Episode 18: Subject 61
Excerpts from the psychical research notebooks of Dr Henry Lock, Consultant Neurologist, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
Thursday, 20th October 1881.
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The subject is a man in his late thirties, of plain, neat ,and healthy appearance. He works as a plumber in the North London area and practices what he calls ‘spirit healing’ during his non-working time. His ordinary appearance is matched by the down-to-earth manner in which he talks about his supposed healing capabilities. He rejects the notion that these capabilities are due to anything remarkable about his own nature, and claims instead that he is a channel for a ‘spiritual energy’ which is directed by a ‘spirit guide’ but whose ultimate source is God. He is keen for Dr Reece and myself to understand that he neither asks nor receives any payment from his clients, and that his services are known through word of mouth and not via any commercial advertising.
The subject produced a collection of letters from adults and the parents of children who have supposedly been cured by his ministrations. I advised that while these may be of interest at a later point in our researches, neither Reece nor I have the time to contact, interview, and examine former clients of the subject.
Instead, I proposed that for this first session, we select three patients from the infirmary, each with a different medical condition, and allow the subject to practise his techniques on them. Following this, I will arrange for the patients to be examined by the doctors overseeing their treatment to establish if there has been any alleviation of their condition. It should be noted the subject had no prior knowledge of either the patients or their conditions.
The subject agreed to this proposal but emphasized that depending on the nature of the condition, there may not be an immediate improvement or cure, and that many chronic illnesses might require several sessions with him […]
Patient A
Patient A was admitted to the infirmary with symptoms of pleurisy but also suffers from severe arthritis, particularly in the hand joints, which have seized up into a claw-like appearance. The subject stated he could help with both conditions.
The patient was visited on the ward and curtains were drawn around the bed so as not to alarm other patients. I explained the purpose of the trial to the patient and consent was given. However, the subject spent a few minutes speaking with the patient to ensure she was comfortable with the procedure, having given the impression he regarded my interaction with the patient on this matter as little better than bullying.
I have to admit that the subject’s bedside manner was far superior to mine, and I felt myself quite reprimanded […]
The subject told the patient to relax and then made several passes over the full length of her body with his hands. Then he took the patient’s stiff hands in his, squeezed them gently several times, and let them go.
The subject told the patient that improvement in her condition was not guaranteed and that she must be patient. He also said he would have preferred to sit with the patient again, subject to my approval, which I said I would not grant unless there was some initial change in the patient’s condition.
Just as we were about to leave, the patient cried out with delight and held up both her hands. It was clear to all of us that some flexibility and mobility had been restored, though nothing like a cure had been effected. The patient was adamant that the subject’s intervention was beneficial and begged that the subject should attend her again […]
Patient B
Patient A was admitted to the infirmary yesterday with a medium-sized goitre on his neck, with the cause unconfirmed but likely to be an iodine deficiency. Once again, I explained the experiment to the patient and obtained their consent, and the subject explained his procedure. The subject was noticeably more relaxed with this second patient, perhaps encouraged by his minor success with the first, perhaps because he was getting accustomed to his surroundings, and to Reece and myself. He joked with the patient as he spent several minutes passing his hands over the goitre without actually touching it. Within a few minutes, the goitre had shrunk away, leaving a slight stretching and discolouration on the patient’s skin. The patient was effusive in his thanks to the subject, shaking his hand vigorously. To say that Reece and I were amazed is an understatement, and we called immediately for the registrar to carry out a full examination […]
Patient C
Reece and I had agreed beforehand to ask the subject to apply his methods to patients with mental ailments as well as physical ones. Patient C was admitted to the psychiatric ward after being found wandering naked in the Clerkenwell district, confused in manner and incoherent in speech. She is due to be transferred to the Colney Hatch Asylum this week, where she can be cared for properly. The subject advised that while he treats patients with mental conditions, it can be difficult to make progress. He is of the view that many cases of mental illness are due to ‘high sensitivity’ on the part of the patient. He believes that many of them have psychic abilities which they cannot control or manage.
In the case of Patient C, there was no merit in explaining the experiment or trying to obtain her consent. She had been sedated earlier that morning and was still drowsy from the effects of the sedative. The subject insisted on removing the straps on the patient’s arms, against my advice, but agreed these would be reapplied at the first sign of disturbance. The patient had already tried to leave the hospital on two occasions since her admission.
The subject took her hand and sat quietly for a few minutes, saying nothing, but looking at her with a relaxed and friendly expression. The patient did not take her hand away and seemed quite calm, glancing at the subject and then hiding her face behind her free hand in a bashful way. The following dialogue occurred:
Patient C: Why are you here?
Subject: I want to help you.
Patient C: Why do you look at me so?
Subject: I want to understand you.
Patient C: How can you?
Subject: I’m a bit like you. I’m sensitive too.
Patient C: You can see them too? Can you hear them?
Subject: Who can you see and hear?
Patient C: All of them, the children and the babies, all the suffering ones, all crying out across this city. Why can’t we help them? Why can’t God help them?
Subject: They will be helped, all of them. The suffering will pass, as yours will.
Patient C: How can it be ? How can you help me?
Subject: May I place my hands on your head? I’ll be gentle.
Patient C: Yes, if it will help.
The subject told the patient to close her eyes and placed both his palms on her temples. The two of them sat like this for nine minutes and fifteen seconds (Reece timed it on his pocket watch), barely a sound or movement or sound from either of them.
Then, with a sigh, the subject removed his hands. The patient opened her eyes. Her expression and demeanour were calm. The following dialogue occurred:
Patient C: You saw them?
Subject: Yes, I saw them.
Patient C: They’re still here.
Subject: I know. But they won’t disturb you so much now. Can you feel that is so?
Patient C: Yes. But what will happen when you go away?
Subject: Nothing. You know what to do now, don’t you?
Patient C: Yes, I know what to do. […]
Post-script (25th October 1882): Patient C was kept under observation all weekend. Such was the improvement in her condition that the psychiatric registrar discharged her into the custody of her brother rather than commit her to the Colney Hatch Asylum.