Surrounding everybody there is said to be an atmosphere or “aura,”
which is radiated from it some distance into space. This is most
noticeable about the head, and is said to be the “halo” or “nimbus,”
which was portrayed by the old masters about the head of Christ and
other holy personages.
Baron Reichenbach made a study of this subject about the middle of
the last century, and published an extensive work upon it. His views
received no credence, however, and it remained for Dr. Kilner, of St.
Thomas’ Hospital, London, to prove scientifically that such an aura
exists surrounding every human being.
He perfected a series of slides or screens by means of which this
aura can be seen by nearly everybody. A coal-tar product known as
“dicyanin” renders the eyes of the on-looker susceptible to vibrations
not ordinarily perceived. When the subject is viewed through these
slides, the aura may be distinctly seen surrounding the nude body
of the subject, who must be placed against a black background in a
semi-darkened room.
This misty atmosphere was shown to consist of three layers. First,
there is a dark outline, just touching the surface of the body, which
he called “the etheric double.” Extending two or three inches into
space, beyond this, is a relatively dense layer, known as the “inner
aura.” Beyond this, again, is a more tenuous layer, known as the “outer
aura.”
This aura extends further in the case of women than in the case of men,
and is modified by the physical, mental, and emotional state of subject
at the moment. The color and shape of the aura is changed immediately
over any diseased spot in the body, and because of this fact, it has
been found possible to use the aura as a means of diagnosis.
The precise nature of this human atmosphere is as yet unknown, but Dr.
Kilner believes that it is an ultra-violet phenomenon. While it has
been seen by many persons, it has not as yet been photographed, but a
number of experiments in this direction are being undertaken in the
Laboratory of the American Psychical Institute of New York.
There is no aura about dead bodies; the greater the degree of vitality,
the further does this aura extend from the body, showing that it is
more or less directly dependent upon _life_. Experiments have shown,
also, that both poles of the magnet will attract the aura, showing that
it has no polarity.
When the body of the subject is charged with static electricity, the
aura slowly vanishes, but after the current has been turned off, it
will enlarge to a greater size than before. The radiations of the aura
will discharge an electroscope without physical contact.
The vapor of certain chemicals, such as bromine and chlorine, causes
the aura to recede, and it is also modified by the thought, will and
emotion of the subject. The scientific study of the aura is one of the
fascinating fields open to our future scientists.