Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 227
Appendix to Seventh Edition 227 Image on the Shroud 1. Vapograph Theory Paul Vignon advanced the theory that the image on the Shroud was caused by ammoniacal vapours acting on the aloe-impreg- nated cloth. Although Paul Vignon has been his own self-critic, his theory has not been disproved. However, Professor Hirt suggests that the stains could only be caused by active flowing of blood directly on the Shroud. His the- ory remains undisputed because blood which has coagulated on the skin cannot produce a stain with serous marking around it. 2. Direct Contact Theories • Dr. Giovanni Judica-Cordigilia was able to produce images with negative characteristics by moistening a corpse with blood, covering it with a strip of linen soaked in a solution of olive oil, turpentine, mixed with aloes and exposing the lin- en-draped body to hot steam in the presence of light. • Dr. R. Romanese was able to reproduce similar crude images by dampening a corpse with a solution of physiological salt and sprinkling linen with powdered salt before exposing it to light. • Dr. P. Scotti made an emulsion of aloes in olive oil and after sim- ple contact with air caused the aloetine-soaked cloth to form images which were extremely faint at first but which darkened with time after exposure to sunlight. It is possible that John