Abstract
IN Bulletin 22 of the Boston Society for Psychic Research, published in April 1934, is printed the reply to Mr. Thorogood's lengthy report on the alleged psychic thumb prints produced by the American medium ‘Margery’, which document was issued as vol. 22 of the Proceedings of the American Society for Psychical Research and which was reviewed in NATUBE of April 14, p. 550. The controversy revolves around the report of the discovery that both the right and left thumb prints of ‘Walter’ (the medium's control) are in reality identical with those of her dentist now living in Boston. These charges were examined by the officials of the American Society for Psychical Research, who came to the conclusion that they were without foundation, although it was admitted that in the case of one of the thumb prints the resemblance was close. Counter charges of bad faith, falsification of material evidence and sinister motives were made, and it was alleged that certain of the wax prints obtained exhibit clear signs of alteration. In the present Bulletin these statements are considered, and further counter charges are made against the officers of the American Society for Psychical Research, including the suggestion that counterfeit waxes have been introduced and dates forged. In a well-balanced review of Mr. Thorogood's book, Dr. Harold Cummins examines the theory that the sets of prints are not identical, but finds himself unable to accept the claim. Moreover, he severely criticises certain photomicrographs printed by Mr. Thorogood inasmuch as in his opinion they are not strictly comparable.
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The Psychic Thumb Print Controversy. Nature 134, 18 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/134018a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/134018a0