Ectoplasm is a thick, sticky substance which flows out of a medium during a séance or is produced when a supernatural entity manifests itself. It is light sensitive and emanates from the entire body, especially from the natural orifices (e.g. nose, mouth, etc.) extremities, breasts and tips of fingers and may be singly or simultaneously white, black or gray and creeps up, down or across the medium (1). In photographs, it resembles a piece of coarse netting, its resemblance to cheesecloth has often provoked allegations of fraud (2).
- Doyle, A.C., 1926. The History of Spiritualism. New York.
- Randi, J. 1995. An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural. New York, NY.