Doubt - No 42

Magazine Overview

DOUBT: The Fortean Society Magazine, Vol. II, Whole Number 42

This issue of DOUBT, edited by Tiffany Thayer, presents a collection of articles, reports, and nominations that delve into the realms of the unexplained, nonconformity, and societal observations. The cover prominently features a quote from Emerson: "Science does not know its debt to imagination," and a striking illustration accompanied by the headline: "SCIENCE-CREATING-UTOPIAS-FOR WHICH-MAN-IS-NOT-YET-PREPARED." The magazine is priced at 35c in the USA and 2/- in Great Britain.

Editorial Content and Key Articles

Nonconformity and the Fortean Society

The magazine champions the idea of nonconformity, with an editorial titled "ON NONCONFORMITY" that praises individuals who dare to be different. It highlights the awarding of prizes for nonconformity, including one to Albert Einstein by Lord & Taylor. The editorial criticizes the tendency to equate nonconformity with treason and praises those who uphold intellectual honesty and individual dignity. The issue includes a nomination for Albert Einstein as a Fortean Fellow, alongside other distinguished individuals like U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Federal Judge Frank L. Kloeb, Retired Federal Judge Delbert E. Metzger, and Reuben Clein, publisher of the Miami Life.

Reports on Unexplained Phenomena and Strange Occurrences

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to cataloging unusual events and alleged sightings. Under the section "FOUND ON GROUND," the magazine lists newspaper notices of objects found on the ground from December 4, 1948, to February 22, 1949. These include a "flaming wheel" in Ohio, "mysterious missiles" in the US, fragments found in Germany, a "floating metal bubble" in Alaska, a "slim circular object" in New York, a crater caused by an object falling from a B-50 bomber in California, and a large cigar-shaped balloon found in Montana.

Other reports detail peculiar incidents: a man's alleged swindle involving a synthetic petrol formula in Portugal; vanishing ships in the North Sea; a bizarre offer by an American firm to restore a church in exchange for advertising rights; a Swedish Prime Minister's observations on American living standards; a watchdog that attacked its owner's rescuer; a police dog that attacked its handler; a man escaping jail after being chased by a policeman and a dog; a jail inmate's discovery of a dictograph in his cell; and a man in Portugal serving a sentence for an alleged swindle related to synthetic petrol.

Social Commentary and Observations

The magazine includes various social commentaries and observations. It touches upon the dangers of foreign competition affecting American industry, the controversy surrounding the name of a TV program ("THE COP"), and a petition from Native American leaders requesting more positive portrayals in movies. There are also reports on unusual animal behavior, such as monkeys conducting "organized" raids in India and rabbits committing suicide by drowning in France. The issue also notes the development of an underground headquarters for the U.S. Army near Washington and the debate over elaborate underground atom bomb shelters.

Scientific and Medical Notes

Medical reports include a study suggesting children's dislike of spinach is a natural protection against its harmful effects on calcium absorption and oxalic acid deposits. There's also mention of a Ministry of Agriculture report attributing attic noises to "ghosts-bowling" which proved to be giant mice playing with apples. The magazine discusses the growing use of sodium amytal ("truth serum") by doctors, with a warning from Yale psychiatrists and lawyers about the unreliability of such drugs.

Poetry and Literary Notes

The issue features poetry, including "NATURAL SELECTION," "SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST," and "THE GENE-MUTATIONISTS" by G. W. Harris, which poetically explore scientific and philosophical concepts. It also reviews "The Passionate Years" by Caresse Crosby, describing it as a unique and engaging autobiography.

Miscellaneous Reports

Other items include reports on a mild earthquake in New York and New Jersey, a waterspout in calm conditions off Connecticut, and a case of spontaneous combustion from an 1835 medical journal. There's also a note about the "Oxford Movement" studying atmospheric pollution's effect on moths and Auguste Piccard's new bathysphere.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of DOUBT strongly emphasizes the importance of nonconformity, intellectual freedom, and critical thinking. The magazine consistently questions official narratives and highlights phenomena that defy conventional explanation. There is a clear skepticism towards established authorities, whether governmental, scientific, or military, and a preference for individual liberty and unorthodoxy. The editorial stance is one of challenging the status quo and encouraging readers to question societal norms and explore the unknown. The magazine appears to be a platform for disseminating unusual information and fostering a community of individuals interested in the Fortean approach to understanding the world.

Title: DOUBT
Issue: 41
Publisher: The Fortean Society
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: MORE NOTES of CHARLES FORT

This issue of DOUBT, published by The Fortean Society, features a significant portion dedicated to "MORE NOTES of CHARLES FORT." These are chronological transcriptions from Charles Fort's manuscript notes, which fill 32 boxes and contain records of non-human phenomena and personal accounts. The magazine explains its method of alternating between numbered boxes (non-human phenomena) and lettered boxes (personal records) to present a consecutive narrative.

Case of Spontaneous Combustion

The issue details a remarkable case of partial spontaneous combustion experienced by an individual referred to as "Mr. H." The incident occurred on a cold day, January 5th, with the thermometer at eight degrees above zero. Mr. H. observed a small, convex flame on his left leg, resembling pure quicksilver. He immediately applied his hands to extinguish it by excluding the atmosphere, which was successful. The pain subsided, but a sensation of heat remained. Upon inspection, he found a surface on his left leg, approximately three-fourths of an inch wide and three inches long, denuded of its scarskin, with the abraded surface appearing dry and livid.

His pantaloons and drawers were then examined. The left leg of his drawers, at the exact point corresponding to the injury, was burnt entirely through. The pantaloons, however, showed no damage beyond a slight yellow tinge on the inner surface, which was easily removed. The drawers were made of a mixture of silk and wool, while the pantaloons were broadcloth.

Mr. H. continued his usual avocations, and the wound became inflamed and painful by the next evening. It was treated with a salve containing rosin of turpentine. The wound's progress was typical of a burn, but its depth and tardy cicatrization, which took 32 days, were notable. A physician was called in on the fifth day, and the treatment included sprinkling the ulcer with calomel twice a week. The cicatrix, as of March 24th, was scabrous, unusually livid, and indicated imperfect regeneration of the dermis, with impeded circulation.

New Books and Publications

The "NEW BOOKS" section highlights several titles of interest to the Fortean Society's readership:

• MAN OR MATTER by Ernest Lehrs: Explores Nature based on Goethe's Method, discussing levity as a force polar to gravity and offering unorthodox interpretations of light and plant growth.
• DARWIN IS NOT FOR CHILDREN by Vera Barclay: An attack on Darwinism from the perspective of received religion, though noted as readable.
• WISDOM, MADNESS AND FOLLY by John Custance: Described as the Philosophy of a Lunatic.
• BIRDS AS INDIVDUALS by Len Howard.
• KING SOLOMON'S RING by Konrad Z. Lorenz: Offers new light on animal ways.
• MENTAL PRODIGIES by Fred Barlow: An inquiry into arithmetical, chess, and musical prodigies, featuring examples like Jacques Inaudi, who could simultaneously solve three arithmetical problems faster than machines.
• DEAD CITIES AND FORGOTTEN TRIBES by Gordon Cooper: Includes a chapter on the Nahanni Valley.
• MY OCCULT DIARY by Cornelius Tabori.
• IN MY MIND'S EYE by Frederick Marion.
• YARNS OF THE SEVEN SEAS by Commander A. B. Campbell: Contains material on the Mary Celeste.
• PROJECTION OF THE ASTRAL BODY by Sylvan J. Muldoon and Hereward Carrington.
• IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE by Martin Gardner: Features a chapter on Fort and Forteanism, with fair-minded observations on Fort.
• THE GREAT BEAST by John Symonds: A biography of Aleister Crowley.

Members can obtain these books through the Society at a discounted rate, with a refund if they become available more cheaply.

Other Noteworthy Items

• BLACK MILK: A columnist from the Daily Mirror reports an instance of a cow giving black milk in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1891, and asks local members to investigate.
• Divination Gift: A NANA dispatch from London mentions a "Dutch house painter named Hurkos" who, after falling and hitting his head, discovered a gift of divination, enabling him to know intimate details, translate languages, and drive in fog. He is described as a valued consultant of Scotland Yard.

Chronological Notes (Charles Fort)

The bulk of the remaining pages consist of chronological entries from Charles Fort's notes, cataloging various phenomena. These entries span from the early 19th century up to the late 19th century and include:

• Meteors and Fireballs: Numerous sightings and descriptions of meteors, including "meteor trains," "great meteors," and specific radiant points.
• Earthquakes and Volcanic Activity: Reports of seismic activity in various locations, including Nepal, Bengal, India, Rochester N.Y., and the Pacific Islands.
• Weather Phenomena: Mentions of sandstorms, tornadoes, auroras, and unusual lightning.
• Animal and Plant Anomalies: Reports of cattle plagues, cholera outbreaks, unusual animal behavior (e.g., swallows found dead, birds on a ship), and a "new star" (T Coronae Borealis).
• Geological Observations: Notes on craters, such as the isolated crater on Mare Serenitatis known as Linné.
• Unusual Events: Reports of objects falling from the sky, submarine volcanic activity, and unusual atmospheric phenomena.

These entries are meticulously dated and often cite sources like newspapers (NY Herald, Times, Pioneer), scientific journals (A. J. Sci., Nature, MWR), and astronomical registers.

Advertising and Society Information

The final page contains advertisements for books and services:

• The Drayson Problem: A presentation by John Millis.
• "America NEEDS Indians": A book by the author, described as a practical plan for conserving the continent.
• Freethought — Atheism: Information about the United Secularists of America and the Progressive World publication.
• RAPED AGAIN / RAPE OF THE MASSES by Chakotin: A book described as a "living, working blue-print" for gaining domination.
• The Books of CHARLES FORT: A compilation of his four volumes in one, indexed, containing 1151 pages.

Contact information for The Fortean Society is provided for ordering these items.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the meticulous cataloging of anomalous phenomena, consistent with Charles Fort's work, and the promotion of Fortean ideas through book reviews and Society information. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained events, encouraging readers to investigate and report unusual occurrences. The inclusion of a detailed account of spontaneous combustion and the extensive chronological notes underscore the magazine's commitment to documenting the strange and unexplained.