Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-11-14
WRITING ON The SKIN.
IMPRESSIONS MADE on THE BODY By
A SIMPLE PROCESS
A Discovery in Cleveland Throws
Some Light On the Mysterious
StigmntizntiOn Of tho
Middle Ages.

One of the most unique series Of expert
mentS is being conducted at the present
time in producing pictorial representations
in the human skin. These are not produced
by tattooing or any kindred method. but
by a simple tracing on the surface of the
skin by some hard, blunt instrument. A
pencil, the end of a pen, the tip of the fin
gerrail or even a match is sufficient to Pr
drce marks that are as clearly defined and
lceible as though burned into the flesh with
caEstic. A white welt Is raised where the
lines were traced and figures or inscrip-
tons easily outlined.
1t is but the work of a few seconds, too.
the figure raising in the space of five or
ten minutes and remaining clearly marked
for a time varying from an hour to twen-
condition of the skin of the subject oper-
ateG upon.
To produce the best results a highly nerv-
Gus organism is the better. The impress
sion is produced by an irritation of the
delicate nerves beneath the surface of the
dcrma. For this reason the best place on
which to produce an impression is on the
back between the shoulders. although II Is
pc ss:ble to draw rough figures or print a
word or two on the breast and neck, and
even on the arms and face. Indeed. in one
or two cases the roof of the mouth has
even been susceptible to the process.
Much amusement and entertainment can
be aroused by practicing the phenomena,
Its mystery being deep to the uninitiated
il spite of its simplicity.
Discovery of the Process.
The process was first discovered in 1895,
when, by the Cleveland Medical Society, at
Cleveland, a man named John Miller was
brought before the society and operated
uron. His skin was highly sensitive and
impressions drawn upon it were visible in
Il remarkably short length of time. He ex-
cited considerable attention at the time,
both among the medical profession and
among others. attaining considerable noto-
r.ety as the photographic skin man,. His
case was believed to be unique. until by
accident another was discovered, and the
EXPERIMENTATION carried further. 1t was
fcund that almost every skin was more or
less susceptible and that impressions were
retained various lengths of time. depend.
ent uron the nervous tension of the patient.
This set the medical men to thinking and
the psychological reason mentioned above
ments.
The impressions were produced by a
match. The work was lightly laid on and
a few minutes after the tracing a distinct
turned a bright red. save where the match
had touched it, and the white welt stood
out along its path. The color then grad
ually died until Just faint tracing was left
on either side of the figure traced.
After a half hour or so the tracing be-
gan to fade away in the tronger organ
and gradually subsidized until all evil
oence OF 1t was gone at the end of an
holr's time. With nervous subjects the
fading was slower and when tried upon
patients suffering from hysteria or similar
troubles it remained for an entire day.
Inc held was widened by experimental |
ton on animals. 1t was found that the
herse was particularly susceptible. Trac-
!ngs We're readily made on his tanks, the
remaining for a great length
d. time. Dogs. cats. hares. deer and other
similarly organized animals were also tried
,nd all showed clearly the outlines Of the