The word ectoplasm comes from the Greek ektos (outside of) and plasma (something formed). The term was coined by the French physiologist Charles Richet, who had at one point served as the president of the U.K.’s Society for Psychical Research.
In a paranormal sense, ectoplasm was once believed to be secreted from the bodies of mediums as they channeled spirits from the other side. It may have also been residue left by the manifestation of spirits or other entities.The physical characteristics of ectoplasm have been described a number of ways. White, milky, slimy, smelling of ozone. It was solid, but also sometimes appeared as vaporous, emanating from the mouths, ears, and noses of physical mediums, usually in a darkened room and surrounded by fellow spiritualists.This idea, naturally, has fallen out of fashion, as most of the old “evidence” of ectoplasm has long since been debunked as fraudulent, nothing more than cheesecloth and other everyday materials. In fact, some of the photographs are almost humorous, including made-up dolls and even magazine clippings of faces, meant to appear as the visions of lost loved ones.