 315-321.

"I remained about four hours without a throb of the pulse or a movement of the heart. I learned this later from Dr. S. H. Raynes, the only doctor present. During this time several of those present thought me dead: the rumor circulated outside and the bells of the village were already tolling for me. Dr. Raynes told me, nevertheless, that when he looked at my face he thought he perceived for a moment, a faint breath, so faint as to be almost imperceptible. Dr. Raynes imbedded a needle in my skin at various places from the head to the feet, but no evidence of life responded. Even though the pulse seemed to cease beating for four hours, the state of apparent death hardly lasted more than a half hour. I lost all ability to think, and all sensation of life: I was in a state of absolute unconsciousness. When I regained the sense of existence, I felt that I was still in my body but that my body and myself no longer had anything in common. To my astonishment and joy, I was enabled to observe my real 'ego' while my nonexistent self was imprisoned on every side as in a sepulchre of clay. With the interest of a physician I contemplated the marvels of the corporeal physiology with which I was confused, the living soul in the dead body.