Arizona republican., 1898-02-20
ART OF SKIN WRITING.

 periments is being conducted at the present time in producing pictorial representations in the human skin These are not produced by tattooing CT any kindred method, but by simple tracing on the surface of the skin by some hard, blunt instrument. pen cil, the end of a pen, the tip of the finger nail or even a match is sufficient to produce marks that are as clearly defined and legib!e as though burned into the flesh with eaustic. A white welt is raised where the lines were traced and figures or inscriptions cas- fly outlined.
 It 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 time varying from an hour to q hours, according to the nature and condition of the skin of the subject operated upon.
 To produce the best results d highly nervous organism is the better. The impression is produced by an irritation of the delicate nerves beneath the sur face of the derma For this reason the best place on which to produce an i'm precision is on the back between the shoulders, although it is possible f draw rough figures or print d word e two On the breast and neck. ard cvef; on the arms and face. Indeed, in one C. two cases the roof of the mouth has even been susceptible to the process.
 Much amusement and entertainment can be aroused by practicing the phe nomena, it's mystery being deep to the Rininitiated in spite of it's simplicity.
 The process was first discovered in 1895, when, at the Cleveland Medicai society. at Cleveland. man named J Johl Miller was brought before the societ. and operated upon. His skin was high ly sensitive and impressions drawr upon it were visible in a remarkably short time. He excited considerable at tention at the time, both among th. medical profession and among others attaining considerable notoriety as 1ht photographic skin man." His case was believed to be unique, until by acciden' another was discovered. and the exTer' mentation carried further It w.: found that almost every skin was mor: or less susceptible and that impression. were retained various lengths Of time dependent upon the nervous tension C. the patient.
 This set the medical men to thinking and the psychological reason mentioned above was deduced as the result Of thei experiments.
 The impressions were produced by match. The work was lightly laid 0; and few minutes after the tracing distinct swelling was noticeable. Th skin then turned a bright red, sa:. where the match had touchs q it. an, the white welt stood out along it's patl The color then gradually died until iu: faint tracing was left on either side the figure traced.
 After half hour or so the tracing be gan to fade away in the stronger orgar Isms and gradually subsided until a evidence Of it was gone al the end Of .: hours time. With nervous subjects t;., fading was slower. and when tried upo: patients suffering from hysteria or similar troubles it remained for an en- tire day.
 The field was widened by exrer; mentation on animals. It was four. that the horse was particularly srs ceptib,e. Traeings were readily mad, on his Hanks, the impressions remain :ng for a great length of time. Dogs cats, hares, deer and other similar, organized animals were also tried. anG showed clearly the outlines of the fig ures.
 At first, during the early stages of ths discovery, the practice was utilized by interruptions persons to materia. gain Some appeared as fakirs in museums and were regarded as prodigies. Ira; ings were made on the various parts their bodies of nature calculated arouse the superstitious fancies of tE public, and big trade was done in tl, practiE
 R6ther form which the traffic tee: %-as this: 4 poor beggar. seeking | gain admission to some hospital where he might gain food and shelter for period of time would produce accuTat' reproductions of cutaneous disease. and eruptions with the open end of 2 penholder or a key This was easy, anC he gained admittarce to charity wards. where he was allowed to remain for : week or a fortnight until discharged cured. One sharp fellow became SC ex- pert that he reproduced various forms of eruptions successfully and gained admittance to a dozen hospitals before discovered
 Ii is probable that this is analogous to the famous "stigmatizations''o of the middle ages. This term was applied to persons bearing tattooed marks or brands. and they were supposed to bear the mark of the devil. The sign of the devil was hand, underneath which was a cross. Those who were supposed to be infested by an evil spirit were tried in this way. If the mark was raised on their backs they were pitilessly con demned to the stake or some similar frightful death.
 It is also probable that much of re ligious fanaticism of the latter cen turies was produced by some similar