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Ernesto Bozzano - Psychic phenomena at the moment of death [110 cases suggesting survival after death]

Fourth category - Cases of deathbed apparitions, coinciding with similar preannouncements or confirmations, obtained through the medium channel.

43-rd case. - It was collected by Dr. Hodgson, and I extract it from the flight. VIII, p 227-228 Proceedings of the S.P.R.

January 28, 1891. About eleven years ago, when I was in deep anxiety about my wife with stomach cancer, I was informed that a medium, Miss Susie Nickerson White, had given very remarkable proofs of paranormal faculties. I went to see her without making myself known, and I asked for a meeting which was granted to me. There was an entity that claimed to be my wife's sister. She said to be called Mary, which was true. She went on to talk about facts and family affairs absolutely true to the truth, she gave exactly the name of my wife, Élise-Anne, she described her illness, predicted that she would not survive, and  that she only had a few months to live.

Surprised by so much exact information, I asked: "What should we call these phenomena? Psyche? Somnambulism? What?"

The so-called Mary replied: "I knew you were going to ask me this question: I read it in your mind."

"So you take everything you say from my mind?" I asked.

"No," she answered, "and to prove it to you, I will say something that is not in your mind. I announce to you that within three days Élise-Anne will say that I appeared to her at the same time as our mother, whom I hope to be able to bring with me."

I will point out that my wife's mother died forty-five years ago, and her sister six to seven years ago.

I naturally kept the secret on what had happened. Three days later, the nurse rushed, agitated, to warn me that my wife's condition had worsened, that she was giving obvious signs of delirium, that she had suddenly called her mother and sister Mary, after which she threw herself down the bed and ran to the door, shouting: "Stay, Mother! stop, Marie! Do not go away yet!"

After this striking evidence, I went to see Miss White again. As soon as the session began, the same entity introduced itself. I was very concerned because my wife had been unable to keep any solid or liquid food down, not even milk and water, for a few days. She was therefore absolutely exhausted, especially because she was suffering from relentless insomnia.

"Mary" advised me to give her some very hot, heavy coffee with a little cream, sugar and cream biscuit. Although I was surprised by this prescription, I decided to prepare and administer it. The patient took it willingly, and digested it perfectly, she then slept for a long time. For several days she did not experience anything else; little by little, however, she could not tolerate even this food.

I consulted Miss White again; "Mary" advised her to administer a few spoonfuls of lemon juice several times a day, in order to give her  an appetite and enable her to keep her food down. This prescription was successful. My wife soon worsened again, however, and I went to Miss White for the fourth time, and asked "Mary" how long she still had to suffer.

She replied that she was not in a position to tell me, but that she would consider warning me. "The first time," she says, "that the sick woman says that she saw me, you must stay close to her bedside."

A few days later, at about 3 or 4 in the morning, I went to replace the nurse, who warned me: "Mammie (referring to my wife) said earlier that she saw her sister Mary again." Moments later, my wife whispered: "I'm leaving," and when she said these words, she breathed her last breath.

Signed: E. Paige; Mary A. Paige aka Mary Dockerty (the nurse).