175. We only allude here to this variety of mediums in order that we may not seem to overlook them; for this subject requires more ample treatment than we can give to it in this place. We will now only remark that this kind of medianimity consists principally in the gift, possessed by certain persons, of healing by the laying on of hands, by the look, by a mere gesture, without the help of medication. It will no doubt be said that this is nothing but mesmerism. It is evident that the animal magnetic fluid has much to do with it; but when this phenomenon is carefully examined, we perceive that there is in it something more. The ordinary mesmeric treatment is a regular one, followed up according to rule and method; the medianimic treatment is quite different. Most mesmerisers would be healers, if

capable of proceeding with system and judgement; while in healing mediums, the faculty is spontaneous, and some of them possess it without ever having heard of mesmerism. The intervention of an occult power, which constitutes medianimity, becomes unmistakable under certain circumstances especially when we consider that the majority of those who may be regarded as undoubted healing mediums have recourse to prayer; for prayer is unquestionably an invocation as well as an evocation (No 131).

176. The following conversation occurred between ourselves and the spirits we questioned in reference to this subject:

1. Can we consider persons endowed with magnetic power as forming a variety of mediums?

"You surely can have no doubt on that point."

2. A medium is an intermediary between spirits and men but the magnetiser, finding, as he does, his force in himself, does not appear to be the intermediary of any extraneous power.

"You are mistaken; the magnetic force undoubtedly resides in the man himself; but it is increased by the action of the spirits whom he calls to his aid. For example, when you magnetise with a view to healing, you invoke the aid of a good spirit, who is interested in you and in your subject; that spirit increases your will power, directs your fluid, and gives to it the qualities required for effecting the desired cure."

3. Yet there are very good magnetisers who do not believe in spirits.

"Do you suppose that spirits only act for those who believe in them? Those who magnetise with a good intention are always seconded by good spirits. Every man, when animated by good intentions, calls good spirits to him without suspecting it; and so, too, does a man practically invoke evil spirits, when his desires and intentions are evil."

4. If a healing medium believes that spirits help him, does that belief enable him to act with greater efficacy?

"Such a man might do things that would seem to you to be miracles."

5. Is it true that some persons have really the gift of healing simply by the touch, without having recourse to mesmeric passes?

"Assuredly it is; have not you many examples of this gift?"

6. In such a case, is it the mesmeric action, or is it solely the influence of spirits, that effects the cure?

"It is both. Such persons are really mediums, for they act under the influence of spirits; but that does not imply that they are mediums for writing or other phenomena, as you understand medianimity."

7. Can this power be transmitted?

"Not the power; but the knowledge which enables the possessor of that power to make an efficient use of it. There are persons who would not suspect themselves to have this power, if they did not believe that it had been transmitted to them by something higher than themselves."

8. Can cures be effected by prayer alone?

"Yes, in some cases, if God permits it; but when it is for the good of the sufferer to continue to suffer, your prayer is not granted."

9. Are some forms of prayer more efficacious than others?

"It is mere superstition to attribute special virtue to certain words; and only ignorant or lying spirits foster such ideas by prescribing forms. For persons but little enlightened, and incapable of comprehending things purely spiritual, a form may be useful, by inspiring them with confidence; but, even then, the efficacy of the prayer is not in the form but in the faith which is increased by the idea attached to the use of the form."