Arthur Conan Doyle
2151 Sacramento
19" X 22.5"
19" X 22.5"
Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, made his third visit to America in 1923. This trip was the first time he would travel west. He and his party arrived in San Francisco late one night where they had rooms at the Clift Hotel. Sir Arthur had come to San Francisco to give a series of lectures on Spiritualism. Cynics and skeptics abounded in both the press and academia. He was constantly pressured to defend his beliefs.
On the last day of his stay he visited a Dr. Abrams, about whom he writes in his memoir, Our Second American Adventure, as "...well known as a pioneer along strange paths in science..." The visit was to witness the demonstration of a machine the doctor had invented. Sir Arthur continues, by stating that what "...he was showing me was the vibration of disease which varies with cancer, syplilis, or whatever it may be, and can be recorded on an instrument like a wireless receiver." He was particularly impressed when a bottle containing cancer cells, to which the machine had previously reacted, was removed. When the antenna was placed at the same spot "...there came the four-second responses as before." This confirmed Sir Arthur's belief that the cancer had left "...its own etheric double which still sent out etheric vibrations..." He came away from the visit greatly excited about the machine's possibilities.
The 1923 San Francisco city directory lists Albert Abrams, under physicians, as having his office at 2151 Sacramento. His residence is listed as 860 Camino del Mar.
The book The Dashiell Hammett Tour states that a publicist who once owned the house is responsible for placing the plaque.
On the last day of his stay he visited a Dr. Abrams, about whom he writes in his memoir, Our Second American Adventure, as "...well known as a pioneer along strange paths in science..." The visit was to witness the demonstration of a machine the doctor had invented. Sir Arthur continues, by stating that what "...he was showing me was the vibration of disease which varies with cancer, syplilis, or whatever it may be, and can be recorded on an instrument like a wireless receiver." He was particularly impressed when a bottle containing cancer cells, to which the machine had previously reacted, was removed. When the antenna was placed at the same spot "...there came the four-second responses as before." This confirmed Sir Arthur's belief that the cancer had left "...its own etheric double which still sent out etheric vibrations..." He came away from the visit greatly excited about the machine's possibilities.
The 1923 San Francisco city directory lists Albert Abrams, under physicians, as having his office at 2151 Sacramento. His residence is listed as 860 Camino del Mar.
The book The Dashiell Hammett Tour states that a publicist who once owned the house is responsible for placing the plaque.