Russians were not the First
I want to comment briefly on the article Russians Photograph Life- and Death (FATE, September, 1962).

In his book, Physical and Super-normal Phenomena, published by The Marlowe Press of Chicago, Dr. Paul Joire gives the history of work done by various investigators of biological emanations, such as effluvia from plant and animal organisms. Some of these antedate the work of the Kirlians of Russia by 75 years. Among them are:

The work of M. Albert Jounot on "Effluvia of the Gaze, Effluvia from the Hand Influenced by Thought, and Photographic Experiment on the Relation Between Human and Terrestrial Polarity."

The work of Commandmant Darget of Tours (a photographer in the French army) on "The projection of the brain of a calf, in section appearance, which had been slaughtered, on a photographic plate, which a butcher...had held on its head."

Also, the photography of the zones of contraction of the "perispirit" of a plant (fern) which had been cut a half hour previously. The phenomena shown were threefold :

1) exact portrait of the plant,
2) effluvia thrown off from each leaflet,
3) zones of contraction during the suffering.

After it died, Darget took the fern and placed it under a photographic plate, leaving it there two days as he had done when the plant was alive. "Nothing was obtained, not the slightest imprint."

I recommend Dr. Joire's book. It will open the eyes of readers who otherwise may think that the Kirlians have made a new discovery. Philip S. Haley, San Francisco, Calif.

This must necessarily involve the release or capture of neutrons which results in radioactivity. Radiation definitely fogs photographic plates.

It is of interest that the dying animal or plant somehow puts off such energy. Ritual magic using animal and human sacrifice as well as descriptions of mass killers refer to the "rush" of energy felt when the victim expires.

Of course, in magic, the capture, focus and redirection of such energies is what is intended to achieve a desired result. The energy released from intentional murder at the hands of a mass killer could possibly serve to amplify his desire to kill.

My note: Perhaps this "rush" felt is actually the synaptic misfiring of the obviously diseased mind that chooses to maim and kill in an attempt to increase it's control of reality, or the karmic weight of reducing one's own cosmic stature by the taking of innocent life. Sorry, I can't read about wanton killing without making my disgust at the thought clear. L.W. G.

The question here is : Does the living and undamaged body emit radiation sufficient to naturally fog or etch photographic films? Is that energy amplified or parametrically upgraded when the organism is damaged or dying?

The experiment of Ted Serios in thought photography indicate that a sustained and focussed image can positively affect photographic film.

After all, it is only silver halides which are "rearranged" to fit the image. Most of the photos are not that well resolved, though they most definitely show understandable patterns and shapes.

We would like to study a copy of the book or documents. We would greatly appreciate a photocopy of it, if anyone reading this file might come across one or all of the documents. We will gladly pay duplication and mailing costs.