One of the outstanding scientists in Europe during the second half of the nineteenth century was Sir William Crookes (1832-1919). A largely self-taught man, his scientific achievements and honours were legion. He was also initially a sceptic on psychic phenomena who undertook to examine some of the mediums who were active during the 1860s and 1870s and this work was the first systematic attempt to use scientific techniques in psychic research. Daniel Dunglass Home was the most famous physical medium of the time who was able to manifest a remarkable range of physical phenomena, which nobody had ever been able to demonstrate as fraudulent. Home had agreed to be tested under laboratory conditions using apparatus specially designed by Crookes. Under these conditions Home was able to demonstrate, for example, psychokinetic effects at a distance which were clearly measurable instrumentally.

Another medium Crookes investigated was Florence Cook who, in many séances, manifested the materialised form of ‘Katie King’ who was able to communicate at length with the other sitters. These investigations overcame Crookes’ doubts and convinced him of the reality of psychic phenomena and the claims of the spiritualists. He published an account of his work in:

Crookes, Sir William (1874). Researches in the Phenomena of Spiritualism. J. Burns, London.

An updated and augmented edition of this book was published as :

Crookes, William (1926). Researches in the Phenomena of Spiritualism. Together with a portion of his presidential address given before the British Association, 1898 and an appendix by Sir A. Conan Doyle. The Two Worlds Publishing Co., Manchester and the Psychic Bookshop, London.

A more recent review of his work is:

Medhurst, R.G. & Goldney, K.M. (1972). Crookes and the Spirit World. A collection of writings by or concerning the work of Sir William Crookes, O.M., F.R.S., in the field of psychical research. Souvenir Press, London. ISBN 0-285-62037-1.

Although Crookes’ work with Home was largely accepted at the time - even by some sceptical scientists - his results with Florence Cook, probably because of their almost unbelievable content, were considered unacceptable by many and were accordingly denigrated by his critics.