.

Ti
tl
e:FactandFabl
einPsy
chol
ogy

Aut
hor
:JosephJast
row

Rel
easeDat
e:May4,
2015[
EBook#48869]

Language:
Engl
i
sh

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es)

ByJosephJast
row

FACTANDFABLEINPSYCHOLOGY.Lar
ge
cr
own8vo,
gil
ttop,
$2.
00.

HOUGHTON,
MIFFLI
N&CO.
BOSTONANDNEW YORK

FACTANDFABLE
IN
PSYCHOLOGY

BYJOSEPHJASTROW
PROFESSOROFPSYCHOLOGYI
NTHEUNIVERSI
TYOFWI
SCONSI
N

[
Logo]

BOSTONANDNEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MI
FFLI
NANDCOMPANY
TheRi
versi
dePr
ess,Cambr
idge
 COPYRI
GHT,1900,
BYJOSEPHJASTROW
ALLRIGHTSRESERVED

TOMYHELPMATE

PREFACE

Agr oupofpr obl emst hatappear sconspi cuousl yint hepr esentv olume,
andi nsof arcont ri
but est ot hef itnessofi tst i
tle,hasobt ained
aconsi der ablei nter estont hepar toft hepubl icatl ar ge.Such
i
nter estseemspr onet ot akei t scl uef rom t heact ivityoft hose
whoher al dst ar t
lingr ev elat i
onsont hebasi sofunusual psy chi c
exper i
ences, andwhogi vepr omi seofdi scl osi ngot herwor ldst han
theonewi thwhi chcommonsenseandcommonsensat ionacquai ntus,
rathert hanf rom t hecaut i
ousandconsi st entr esultsofser iousand
professi onal st udent si nst udyori nl abor at ory .Thef asci nat ionof
theunusual ov ert hepopul armi ndi sf ami liarandi nt elli
gibl e, and
seemsi nnodi rect ionmor epr onouncedt hani nmat terspsy chol ogi cal.
Sol ongast hisi nter esti spr oper l
ysubor dinat edt oacompr ehensi ve
andi llumi nat i
nggener al v
iewoft hephenomenai nquest ion, itis
notl ikel yt obehar mf ul andmaypr ov et obehel pful .Butwhent he
concept ionoft henat ur eofourment al endowmentandt hei nt eresti n
theunder st andi ngt her eofar eder ivedf rom t heunusual ,theabnor mal,
andt heobscur e, i
nst eadoff rom t henor mal , l
aw- abi dingobser v at i
ons
systemat izedandi l
lumi nat edbyl ongandsuccessf ul resear ch,
therei sdangert hatt hei nter estwi llbecomeunwhol esomeandt he
concept ionmi sleadi ng.I tisqui tenat ur al thatt hepl ai nmanshoul d
bei nt er est edi nt heexper iencesoft hewor ldofmi ndwhi chf orm an
i
ntrinsi cpar tofhi scommonhumani ty; andi ti sequal l
ynat ur al t
hat
heshoul df i
ndat tract ioni nl esscommonpl aceandseemi ngl yanomal ous
ment al phenomena.I ft hunder stor mswer easr areast otal ecl i
psesof
thesun, itisl ikel yt hatt heywoul dat tractequal attent i
on, be
l
ookeduponast errify i
ngandpor tent ousbysuper stitioushumani ty,
andbei nv est edbyt radi t i
onwi thmy ster ioussi gnificance, under
thei nf luenceoft hei nt eresti nt heunusual .Theexi stenceoft his
i
nter esti si t selfadi st i
nct ivet raitmer itingapsy chol ogi cal
i
nter pr et at i
on, andonenotl ikel yt obeov er looked.I tsdi rect ion
andr egul at ionbecomet hecar eoft hesev eral depar tment sofsci ence
thatdeal wi tht her espect ivesubj ect -mat ter sinv olved.Andy et
i
naspeci al way ,asexpr essi onsoft hepopul ar_ espr i
t_,such
i
nter est scl aimt hepsy chol ogi st'sat tent ionast heydonotcl ai mt he
attent ionofr epr esent ativesofot hersci ences.I tmayhappent hat
theast ronomerf indsani nt eresti nnot ingpopul arconcept i
onsi n
regar dt ocomet sandl ifeonot herpl anet sandbel ief saboutmet eor s
andecl ipses, butsuchi nter estf ormsnoessent ialpar tofhi s
occupat ion.Heknowsv erywel lthatt hei nt elli
gentl ay manwhowi shes
tobei nf ormedonast r
onomi cal mat ter swi l
l turnwi thconf i
dence
andr espectt ot heaccount soft hesol arsy stem, whi chr epr esent
ther esul tofgener at i
onsofsci entifi
cr esear chundert hegui dance
ofexcepti
onalabil
it
yanddev otion.Thepsy chologisti
sinal ess
for
tunateposit
ion.Histopi
chasnei t
herthatexclusivedefi
niteness
ofcontentnorthatposit
ionofher edit
arypresti
genort hegener al
acknowledgmentofitsessentiall
ytechnicalcharacter,
whichbel ong
toastr
onomy .Allmenhav etheirownpsy chologicalexperi
encesand
noti
onsaboutment alphenomena, butopini
onsconcer ningastronomyar
e
admitt
edt obel
ongt othosewhohav especi al
l
yf i
ttedthemsel v
esf or
suchpursuit
s.

Ther ei st husanat ural reasonwhyi tshoul dbepar ti

cul ar l
y
diff
icul tinpsy chol ogyt obr ingaboutawhol esomeandr ight -minded
andhel pf ul inter estont hepar toft hel ay man, -
-adi f
ficul tyf ur ther
aggr av at edbyt heencour agementofwel l-
meani ngbutl ogi cal ly
defect ivepubl icat ionscl ai mi ngt osubst antiat ebyquasi -sci ent i
fic
met hodst hepopul arbel iefi nt hepecul iarper sonal andmy st erious
signi ficanceofev ent s.I nt hef aceoft hissi tuat ion, the
prof essi onal psy chol ogi stcannotbutt akeheedoft hedanger swhi ch
i
mper il thet rueappr eci ationofhi sl abor sandhi spur pose, ont he
partoft hesy mpat het i
cl ay man.I tisamat terofser i
ousconcer n
thatt hemet hodsofgenui nepsy chol ogi cal study ,thatt hecondi ti
ons
ofadv ancei npsy chol ogy ,thatt hescopeandnat ureofi tspr obl ems
shoul dbepr oper lyunder stood.I tismat terofi mpor tancet hatt he
domi nanti nt er esti npsy chol ogyshoul dcent reaboutt henor mal use
anddev el opmentoff unct ionswi thr espectt owhi chpsy chol ogybear s
asi gni ficantmessagef ort her egul at i
onofl ife.Ther est or ation
ofamor edesi rabl eandpr ogr essi v epoi ntofv iewr equi ressome
exami nat ionoft hef alseandmi sleadi ngconcept i
onsandal legeddat a,
whi cht hr eat ent odi v ertt hesoundandpr ogr essi v eint erestf rom
i
tspr operchannel s.I tisnott obeexpect ed, whenmanywhoengage
publ icat tent ionspeaki nf av oroft hei mpor tanceoft heunknownand
themy stici npsy chol ogy ,whent het wilightphenomenaofment alli
fe
aredwel tupon- -andpr ofessi onal lyaswel lasbyamat eur s--tot he
negl ectoft hel umi nousday l
ightact ual i
ties, thatt hel aymanwi l
l
alway scor rect l
ydi stingui shbet weenwhati saut hent i
cal lysci entif
ic
andi naccor dancewi tht headv anci ngi dealsofpsy chol ogy , andwhat
i
sbutt heembodi mentofunf ortunat et raditions, ort hemi sgui ded
effor toft hedi l
et tant e,ort heper ver sef allacyoft hepr epossessed
my st ic.Factandf abl ei npsy chol ogycanonl ybesepar atedbyt he
l
ogi cal si ftingofev idence, byt heexer ciseoft hepr erogat iveofa
scient if i
cpoi ntofv i
ewsubst ant iatedandf or t
ifiedbyt hel essons
embodi edi nt hehi stor yofr at ional opi nion.Thecauseoft rut hand
theov ert hr owofer r
ormustsomet imesbef oughti ndr awnbat tle
andwi tht hecl ashofar ms, butar emor ef requent l
yser vedbyt he
i
naugur at i
onofanadher encet oonesi deandt heconsequentdeser t
ion
oftheot her .Bot hpr ocedur esmaybemadenecessar ybyt hecur rent
statusofpsy chol ogi cal discussi on.

Thepr esentcoll
ectionofessay sisofferedasacont ributi
on
towar dst hereali
zationofasounderi nterestinandamor eint
imate
appr eciati
onofcer t
ai nproblemsuponwhi chpsy chologyhasan
author it
ativ
echar get omaket othepubl i
cj ury.Theseessay stake
theirstanddi sti
ncti
vel yupononesideofcer tainissues, andas
deter minatelyasthesi tuat
ionseemst owar r
ant ,antagonizecontrary
positions; t
heyaimt oopposecer tai
nt endenci esandt osuppor t
other s;toshowt hatt hesoundandpr ofitableinterestinment alli
fe
i
si nt heusual andnor mal,
andthatther esolutepur suitofthis
i
nt erestnecessar i
lyresul tsinbr i
ngi ngt heappar ent lyirregul ar
phenomenaoft hement alwor l
dwi thint hef iel dofi l
lumi nat i
onof
themor ef ami l
iarandt hel aw- abidi ng.Theyf urtherai mt oillustrat e
thatmi sconcept ionsi npsy chol ogy ,asi not herr eal ms, areasof ten
ther esul tofbadl ogicasofdef ectiveobser vat ion, andt hatbot h
areaptt obecal ledi ntobei ngbyi nher entment al prepossessi ons.
Someoft heessay sar emor eespeci allyoccupi edwi thananal y sis
oft hedef ectivel ogicwhi chlendspl ausi bi li
tyt oandi nduces
credencei ncer tainbel iefs;ot hersbr ingf orwar dcont ri
but i
onst o
anunder standingofphenomenaaboutwhi chmi sconcept ioni sl ikelyt
o
arise; stil
lother sar epr esent edaspsy chol ogi cal invest igations
whi ch, i
ti sbel i
ev ed, commandasomewhatgener al i
nt erest .The
promi nenceoft hedi scussi onofunf ortunat eandmi sleadingt endenci es
i
npsy chologi cal opinionshoul dnotbeal lowedt oobscur et he
mor eint r
insicallyi mpor tantpr oblemswhi chi nt hemai nar eofa
different ,thoughpossi blynotofanunr elat edchar acter.Ishoul dbe
def eatingoneoft hepur posesoft heseessay si f,byt hedi scussi on
ofmoot edposi tions, Iconv ey edt henot iont hatt hepr oblemst hus
present edwer enat urall
yt hef undament al onesaboutwhi chadv ance
i
npsy chologymaybemostpr omi singl ycent r ed.Ideepl yregr et
thatt hedi spossessi onoff abler equi resmor er esol uteandmor e
elabor at eexposi ti
ont hant heunf oldmentoff act ;butsuchi spar t
oft hecondi tionconf ront i
ngt hecr iti
cal studentofpsy chologi cal
opinion.Imustdependupont her eadert omakedueal l
owancesf or
thisf oreshor teni ngofapor tionoft hecomposi ti
on, andsot obr ing
awayat r
ueri mpr essionoft hewhol et hant heappar entper spect iv e
suggest s.

Itwoul dnotbepr opertoclaimf ort hisbudgetofpsy chologi cal

studiesapr e-arr
angedunityofdesi gnoraser i
alunfoldmentof
argument .Theyr epr
esentt heuni tyofi nterestofawor keri na
speci alfi
eld,whohashi sfavori
teexcur sionsandv i
stas,whoat
timesv enturesawayf rom thebeat enpat hsandasf requent l
yr et
urns
alongt hoseal readytraver
sed, butwi thv aryi
ngpurposes, and
reachest heout l
ookfrom adi f
fer entappr oach.Thereseemsenoughof
singlenessofpur poseinthesev eral presentati
onstowar ranttheir
i
ncl usioni nasinglevolumewi thacommonname.Ther eisenough
alsot omakei tperti
nenttoexpl aint hatt heoccasional r
epet it
ions
oft hesamel ineofthoughtseemedl essobj ecti
onablethanf r
equent
referencef rom oneessayt oanot her.

Alloft heessay shav ebeenpr evi

ousl yprintedi nt hepagesof
varioussci enti
ficandpopul armagazi nes; andIhav eaccordingly
toacknowl edget hecour tesyoft hesev eral publisher
s,whichmakes
possibl etheirappear ancei ntheirpr esentf orm.Theessay shav e,
howev er,beensubj ect edt oacr i
ticalrevi
sion, inthehopeof
i
ncr easingt heiraccept abi lityinregar dtof orm andmat eri
al,andof
givingt hem aset ti
ngappr opriatet otheinter estsofthepresent -
day
readersofpsy chol ogi cal literature.Bot hint hesel ect
ionofthe
essay sf rom alar gergr oupofpubl i
shedst udi es,andintheir
arrangementandel abor ation, Ihav eat t
empt edt obearinmi ndthe
sev er
al currentint erest si nquest i
onsoft hist ype,andtodirect
thesei nterestsf ormat i
v elyal ongl ineswhi chseem t omef erti
lein
promi seandst er l
ingi nv alue.I nther ecastingt husmadenecessar y
i
thascomeabout( mar kedl yi ntwocases, ThePr obl
emsofPsy chi
cal
Resear chandTheLogi cofMent al Telegraphy )thatsomeoft heessays
havebeenent
ir
elyr
ewrit
tenandbearonl
yagener
icr
esembl
ancet
o
thei
rfor
merappear
ance.

Thesev eral acknowl edgment st ober ecor dedar easf ollows: Tot he
"PopularSci enceMont hly,
"f orper mi ssiont or eprintThePsy chol ogy
ofDecept ion( December ,1888) ,ThePsy chologyofSpi ritualism ( April
,
1889), ASt udyofI nvol untar yMov ement s( AprilandSept ember ,1892) ,
TheMi nd'sEy e( Januar y,1899) ,TheModer nOccul t(Sept ember ,
1900); tot he" NewPr incet onRev i
ew,"forTheDr eamsoft heBl ind
(Januar y,1888) ;to" Har per '
sMont hl
yMagazi ne,"forThePr obl emsof
Psychical Resear ch( June, 1889) ;to" Scribner 'sMagazi ne, "forThe
LogicofMent al Tel egr aphy( Oct ober,1895) ;
tot he" Cosmopol itan, "
forHy pnot ism andi tsAnt ecedent s( Febr uar y,1896) .TheNat ur al
HistoryofAnal ogywasdel iver edasav ice- presidential addr ess
beforet heSect ionofAnt hr opol ogyoft heAmer i
canAssoci at i
onf or
theAdv ancementofSci ence, andwaspr intedi nitsPr oceedi ngs, v ol
.
xl.
,1891.Thear ti
cle, Ment alPr epossessi onandI nertia, appear ed
i
nacol legepubl icat i
onoft heUni versit
yofWi sconsin, the" Aegi s"
(April
,1897) .Ihav eal sot oacknowl edgemyi ndebt ednesst oMi ss
HelenKel l
erf orherv eryint erest i
ngcont ribut i
ont omypr esent at ion
ofthedr eamsoft hebl ind.Mymostcompr ehensiv eobl igationi nt he
preparat i
onoft hev olumeIhav eacknowl edgedupont hededi cat ory
page.

JOSEPHJASTROW.
MADI
SON,
WISCONSI
N,Nov
ember
,1900.

CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE v

THEMODERNOCCULT

I
.Thenat
ureoft
heoccul
t 1

I
I.Hi
stor
ical
aspectoft
heoccul
t 5

I
II
.Theosophy 7

I
V.Spi
ri
tual
i
sm 12

V.Pr
act
ical
occul
tsy
stems:
Alchemy 18

VI
.Ast
rol
ogy
,Phr
enol
ogy
,et
c. 21

VI
I.Theoccul
tinr
elat
iont
omedi
ci
ne 24

VI
II
.Chr
ist
ianSci
ence 26

I
X.Ot
herf
ormsofoccul
theal
i
ng 33
 X.I
nfl
uencesaf
fect
ingbel
i
efi
ntheoccul
t 38

THEPROBLEMSOFPSYCHI
CALRESEARCH

I
.Sci
enceandi
tsat
ti
tudet
owar
dbor
der
landphenomena 47

I
I.Theat
ti
tudeofPsy
chi
cal
Resear
ch;
itsr
elat
ion
t
oPsychol
ogy 50

I
II
.Ty
pesofi nterestinPsychicalResearch:theoccult
i
nterest;
thepsy chologicali
nter
est;practical
appl
icati
onsof" psychical"i
nvesti
gations; t
he
expl
anatoryinterest
; t
hei nv
esti
gativeinterest
;
theanthropological
interest 56

I
V.ThecontentoftheproblemsofPsychicalResearch:
hypnot
ism;subconsciousact
ivi
ti
es;hall
ucinat
ions;
tel
epat
hy 66

V.Thet
endenci
esofPsy
chi
cal
Resear
ch 75

THELOGI
COFMENTALTELEGRAPHY

I
ntr
oduct
ory 78

I
.Fact
orsofthepr
obl
em: unconsciousment
alpr
ocesses;
mentalcommunit
y;coi
ncidences 79

I
I.Thestatist
ical
natur
eofthei
nquir
y;the
appl
icati
onoftheoryt
ospeci
alcases 83

I
II
.Sour
cesofer
rori
nthedat
a 87

I
V.Thesour
ceofcoi
nci
dencesi
nthesubj
ect
ivei
nter
est 88

V.Résumé 93

VI
.Theval
ueofthedat
a;coi
nci
dences;experi
mental
evi
dence;
assumpt
ionandl
ogicalhypothesi
s 95

VI
I.Thel
egi
ti
macyoft
het
elepat
hichy
pot
hesi
s 99

VI
II
.Logi
cal
int
erpr
etat
ionoft
heev
idence 102

THEPSYCHOLOGYOFDECEPTI
ON

I
ntr
oduct
ory 106

I
.Theint
erpr
etat
ivef
actori
npercept
ion;
its
rel
ati
ontosense-
decept
ions 106

I
I.Ther ôl
eoft heconjurer
;thecomprehensionof
conjuringtri
cksdependentuponaknowl edgeof
technicaldetai
l;i
l
lust
rati
ons;
conjur
ing
decept i
onsasi mit
ati
onsofthecondit
ionsof
realexperience 111
I
II
.Thesubject
ivefactor
sindeception:
suggesti
on,
expectat
ion,
mi sdi
rect
ionoftheattent
ion;
the
sett
ingofatrick;i
l
lust
rat
ions 118

I
V.Thesubj ecti
v eattit
udeandpr epossessi
onasa
factorindecept ion;il
l
ustratedbyt hephenomena
ofSpi ri
tual
ism; experimental pr
oofofthe
i
nfluenceoft hebelief-
att
itude;extremeinst
ances
ofpr epossession 125

V.Ment
alcont
agi
on 132

VI
.Résumé;
thesaf
eguar
dsagai
nstdecept
ion 134

THEPSYCHOLOGYOFSPI
RITUALI
SM

I
.Or
igi
nofmodernSpi r
it
uali
sm; asurveyofty
pical
manif
est
ati
ons;reportoftheSeybertCommi ssi
on;
r
eport
sofotherobservers 137

I
I.Thebeli
efinSpiri
tuali
sm psychological
ly
i
nter
pret
ed;thetechnicalrequisi
tesfora
j
udgmentinthemat t
er;t
hei nvesti
gati
onsofMessr
s.
HodgsonandDav ey;
thepsy chologi
calfact
ors
cont
ri
butor
yt odeception 147

I
II
.Thel
ogi
cal
stat
usofSpi
ri
tual
i
sm 159

I
V.Thesourceoft hebeli
efinspirit
-agency;
its
anthr
opologicalbear
ings;theappeal t
ounf ortunat
e
predi
sposit
ions;themor al
av ersi
ontoSpirituali
sm 166

HYPNOTI
SM ANDI
TSANTECEDENTS

I
ntr
oduct
ory 171

I
.Thehi
stor
ical
aspectofhypnot
ism;
thepoi
ntof
vi
ewofmoder nhypnot
ism 172

I
I.Heal
ersofdiseasebyment
almet
hods;
thei
rmet
hods;
Greatr
akes;Gassner 176

I
II
.Mesmer;t
hebeginni
ngsofAni
malMagnet
ism;
Mesmer'
scareeri
nPari
s;t
heCommissi
onof1784;
decl
i
neofMesmer i
sm 180

I
V.Thesyst
em ofAni
mal
Magnet
ism;
itspr
act
ices;
a
cr
it
ical
view 189

V.Puységurandthediscoveryofar
ti
fici
al
somnambuli
sm; t
hest atusofPuységur
;Pét
eti
nand
hi
scontri
buti
ons 193

VI
.Therev
ival
ofMesmer i
sm;AbbéFaria;
somnambul
i
sm
i
nthehospit
alsofPar
is;
therepor
tofthe
 Commissi
onof1825;
ther
epor
toft
heCommi
ssi
on
of1837 200

VI
I.JamesBr aid;hi
searlyobserv
ati
ons;hi
s
enunciati
onoft hephysiol
ogyofthehypnoti
c
state;
hisconnectionwithphrenol
ogy;hi
slater
views;hisrecogni
tionofunconsci
ousdeception 205

VI
II
.Thechaoticcondi
tionofhy pnot
ism i
nthemi ddl
e
decadesofthenineteenthcentur
y;hypnot
ism
asananæst het
ic;scient
ifi
ccontr
ibut
ions 213

I
X.Extr
avagancesofMesmer i
sm; Deleuzeandhis
fol
lowers;"
elect
ro-
biol
ogy;
"HarrietMart
ineau'
s
let
tersonMesmer i
sm; Mesmer i
cmi r
acl
es;
Reichenbachandthe"odi
c"force 216

X.Transit
iontomoder nhypnoti
sm;thesci
ent
if
ic
recognit
ionofhypnoti
sm;Charcotandhi
sfoll
ower
s;
Bernheim andtheschoolofNancy 227

XI
.Pri
nciplesill
ustr
atedbythehist
oryofhypnot
ism;
l
ackofpr operconcept
ions;
unconsci
oussuggesti
on;
conclusion 231

THENATURALHI
STORYOFANALOGY

I
.Thel
ogi
cal
andpsy
chol
ogi
cal
aspect
sofanal
ogy 236

I
I.Analogyandpri
mit
ivement
all
if
e;i
ll
ust
rat
ions;
sympathet
icmagi
cbaseduponanal
ogy;fur
ther
i
ll
ustr
ati
ons 238

I
II
.Analogyt hebasi
sofbeliefintheconnecti
on
bet weenobjectandname; il
lust
rati
ons;si
mil
ar
relati
onbetweent heobjectanditsimage,dr
awi
ng,
orshadow 243

I
V.Anal
ogyandmet
aphor
;vaguerf
ormsofanal
ogy 248

V.Anal
ogyi
nchi
l
dren 250

VI
.Anal
ogyinsuperstiti
onsandfol
k-l
orecust
oms;
i
ndream-i
nterpretati
on;i
nfort
une-
tel
li
ng;i
n
number
s;infolk-medici
ne 252

VI
I.Thedoctri
neofsympathi
es;ofsi
gnat
ures;
astr
ology;t
herôl
eofanalogyint
hesesystems;
thei
rmoder nsur
viv
als 261

VI
II
.Analogyasaphasei nmentalevolut
ion;t
he
tr
ansiti
onf rom superst
it
iontoscience;the
evoluti
onoft heraceandoft heindivi
dual;
analogy,theseriousthoughthabitofpri
mitiv
eman,
becomesi nciv
ili
zati
onasour ceofamusement ;
conclusion 269
THEMI
ND'
SEYE

I
.Thenat
ureofpercept
ion;
itssubj
ect
iveand
obj
ect
ivefact
ors 275

I
I.I
ll
ustr
ati
onsoft
heef
fect
soft
hesubj
ect
ive
factor 279

I
II
.Per
cept
ionasmodifi
edbyattent
ionandbythe
ment
alconcept
;il
l
ust
rat
ions;equi
vocal
drawings 282

I
V.Thef
unct
ionoft
hemi
nd'
sey
e 294

MENTALPREPOSSESSI
ONANDI
NERTI
A

I
.Thenatur
eofpr
epossessi
on;
pedagogi
cal
il
l
ustr
ati
ons 296

I
I.I
ll
ust
rat
ionderi
vedf
rom t
heexper
ienceoft
he
CensusBureau 301

I
II
.Psy
chol
ogi
cal
int
erpr
etat
ion 304

ASTUDYOFI
NVOLUNTARYMOVEMENTS

I
.Unconsci
ousact
ivi
ti
es 307

I
I.Muscl
e-r
eadi
ng;
met
hodofr
ecor
dingi
nvol
unt
ary
movements 308

I
II
.Il
l
ustrat
ionsanddescr
ipt
ionofr
ecor
dsof
inv
oluntar
ymov ement
s 312

I
V.I
nter
pret
ati
onandanal
ysi
sofr
ecor
dsof
i
nvol
untar
ymovements 321

V.I
nfl
uenceofthenat
ureoftheobj
ectofat
tent
ion
uponinvol
untar
ymov ement
s 330

VI
.Ot
herformsofi
nvol
untar
yindi
cati
ons;
"
inv
oluntar
ywhi
sper
ing;
"thesubconsci
ous 334

THEDREAMSOFTHEBLI
ND

I
.Ther
ôleofv
isi
oni
nment
all
i
fe 337

I
I.Ther etentionofvi
sionindreamsasdependent
upont heageofthelossofsight;t
he"
crit
ical
period;"thei
nvesti
gati
onofHeer mannin1838;
thest atusasto"dream-v
ision"oft
heparti
all
y
bli
nd 340

I
II
.Corr
oborat
ionsoftheaboveresul
tsbyother
evi
dence;thedr
eamsoft hebli
nd-
deaf;dr
eamsof
Laur
aBr i
dgman;HelenKell
er'
saccountofher
 dr
eam-
li
fe;
int
erpr
etat
ions 345

I
V.Distincti
onsindream-li
feofi
nci
dentsexper
ienced
dur ingtheper
iodofsightfr
om thoseoft
he
blindnessperi
od; t
heimaginat
ionofthebl
ind;
i
llust r
ati
onsoftheirdr
eams 360

V.Résumé 369

I
NDEX 371

FACTANDFABLEI
NPSYCHOLOGY

THEMODERNOCCULT

Ifthati magi nar yindivi

dual soconv enientf orlit
er aryil
lust r
ation,
av isitorf rom Mar s, weret oal ightuponourpl anetati tspr esent
stageofdev elopment ,andi fhisi ntellectualinter estsinducedhi m
tosur veyt her angeoft er restri
al viewsoft henat ureofwhati s
"i
nheav enabov e, oront heear thbeneat h, orint hewat ersunder
theear th,"toappr aisemundaneopi nioninr egar dt otheper ennial
probl emsofmi ndandmat ter
,ofgov ernmentandsoci ety,ofl i
fe
anddeat h, ourMar t
ianobser vermi ghtconcei vabl yrepor tthata
l
imi tedpor t
ionofmanki ndwer egui dedbybel ief srepresent i
ngt he
accumul atedt oilandst udi ousdev ot i
onofgener ati
ons,--
theout come
ofasl owandt ortuousbutpr ogr essi vegr owt ht hrougher rorand
super st i
tion, andatt hecostofper secut ionandbl oodshed; thatthey
mai nt ainedi nstit
ut i
onsofl earningwher et hef ruitsofsucht hought
coul dbei mpar t
edandt heseedscul t
ivatedt obearst il
l mor erichly
;
butt hatout sideoft hisrespect abl ey etinfluential minor i
ty,there
wer eendl essuphol dersofut terlyunl ikenot ionsandofwi dely
divergi ngbel iefs,clamor ingl i
ket hebui ldersoft het owerofBabel
i
ndi verset ongues.

Iti
swel l,
atleastoccasi onally,
t oremembert hatourconcept i
ons
ofscienceandoft ruth,ofthenat ur eofl ogicandofev i
dence,
arenotsouni versallyheldasweunr eflectinglyassumeoraswe
hopefull
ywi sh.Almostev eryoneoft hef undament al
,basal,and
i
ndisputabletenetsofsci encei sr egar dedashopel essl
yiner r
or
bysomear dentwoul d-ber efor
mer .OneHampdendecl arestheear t
h
tobeamot ionlessplanewi t
ht heNor thPol east hecentre;one
Carpentergivesahundr edr emar kabl er easonswhyt heear t
hi snot
round,withachal lenget othesci entistsofAmer i
catodisprove
them; oneSy mmesr egardedt heear thashol l
owandhabi t
ablewithin,
withopeningsatt hepol es, whichheof feredt oexploreforthe
considerati
onoft he" patronageoft hisandt henewwor l
ds;"while
Symmes, Jr.
,explainshowt heinter i
ori sl i
ght ed,andthatit
probabl yformst hehomeoft hel osttribesofI srael;andoneTeed
announces, onequal l
yconcl usiveev idence, thatt heear t
hi sa
"stationar yconcav ecel l.
..wi t
hpeopl e, Sun, Moon, Planet s,and
Star sont heinside,
"thewhol econst itut i
ngan" alchemi co- organic
struct ure,aGi ganti
cEl ectr o-
Magnet i
cBat t
ery ."Ifwewer et o
passf rom opi ni
onsr egar dingt heshapeoft heear t
htot hemany
otherandcompl exprobl emst hatappeal tohumani nter est s,itwould
beequal l
yeasyt ocol lect" i
deas"compar ablet ot hesei nv alue,
evidence, andeccent ricit
y .Witht hi
sconspi cuousl ypat hol ogi cal
out growt hofbr ain-
funct i
oni ng,--
althoughi tsr epr esent ativesi nt he
l
iteratur eoft heoccul tarenei therf ewnorf arbet ween, --Ishal l
notspeci fical
lydeal;andy etthegener alabuseofl ogic, the
helplessf l
ounder i
ngsi nt hemi r eofdel usiveanal ogy ,thebasel ess
assumpt i
ons, whichchar act eri
zei nsaneor" cr ank"pr oduct i
ons, ar
e
readi l
yf oundi ntheliterarypr oduct sofoccul ti
sm.

Theoccul tconsi stsofami xedaggr egat eofmov ement sanddoct r

ines,
whi chmaybet heexpr essionsofki ndr edi nter est sanddi sposi ti
ons,
butpr esentnoessent ialcommuni tyofcont ent .Suchmember soft hi
s
clusterofbel iefsasi nourdayandgener ationhav eattaineda
consi der ableadher enceorst illr
etainitf r
om f or mergener ations,
const itutet hemoder noccul t.Aconspi cuousandt rulydi sti
nct i
ve
char act erist
icoft heoccul tisi t
smar keddi vergencei nt r
endand
belieff rom t her ecogni zedst andardsandachi ev ement sofhuman
thought .Thi sdi vergencei soneofat ti
tudeandl ogi candgener al
perspect ive.Iti sadi vergenceofi ntel l
ectual temper ament ,that
distor tsthenor mal r
eact ionst oscienceandev idence, andt ot he
gener al significanceandv aluesoft hef actor sofourcompl icated
natur esandofourequal l
ycompl i
cat edenv i
r onment .Atl eastitis
thisinext remeandpr onouncedf orms; andshadesf rom i tthrough
ani rregul arv arietyoft int
st oav agueandof tenunconsci ous
suscept ibili
tyf ortheunusual andeccent ri
c, combi nedwi than
i
nst abi li
tyofconv i
ctionr egar dingest abl i
shedbel i
efst hati smor e
oftent heexpr essionoft heweaknessofi gnor ancet hanoft hecour age
ofindependence.

Int hei rtemperandcour seofunf ol dment ,occul tdoct rinesar el i

kel
y
toi nv olveandt opr oceeduponmy sticism, obscur it
y ,andadi sguised
form ofsuper stit
ion.I ntheircont ent, t
heyar eat tractedt osuch
themesast heul ti
mat enat ureofment alacti
on, theconcept i
on
ofl i
f eanddeat h,t heef fectofcosmi ccondi t
ionsuponhuman
ev ent sandendowment ,thedel ineat ionofchar acter,thenat ureand
treat mentofdi sease; orindeedt oanyoft hel argerorsmal l
er
realmsofknowl edget hatcombi newi thast ronghuman, andatt i
mes
apr act i
cal interest, aconsi derabl ecompl exityofbasal pr inciples
andgener al r
elations.Bot hthet emperandt hecont ent ,themanner
andt hemat teroft heoccul t,shoul dbebor nei nmi ndi nasur vey
ofi tsmor edi st i
nct iveexampl es.I tiswel l,
whi leobser vingt he
par ticularf orm ofoccul t
ism ormy sticism, or,itmaybe, mer elyof
super stiti
onander ror,whichoneoranot heroft heoccul tmov ements
exhi bits, t
onot easwel ltheimpor tanceoft hei ntell
ect ual mot i
v e
ort emper amentt hati ncli
nest otheoccul t.Itisimpor tantt o
i
nqui renotonl ywhati sbel i
ev ed, butwhati st henat ureoft he
ev i
dencet hati nducesbel i
ef;toobser vewhatat tr
act sandt henmakes
conv erts;todi scov erwhatar et hei nfluencesbywhi cht hebel i
ef
spr eads.Twocl assesofmot ivesori nterestsar econspi cuous: t
he
onepr omi nent lyint ellectual ortheoretical,t
heot hermoder at elyor
grossl ypr act i
cal.Mov ement sinwhi cht hefor merinterestdomi nates,
cont ainel ement st hatcommandr espectev enwhent heydonotengage
sympat hy;andt hatappeal ,thoughitmaybeunwi sely,towor thy
i
mpul sesandl oftyaspi rations.Amongstt hemov ement spr esent ing
promi nentpr act i
cal aspect saretobef oundi nstancesoft hemost
i
rrev erentandper ni cious, aswel l
asoft hemostv ulgar,ignor ant,
andf raudul entschemeswhi chhav ebeendev i
sedt omi sleadt hehuman
mi nd.Mostoccul tmov ement s,howev er,areofami xedchar act er;
andi nt heircareer ,thespecul ati
veandt hepr acti
cal changei n
i
mpor tanceatdi ffer entt imes, orindifferentlands,oratt hehands
ofv ariousl ymi ndedl eader s.Fewescape, andsomeseem especi ally
desi gnedf orthepar tisanshi pofthatcl asswhoar eseeki ngwhom t hey
maydev our;who, st i
mul atedbyt hegr eedf orgainort hel ov eof
not oriety,sett heirsnar esf ortheeternallygulli
ble.Thei nterest
i
nt heoccul t,howev er ,isundert heswayoft helawoff ashi on;
andf ortunat ely,manyament algarmentwhi chisdonnedi nspi teof
thepr otestofr easonandpr opri
ety,i
squi etlylai
dasi dewhent he
dictum oft hehourpr onouncesi tunbecomi ng.

I
I

Hist or i
cal lyconsi der ed, theoccul tpoi nt sbackt odi st antepochsand
tof or eignci v i
lizat i
ons; toageswhent hef act sofnat ur ewer ebut
weakl ygr asped, whenbel iefwasl ar gel ydomi nat edbyt heaut hor it
y
oft radi ti
on, whenev ent heabl estmi ndsf ost er edorassent edt o
super st i
tion, whent hesoci alcondi t
ionsofl i
fewer ei nimi cal
toi ndependentt hought ,andt hemassofmenwer ecutof ff rom
i
nt ellect ual growt hofev ent hemostel ement ar yki nd.Pseudo- sci ence
fl
our i
shedi nt heabsenceoft rueknowl edge; andi magi nat ive
specul at i
onandunf oundedbel i
efhel dt heof ficei nt endedf or
i
nduct iver eason.I gnor ancei nev itabl yl edt oer ror,andf alsev iews
tof alsepr act ices.I nt hesy mpat het icenv ironmentt husdev eloped,
theoccul t
istf l
our ishedanddi spl ay edt hei mpr essiv ei nsigni aof
excl usi vewi sdom.Hi sat titudewast hatofoneseeki ngt osol v ean
enigma, t of indt hekeyt oasecr etar canum; hissear chwasf orsome
my st icchar m, somet alismani cf or mul a,somemagi cal procedur e,whi
ch
shoul ddi spel themi stt hathi dest hef aceofnat ureandexposeher
secr et st ohi secst at icgaze.Byoneal l
-encompassi ng, mast er ful
effor tt hecor rectsol utionwast obedi scov er edorr ev ealed; and
atonceandf oral l,ignor ancewast ogi vepl acet ot rueknowl edge,
scienceandnat ur ewer et obeasanopenbook, doubtanddespai r
tober epl acedbyt heser eni t
yofper fectwi sdom.Asouror dinar y
sensesandf acul t i
espr ov edi nsuf ficientt oaccompl ishsuchends,
super nat ur al power swer eappeal edt o, atr anscendent alspher eof
spiritual act ivitywascul ti
v ated, capabl eofper cei ving, through
thehi ddensy mbol ism ofappar entphenomena, theunder lyingr elati
ons
ofcosmi cst ruct ureandf i
nal pur poses.Longper iodsoft rainingand
dev ot ion, secl usionf rom t hewor ld, cont empl at i
onofi nnermy st eri
es,
wer et ol eadt hei niti
at et hrought hev ar i
ousst agesofadept shi p
upt ot hef inal planeofcommuni onwi ththei nf init
eandt he
compr ehensi onoft ruthi nal lt hings.Thi sf or m ofoccul ti
sm r eaches
i
tsf ullestandpur estexpr essi oni nOr iental wi sdom- rel igi
ons.These
viei ni nter estt ot hehi storianwi tht hemy t hol ogyandphi losophy
ofGr eeceandRome; andweoft heOcci dentf eel freet opr ofitby
thei
rethicalandphi losophicalcontent,andtocher i
shthei mpulses
whichgav et hem li
fe.Butwhensuchv iewsareforcibl
ytransplanted
toourageandcl i
me, whent heyaredeckedi ngar mentssounl ike
thei
roriginalvest
ment s,part
icul
arl
ywhent heyareassoci atedwith
dubiouspr acti
cesandcomei ntovi
ol entconfl
ictwiththetruth
thathasaccumul atedsincet heyfi
rsthadbi r
th,-
-t
heiraspectis
profoundlyalter
ed, andtheycomewi thint
hecircl
eoft hemoder n
occult.

I
II

Oft hischar act eri sTheosophy ,anoccul tmov ementbr oughti nt o

recentpr omi nencebyt heact ivityandper sonal it
yofMme.Bl av at sky.
Thest or yoft hechecker edcar eeroft hi sr emar kabl ewomani sf airl
y
accessi ble.Bor ni nRussi ai n1831asHel enPet rov na, daught erof
Col onel Hahn, oft heRussi anar my ,shewasmar ri
edatt heageof
sev ent eent oanel der l
ygent leman, M.Bl av at sky .Shei sdescr ibed
i
ngi r l
hoodasaper sonofpassi onat et emperandwi lful ander rat ic
disposi ti
on.Shesepar atedorescapedf rom herhusbandaf teraf ew
mont hsofmar riedl ife, andent ereduponanext endedper iodof
trav el andadv ent ur e.Thesear chf or" psy chi c"exper iencesandf or
unusual personsandbel i
ef sseemedt of ormt he_ leit-mot iv _ofher
nomadi cexi st ence.Sheabsor bedHi nduwi sdom f rom t headept sof
Indi a; shesatatt hef eetofat haumat ur gistatCai ro; shej our ney ed
toCanadat omeett hemedi cinemanoft heRedI ndians, andt oNew
Or leanst oobser v et hepr act icesofVoodooamongt henegr oes.I tis
difficul tt oknowwhatt obel i
ev ei ntheaccount spr epar edbyher
ent husi asticf ol l
ower s.Vi olationsofphy sical lawwer econst ant ly
occur ringi nherpr esence; and, t
obor r owaphr asef rom Mr .Lang,
"spor adi cout breaksofr appi ngsandf eat sofi mpul sivepot s, pans,
beds, andchai rsi nsi st edonmaki ngt hemsel vesnot or ious. "In1873
shecamet oNewYor kandsati n" spi rit
ual i
st ic"ci rcles, assumi ng
anassentt ot hei rt heor ies, butcl aimi ngt oseet hroughand
bey ondt hemani f est at ionst heoper at ionsofhert heosophi cgui des
i
nast ral project ion.AtsuchaséanceshemetCol onel Olcot t,
andassi stedhi mi nt hef oundat ionoft heTheosophi cal Soci etyi n
NewYor kinOct ober , 1875.Mme.Bl av at skydi rect edt het houghtof
thissoci etyt ot hedoct r
inesofI ndianoccul ti
sm, andr epor ted
theappear ancei nNewYor kofaHi nduMahat ma, whol ef tat ur ban
behi ndhi m asev idenceofhi sast ral visit.TheMahat mas, itwas
expl ai ned, wer eaSoci et yofBr others, whodwel tint hef ast nesses
off ar -of fThi bet , andt her ehandedonbyt radi tiont hesuper -mor tal
wi sdom whi cht hei rspi ri
tual ityandcont empl at ivet raini ngenabl ed
them t oabsor b.Lat er ,thismoder npr iest essofI sisandCol onel
Olcot t( whor emai nedherst aunchsuppor ter, butwhom sher ef er red
toi npr ivateasa" psy chol ogi zedbaby ")exchangedt hedi st ract ing
atmospher eofNewYor kf ort hemor eser eneenv ironmentofI ndi a;
andatAdy arest abl i
shedashr i
ne, from whi chwer emy st eriousl y
i
ssuedanswer st ol etter spl acedwi thini tsr ecesses, from whi ch
secr etf actswer er ev eal ed, andav ar i
et yofi nt erest ingmar v els
per for med.Di scor dsar osewi thinthehousehol d, andl edt ot he
publ i
cat i
onbyM.andMme.Coul omb, herconf eder at es, ofl et ter s
i
llumi nat ingt het ricksoft het r
adebywhi cht hemi racleshadbeen
produced.Mme.Bl av at skypr onouncedt hel et terst obef or ger ies,
butt heywer esuf f i
ci ent lymoment oust obr i
ngMr .Hodgsont oI ndi a
toinv est i
gat ef ortheSoci et yforPsy chical Resear ch.Hewasabl e
todepr ivemanyoft hemi raclesoft heirmy ster y;toshowhowt he
shr i
nef r
om whi chtheMahat ma'smessagesemanat edwasaccessi bl
eto
Mme.Bl av at skybyt heai dofsl i
dingpanel sandsecr etdr awer s, to
showt hatt hesemessageswer ei nst yle,spel li
ng, andhandwr i
ting
thecount erpar tofMme.Bl avatsky '
s, t
oshowt hatmanyoft he
phenomenawer ether esultofpl annedcol lusionandt hatot her swer e
creat edbyt hel i
mitlesscr edul it
yandt heimagi nat i
veexagger at ion
oft hewi tnesses, --
"domest ici mbeci les,"asmadameconf i
dent ial l
y
referredt ot hem.Thr ought heAkasi cf orce, themedi um ofwhi chwas
themy steriouswor ld-ether, Akaz, wer ebr oughtmessagest hatsuddenl y
appear edi nspaceorf l
utter eddownf rom t hecei l
ing; yetM.Coul omb
expl ainedhowbymeansofapi eceoft hread, aconv eni entrecess
i
nt hepl ast eroft hecei li
ng, andanar r
angedsi gnal ,
thel etters
coul dbemadet oappearatt hepr operdr amat i
cmoment .Whenasaucer
wasl eftst andi ngneart heedgeofashel fi ntheshr ine, andt he
openi ngoft hedoorbr oughti ttot hef loorshat teredt opi eces, t he
samemy st eriousfor cewassuf ficientt or ecreat ei t
,wi thoutf l
aw
orbl emi sh; butwhenMr .Hodgsonf indst hatatashopatwhi chMme.
Blav atskyhadmadepur chases, twosuchar ticleshadbeensol datt he
priceoft wor upeesei ghtannast hepai r,
themi raclebecomesmor e
i
ntel li
gible.

I
nbr i
ef,thereportoft hesoci et
yconv i
cted" t
hePr iest
essofI sis"
of"alongcont i
nuedcombi nati
onwi thot herpersonst oproduceby
ordi
narymeansaser iesofappar entmar velsforthesuppor toft he
Theosophicmov ement ;"andconcl udeswi t
hthesewor ds:"Forourown
part
,wer egardhernei t
herast hemout hpieceofhi ddenseer snoras
amer evulgaradv enturess; wethinkthatshehasachi evedat it
leto
permanentremembr anceasoneoft hemostaccompl ished,ingenious,
and
i
nteresti
ngimpost orsi nhistory.
"Mme.Bl avat
skydi edin1891, and
herasheswer ediv i
dedbet weenAdy ar, London, andNewYor k.

TheTheosophi cmov ementcont inues, t

houghwi thabat edv igor,owing
par tl
yt ot heabov e-ment ioneddi sclosur es, butpr obabl ymor et othe
i
ncr easi ngpr opagandi sm ofot hercul ts,t
ot hel ackofal eader
ofMme.Bl avatsky 'sgeni us, ortot hei nev itabl eebbandf lowof
suchi nterest s.Mme.Bl av atskycont inuedt oexpoundTheosophyaf t
er
theexposur es,andal thoughdepr essedbyt hei rpubl i
cat i
onst i
ll
occasi onal l
yessay edami racle.Lat er ,inamomentofconf ession
i
nducedbyt hedi scov eryofapackageofChi neseenv elopesr eady
toser v ef ormi racul ousappear ances, shei sr epor tedt ohav esaid,
"Whati sonet odo, wheni nor dert or ulemeni tisnecessar yto
decei vet hem; whent hei rv erystupi di tyinv itest ri
ckery ,for
almosti nv ar i
abl ythemor esi mpl e, themor esi lly,andt hemor e
gr osst hephenomena, t
hemor el i
kel yi tist osucceed? "Stil
l
,
ev ensel f-conf essi ondoesnotdet ractf r
om t hef ervorofconv i
nced
bel i
ev er s;andMr s.Besant , Mr.Si nnet t,andot herswer ereadyt o
takeupt hewor katherdeat h.Howev er ,mi racl esar enol onger
per for med, andnoi mmedi at elypr act icalendsar epr ocl aimed.
Indiv idual dev elopmentandev ol
ut ion, my sticdi scour sesonadept shi
p
andKar maandMay aandNi r v
ana, communi onwi t
ht hehi gherendsof
l
ife, thecul ti
vationofanesot ericpsy chi ci nsight ,formt hegoal
ofpr esentendeav or.TheMahat mas, say sMr s.Besant ,aregi vi
ng
"intellect ual i
nst r
uct ions, enor mousl ymor ei nt erest i
ngt hanev ent he
exhi bi ti
onoft heirabnor mal power s. "" OurEur opeant hinkers,"thus
Mr .Podmor eint erpr et sMr .Si nnet t'
sat ti
tude, "
ar el ikebl indmen
whoar epai nf ullylear ningt or eadwi t
ht hei rf inger sf rom achi ld's
primer ,whi lstt hesehav eey est oseet heuni ver se, past ,present ,
andt ocome.ToMr .Si nnet ti thadbeengi v ent ol ear nt heal phabet
oft hatt ranscendentl anguage. "" Hecoul dmaket hemostext rav agant
my st i
cism seem mat teroff act .Hecoul dwr iteof_ Manv ant aras_
and_ Nirv ana_ , andt hesept enar yconst it
ut ionofman, i
nl anguage
whi chwoul dhav ebeenappr opr iatei nat reat iseonki tchen- mi ddens,
ort hef unct ionsoft hepi neal gland.I nhi sl uci dpr oset hev ast
concept ionsofpr i
mi tiveBuddhi sm wer ef usedwi tht hecommonpl acesof
moder nsci ence; andwhi l
stt hecosmol ogywhi chr esul tedf rom t heir
uniondazzl edbyi tsspl endi dv i
si ons, thepr eci set er mi nologyoft he
wr i
ter,andt hev erypov ertyofhi simagi nat ion, ser v edt or eassur e
hisr eader st hatt heywer elisteni ngt owor dsoft rut handsober ness.
Wewer et aughtt ol ookbackupont hisear t handal l i
tsmi ght y
sisterhoodofpl anet sandsunsr ollingonwar di ni nf initespace,
throughcy cleaf tercy clei nt hepast .Wewer eshownhow, through
theper pet ual fluxandr efluxoft hespi ri
tual andt henat ur al,the
cosmi cev ol utionwasaccompl ished, andt heear thgr ew, thr ought he
l
ifeofcr y st al,andpl ant ,andbr ut e,toman.Wesawhowt hewor lds
throbbedi nv astal ter nationofsy stoleanddi ast ol e, andhowt he
ti
deofhumanl i
f eitsel fhadi tsebbandf low.Andt hi sf ugi ti
v e
humanper sonal ity--
themanwhowor ks,andl ov es, andsuf fers- -
wesaw
toendur ebutf orashor tlifeonear th, andf oranage, shor teror
l
onger ,in_ Dev achan_ .Memor yi st henpur gedaway , theet er nal spirit
put sonanewdr ess, andanewl ifeonear thi sbegun.Andsot hrough
eachsucceedi ngr ei ncar nat iont hegoal oft hel ifepr ecedi ngbecomes
thest arting- poi ntoft hel i
fewhi chf ol l
ows. "I nsuchmannert he
moder nTheosophi stseekst oappeal tomenandwomenofphi l
osophi cal
i
ncl inations, forwhom anel ementofmy stici sm hasi tschar m, and
whoar ei nt el l
ect uallyatunr estwi t
ht heconcept ionsunder ly i
ng
moder nsci enceandmoder nl if
e.Suchper sonsar equi tel i
kel yt obe
educat ed, ref ined, andsi ncer e.Wemaybel iev et hem i ntellect ual l
y
mi sguided; wemayr ecogni zet hef raudt owhi cht hei rleaderr esor t
ed
togl ori
f yhercr eed, butwemustequal lyrecogni zet heabsenceof
manyper nici oust endenci esi nt hei rteachi ngs, whi chchar act erize
otherandmor epr act ical occul tmov ement s.

I
V

Spiri
tual ism, anothermemberoft hemoder noccul tf amily,presents
acombi nat i
onoff eat uresr at herdi ffi
cultt
opor tr
ay ;butits
publiccar eerofhal facent uryhaspr obablyrender edi t
st enetsand
practicesf air
lyfami l
iar .
[1]For ,li
keot hermov ement s, i
tpr esents
bothdoct r
inesandmani fest ations; and,li
keot hermov ement s,it
achiev edi tspopul aritythr oughi tsmani festationsandemphasi zedthe
doctrinest omai ntaint hei nter estandsol i
dar i
tyofi tsnumer ous
conv erts.Del iberatef raudhasbeenr epeatedlydemonst ratedina
l
argenumberofal leged" spiritualisti
c"mani festations; i
nmanymor e
thev erynat ureoft hephenomenaandoft hecondi tionsunderwhi ch
theyappeari ssost r
ongl ysuggest i
veoft r
icker yast or enderany
otherhy pot hesisoft heiror iginequal lyi
mpr obabl eandsuper fl
uous.
Unconsci ousdecept ion, exagger atedanddi stor t
edr epor ts,defecti
ve
andmi sleadi ngobser vation, hav ebeendemonst ratedt obemostpot ent
reagent s, wher ebyallegedmi raclesar emadet othrowof ftheir
my sti
fy ingenv elopingsandt oleaveasi mpl edeposi tofi ntel
ligi
ble
andof t encommonpl acef act.Thatt hemet hodsoft hisort hatmedi um
havenotbeenbr oughtwi thinther angeofsuchexpl anationmaybe
admi tted, buttheadmi ssioncar r
ieswi thitnobi asinf avoroft he
spiri
tual ist
ichypot hesis.Itmaybeur ged, howev er,thatwher ethere
i
smuchsmoket hereisaptt obesomef ire;yett hereislitt
le
prospectofdi scov eri
ngt henat ureoft hef i
reunt ilt
hesmokehas
beencompl etelyclearedaway .Per hapsi thasbeensnat chedf r
om
heavenbyamat eri
ali
zedPr omet heus; perhapsi tmaypr ov etobet he
tr
ickofa_ ri
diculusmus_gnawi ngatamat ch.Andy et,inthis
connect ion,t
hemai npoi ntt obei nsisteduponwi t
hr egardt osuch
mani fest ati
onsi sthatt heirinterpretationandt heirexplanat i
on
demandsomemeasur eoft echnical knowl edgeandt r
aining,andof
special adapt abili
tytosuchpur suits."Thepr oblem cannotbesol v
ed
andset tledbyamat eurs, norby' commonsense' t
hat

'
Del
iv
ersbrawl
ingjudgment
sal
ldayl
ong,
Onal
lthi
ngsunashamed.'
"

Spi ri
tual ism r epr esent sasy stemat i
zat ionofpopul arbel i
efsand
super stitions, modi fiedbyechoesofr eligiousandphi losophi cal
doct rines; itthuscont ainsf actor swhi chowet hei ror igint oot her
i
nt erest st hant hosewhi chl eaddi rect l
yt ot heoccul t.Itsmai n
pur posewast oest abl i
sht her ealityofcommuni cat i
onwi t
hdepar t
ed
spirits; themeans, whi chatf irstspont aneousl ypr esent edthemsel ves
andl at erwer edev isedf ort hispur pose, werei nl ar gemeasur enot
original .Ther appi ngsar ei naccor dwi tht het r adi ti
onal folk-lore
behav iorofghost s; t
hei rt ransf ormat ioni ntoasi gnal code( although
adev icedi scov er edbef ore)mayhav ebeenduet ot heor i
ginal ityof
theFoxchi l
dr en; thepl anchet tehasi tsanal ogi esi nChi neseand
Eur opeanmodesofdi v ination; clairv oy ancewasi ncor poratedf rom the
phenomenaofar ti
f i
ci al somnambul ism, aspr act icedbyt hesuccessor s
ofMesmer ;the" sensi tive"or" medi um"suggest st hesameor iginas
wel last hepopul arbel iefi nthegi ftofsuper nat ur al power sin
favor edi ndi vidual s; other soft hephenomena, suchas" l
evitation"
and" cabi netper for mances, "hav et hei rcount er par tsi nOr i
ent al
magi c; "
sl at e-wr iting, ""for m mat er i
al izat i
ons, "" spi rit
-messages"
and" spi ri
tphot ogr aphs"ar e, i
nt hemai n, moder ncont ri
but i
ons.Mr .
Langhasat tr
act iv elysetf or t
ht her esembl ancesbet weenpr i
mi t
ive
andanci entspi ritual ism andi tsmoder nr evival ;hesuggest st hat
"the'Tr anceMedi um, 'the' I
nspi rational Speaker ' wasar eproduct i
on
oft hemai denwi thaspi ritofdi vinat ion, oftheDel phicPy thia.
Int heol dbel ief,t hegoddomi nat edher ,andspokef rom herl i
ps,
j
ustast he' cont rol 'ordi rectingspi ritdomi nat est hemedi um. "He
suggest st hati tisf orl iker easonst hat" t
heDav enpor tBr other s,
l
ikeEski moandAust ralianconj ur ers, liket heHi ghl andseeri n
thebul l'
shi de, "ar eswat hedorbound; henot est hat" thel owest
sav ageshav et hei r_ séances_ , l
ev itations, bindi ngsoft hemedi um,
trancespeaker s; Per uv ians, I
ndi ans, hav ethei robj ect smov edwi t
hout
cont act ;"hesur mi sest hatt heFoxchi l
dr en, bei ngofaMet hodi st
fami ly,mayhav ebeeni nspi redby" oldJef fr
ey ,"whohaunt edt he
Wesl ey s' house.

Thephenomenanowassoci at
edwithmoder nSpi
ri
tual
i
sm, wit
hthei
r
char
acter
ist
ic_mil
ieu_,
breedthet
ypical
atmosphereoftheséance
chamber,whi
chresist
spreci
seanaly
sis,butwhi
chinit
sextreme
formi nv olvesmor bidcr edulit
y ,bli
ndpr epossessi on,andemot i
onal
cont agi on; whil
et hedependenceoft hephenomenaont hechar acter
oft hemedi um offersst r ongt empt ati
onal i
ket oshr ewdness,
eccent ri
city,anddi shonest y.Ont hesi deofhi st eachi
ngst he
Spiritual i
stislikewisenotst ri
kinglyor i
ginal.Ther elat
ionsof
hisbel ief stothoset hatgr ewaboutt herev el
ationsofSwedenbor g,
tot hespecul ationsoft heGer man" pneumat ologists,
"andt oot her
philosophi caldoct r
ines, thoughper hapsnoti nti
mat e,arey et
traceabl eandi nteresting; andi nanot herv i
ewt heSpi rit
uali
stisas
oldasmanhi msel f
,andf i
ndshi sant ecedentsi nt henecromancerof
Chal dea, orintheShamanofSi beri
a,ort heAngekokofGr eenland,or
thespi ri
t-doctorofv ar i
oussav aget r
ibes.Themoder nmedi umsar e
thussi mpl yrepeat i
ngwi thnewcost umesandi mpr ovedsceni ceffect
s
themy sticdramaofpr imi tiv
eman.

Spiri
tuali
sm t husappealst oadeep- seatedcr av
ingi nhumannat ure,
thatofassur anceofper sonal immor tali
tyandofcommuni onwi t
h
thedepar ted.Justsol ongasapor ti
onofmanki ndwi l
laccept
mat eri
alev i
denceofsuchabel ief
,andwi llev
encount enancethe
i
rreverence, t
het ri
vial
i
ty,andt hevulgarit
ysurroundi ngthe
mani f
est ati
ons;justsolongast hoseper sonswillmi sj
udget hei
r
ownpower sofdet ect
inghowt heall
egedsuper nat uralappearances
arereall
ypr oduced, andremai nunimpr essedbyt hepr inci
plesupon
whichal oneaconsi st
entexplanat i
oni spossibl
e,justsol ongwi l
l
Spiri
tuali
sm andki ndreddel usionsflouri
sh.

Ast ot hepr esent -dayst atusoft hiscul titi snoteasyt ospeak

positiv ely.Its_client èle_hasappar ent lygr eat lydimi nished;
i
tst i
ll number samongsti t
sadher ent smenandwomenofcul tur e
andeducat i
on, andmanymor ewhocannotbesai dtopossesst hese
qualities.Ther eseemst obeaconsi der abl ecl assofper sonswho
beli
ev et hatnat ural lawsar ei nsuf fi
ci entt oaccountf ort hei r
personal exper i
encesandt hoseofot her s, andwhot empor arilyor
permanent lyincl i
net oaspi rit
ualistichy pot hesi sinpr efer encet o
anyot her .Spirit
ual istsoft hisi ntellect ual tempercan, howev er ,
form butasmal lpor tionoft hosewhoar eenr olledunderi tscr eed.
Ifonemayj udgebyt het oneandcont ent sofcur r
entspi ritualist i
c
l
iterat ure, t
her ankandf il
et owhi chSpi ritual i
sm appeal spr esent
anuni ntellectual occul tcompany ,cr edul ousl yaccept ingwhatt hey
wisht obel ieve, utterlyr egardl essoft hei ntrinsicsi gnificance
ofev idenceorhy pot hesi s,vibratingf rom oneext remeorabsur dity
toanot her ,andbl indl yf oll
owi ngabl i
nderormor ef anat icl eader
orasel f
-interestedchar lat
an.Whi lef ort hemostext rav agantand
unreasonabl eexpr essi onsofSpi ritual ism onewoul dpr obabl yt urnt o
theliter atureofaf ewdecadesago, yett hesy mpt omspr esent edby
theSpi rit
ual i
sm oft o- dayar eunmi stakabl yoft hesamechar act er,
andf orm acompl exaschar act eristicast hesy mpt om- compl exof
hyster iaorepi l
epsy ,andwhi ch, _
faut edemi eux_ ,maybet ermed
occul t.Itisat ypeofoccul tism ofapar t
icul arlyper nicious
char act er,becauseofi tspowert ol eadapar asi t
iclif
eupont he
establ ishedgr owt hsofr el
igiousbel ief sandi nterests, andatt he
samet imet oadmi nist ertot heneedsofanunf ortunat ebutwi del y
preval entpassi onf orspeci al signsandomensandt hei nter pr etati
on
ofper sonal experiences.I tisaweakt houghcompr ehensi bl enat ure
thatbecomesbewi lder edi nt hepr esenceofaf ewexper iencest hat
seem homel essamongt hegener ouspr ov isionsofmoder nsci ence,and
runsof fpanic-stri
ckent of indshel t
erinasy stem t hatsatisf
ies
anarrowper sonal cravingatt hesacr i
ficeofbr oadlyestabl i
shed
pri
nciples,nurturedandgr ownst rongint hehar dyandbenef icent
atmospher eofscience.I ti
saweakerandani gnor antnaturet hat
i
sat t
ractedt ot hecr uderf ormsofsuchbel ief
s, bei tbythe
i
mpul sivey i
eldingtoemot ional suscept i
bil
i
ty,byt hecont agionof
anunf ortunatement alenv ironment ,
orbyt heabsenceoft hest eady
ing
powerofr eli
giousf ait
h, orofl ogical v
igor,orofconf i
dencei n
theknowl edgeofot hers.Spi ri
tuali
sm findsconv ertsinbothcamps
andassembl est hem undert hef l
agoft heoccul t.[
2]

Thewanei nt hepopul arityofSpi ri

tualism maybeduei npar tto
frequentexposur es,i
npar ttothepassi ngoft heoccultinterestt o
past uresnew, andi npar ttoot herandl essaccessi blecauses.Such
i
nt erestmayagai nbecomedomi nantbyt hesuccessori nnov ations
ofsomeor i
ginalmedi um orbyt heappear anceofsomeunf oreseen
circumst ances.Thepr esentdi sposit
iont ot akeup" spir
it
ual healing"
and" spiri
tual readingsoft hefuture"r athert hanmer eassur ances
from thedead, i
ndicatesadesi retoemul atet hepr
act i
cal success
ofmor erecent l
yestabl i
shedr ival
s.Thehi storyofSpi r
it
ual i
sm, by
i
tsi mpor tanceandi tsext ravaganceofdoct ri
neandpr act i
ce, forms
anessent ialandani nstructivechapt eri nt hehist
oryofaber rant
belief;andt her eisnodi ffi
cultyintraci ngt hei mpri
ntsofi ts
footstepsont hesandsoft heoccul t
.

Thei mpr essofanci entandmedi æv al lor euponl atter-dayoccul ti

sm
i
sconspi cuousi nt hesur vivalsofAl chemyandAst r
ology .Phr enol ogy
represent samor er ecentpseudo- sci ence, butonesuf fi
ci ent ly
obsol et et obeconsi deredundert hesamehead; asmayal soPal mi str
y,
whi chhasr elati
onsbot ht oananci entf orm ofdi vinationandt oa
mor emoder ndev elopmentaf tert hemannerofPhy siognomy .Thecommon
char act erist i
coft hesei st heirdev ot i
ont oapr act i
cal end.Al chemy
occupi esasomewhatdi stinctposi tion.Theor iginal alchemi stssought
thesecr etofconv ertingt hebasermet al sintogol d,initsel fa
suf f
icient lyal luri
ngandhumanoccupat ion.Ther eisnor easonwhy
suchapr obl em shoul dassumeanoccul taspect ,exceptt hesuf ficient
onet hator dinar ypr ocedur eshav enotpr ov edcapabl et oef fectt he
desi r
edend.I tisapr ov erbial faultofambi t
iousi nexper iencet o
attackv al i
ant lylargepr oblemswi thendl essconf i
denceandsweepi ng
aspi r
at ion.I tiswel lenoughi nshapi ngy ouri deast ohi tchy our
wagont oast ar,y etthet empor aryut i
lityofhor sesneednotbe
ov erl
ooked; butshoot ingar rowsatt hest arsisaptt opr ov eani dl e
past i
me.I fwear ewi ll
ingt of or getf ort hemomentt hatt hesame
dev elopmentofl ogicandexper imentt hatmakespossi bl et hement al
andmat erial equipmentoft hemoder nchemi st, makesi mpossi blehi s
consi der at ionoft heal chemi st'ssear ch, wemaynot ehowf art he
i
nher entconst it
ut i
onoft heel ement s, tosaynot hingoft hei r
possi blet ransmut at i
on, hasel udedhi smostul ti
mat eanal y sis.
Howi mmeasur abl yfurtheri twasr emov edf r
om t hegr aspoft he
alchemi stcanhar dlybeexpr essed.Butt hisisasci entifi
candnot
anoccul tv iewoft hemat ter;itwasnotbypr ogr essi v
et rai ni ng
i
nmar ksmanshi pt hatt heoccul t
isthopedt osendhi sar rowst ot he
stars.Hi swasamy sticsear chf ort hemagi cal transmut at ion, the
elixirofl ifeort hephi losopher 'sst one.Onemi ghtsupposet hat,
oncet hewor l
dhasagr eedt hatt heseendsar epastf indingout ,
theal chemi st, l
iket hemakerofst onear row- heads, woul dhav e
foundhi soccupat i
ongoneandhav el ef tnosuccessor .Hismoder n
repr esent at ive, howev er,isani nter est ingandbynomeansext inct
speci es.Heseemst of lourishi nFr ance, butmaybef oundi nGer many,
i
nEngl and, andi nt hi
scount ry.Hei sr arel yapur eal chemi st
(althoughsor ecent l
yas1854oneoft hem of f
eredt omanuf act uregold
fort heFr enchmi nt),butr epr esent st hepur etypeofoccul ti
st.
Hecal lshi msel faRosi crucian; heest abl i
shesaUni versit
yoft he
Hi gherSt udi es, andbecomesapr of essorofHer met i
cPhi l
osophy .His
thoughti smy stic,andsy mbol ism hasanendl essf ascinationf or
him.Ther econdi t
esi gnifi
canceofnumber s,extr
av agantanal ogi es
ofcor r
espondence, thet r
adi tional hi ddenmeani ngsoft heKabbal ah,
fairlyint oxicat ehi m; andv er boseaccount sofmoment ousr el
at ions
andofuni ntel l
igibledi scov eriesr unr i
oti nhi swrit
ings.Hi s
sci encei snotamer eChemi st ry,butaHy per-Chemi stry;his
transmut ationsar enol ongermat er ial,butassumeaspi r
it
ual aspect .
Likeal l adeptf ollower sofanesot er icbel ief,hemustst andapar t
from hi sf ell
ow- men; hemustcul tivat et hehi gher"psy chic"power s,
sot hatev ent ual l
yhemaybeabl ebyt hemer eactionofhi swi l
l to
causet heat omst ogr oupt hemsel v esi ntogol d.

Themoder nal chemi stisaptt obeagener al occul tist;hemaybeal so

anast rologeroramagnet i
storat heosophi st .Buthei sf oremost
anar dentent husi astf orexcl usiveandunusual lore--notthecommon
andsuper fi
cial possessi onsofmi sgui deddemocr at i
csci ence.Hegoes
throught hef ormsofst udy, r
emai nssuper iort ot hebaserpr actical
endsofl ife,andf indshi sr ewar dint hesel f-sat i
sfact i
onof
exclusivewi sdom.I nPar is,atleast ,hef ormspar tofar ather
respect able_ sal on_ ,speaki ngsoci ally, ora" companyofeducat ed
char l
atans, "speaki ngsci ent i
fi
cally.Hi scl assdoesnotconst itutea
l
argepr opor tionofmoder noccul tists, butt heypr esentapr omi nent
form ofi tsi ntell
ect ual temper ament ."Ther ear eal sopeopl e,"say s
Mr .Lang, "whosodi slikeourdet entioni nthepr ison- houseofol d
unv aryi
ngl awst hatt heirbiasi sinf av orofany thingwhi chmayt end
topr ovet hatsci encei nhercont empor ar ymoodi snoti nfalli
ble.As
theFr enchmandi dnotcar ewhatsor tofaschemehei nvest edmoney
i
n, providedt hati tannoy st heEngl i
sh, somanyper sonsdonot
carewhatt heyi nv estbel iefin,prov i
dedt hati tir
r i
tatesmenof
science. "Ofsuchi stheki ngdom ofal chemi st sandt heirbret hren.

VI

Ast r
ology,Phr enology,Physiognomy ,andPalmistryhav eincommon
asear chforposi t
iveknowledgewher ebyt
or egulatet heaf f
air
s
ofl i
fe,t
of oretel
l t
hef ut
ure,tocompr ehendone' sdest iny
andcapabi l
iti
es.Theyai mt osecur esuccess, oratl eastt obe
forearmedagai nstfail
urebybei ngf orewarned.Thisi sanat ur
al,
apr acti
cal,andi nnoessent ialwayanoccul tdesire.Itbecomes
occul t
,or,mor eaccur at
ely,superstit
ious,wheni tissat isfi
edby
appeal stor el
ationsandi nf
luenceswhi chdonotexi st,andbyf alse
i
nt erpr
etationofwhatmaybeadmi ttedasmeasur ablyandv aguely
trueandaboutequal l
yimpor tant.Whennotengagedi nt hei
rusual
occupat i
onofbui ldi
ngmostst artl
i
ngsuper structuresont hemost
i
nsecur ef oundat ions, pr acti
cal occul t
istsar elikeDr .Hol mes' s
katydi d,"say inganundi sputedt hingi nsuchasol emnway ."They
willnothear kent ot heexper ienceoft heagest hatsuccesscannot
besecur ednorchar act err eadbydi scov eri
ngt hei runr eal ormy st
ic
sti
gmat a;theywi ll notl ear nf rom phy siol
ogyandpsy chol ogyt hat
thement al capabi l
ities, themor al andemot ional endowmentofan
i
ndi vidual ar enotst ampedonhi sbodyi nsuchawayt hatt heymay
ber ev ealedbyhal fanhour '
suseoft hecal ipersandt ape-measur e;
theywi l
l notl ist enwhensci enceandcommonsenseuni tei nt eaching
thatt heknowl edgeofment al power sisnotsuchasmaybeappl i
ed
byr uleoft humbt oi ndi v i
dual cases, butt hat, l
i
kemuchot her
valuabl eknowl edge, itpr oceedsbyt heexer ciseofsoundj udgment ,
andmustasar uler estcont entwi thsuggest i
vegener alizat i
onsand
i
mper f
ect l
yest abl i
shedcor relations.Aneducat edmanwi thwhol esome
i
nter est sandav igor ousl ogical sensecanconsi derapossi ble
scienceofchar act erandt hemeansofai di
ngi tsadv ancewi thout
dangerandwi t hsomepr ofi
t.Butt hi smeati ssheerpoi sont ot hose
whoar eusual lyat tract edt ot hi sty peofspecul at ions, whi l
ei t
offerst ot heunscr upul ouschar latanamostconv eni entnett ospr ead
fortheunwar y .I nsof arast heseoccul tmar iner s, theast rologi sts
andphr enol ogi sts_ etidgenusomne_ ,aresincer e, andi nsof ar
representsuper stitionr athert hancommer cial fraud, theysi mpl y
i
gnor e,throughobst inacyori gnor ance, t
hel i
ght housesandchar t
s
andt heot herai dst omoder nnav igat i
on, andper sisti nst eer ing
theircr aftbyanoccul tcompass.I nsomecasest heyar epr ofessedl y
settingout ,notf oranyhar bormar kedont errest rial maps, but
theirexpedi tioni sf ort hegol denf l
eeceorf ortheappl esoft he
Hesper ides; andwi thl oud- voi cedadv erti
sement soft heirski llas
pil
ot s,theypr oceedt of or m st ockcompani esf ort hepr omot ionof
theirsev er
al ent er prisesandt odi sposeoft heshar est ocr edul ous
specul at ors.

Itwoul dbeapr of i
tl
esst askt or ev iewt heal legeddat aof
Ast rologyorPhr enologyorPal mi stry,exceptf ort hei l
lustrations
whi cht heyr eadi lyyieldoft henat ur eoft heconcept ionsandof
thel ogicwhi chcommandacer t
ai npopul arint erestandaccept ance.
Thei nteresti nthesenot ionsi s,asMr .Langar guesaboutghost s
andr appingsandbogl es, i
nhowt heycomet obebel ieved, rather
thani nhowmuchorhowl i
tt
let heychancet obet rue.I tmustbe
remember edal sot hatourpr esenti nt
er esti si nt heoccul tfactors
oft hesecomposi t
esy stems; theyeachcont ai not herf act ors,-
-i
n
par tincor por ati
onsofv agueanddi stor tedsci ent ifi
ct ruths, i
n
par tdogmat icov erstat ementofr esult sofobser v ati
on, which, i
f
reducedt ot hepr opor tionswar rant edbydef initeev i
dence, dissolv
e
i
nt oi nsigni f
icanceori nt angibi l
it
y ,inpar tplausi bleorspeci ous
ar gument ation, andinst il
l gr
eat erpar tmer ef anci fulasser tion.And
i
fwepr oceedt oexami net hepr of essedev idencef ort hef actsand
l
awsandpr inciples(_ sitv eniav erbi s_)t hatper v adeAst r
ologyor
Phr enol ogyorPal mist ryordr eam- i
nter pretat i
on, orbel iefsoft hat
i
lk, wef i
ndt hef l
imsiestki ndoft ext ure, thatwi llhar dlybear
exami nation, andhol dst oget heronl ysol ongasi tiskeptsecl uded
from t hel ightofday .Far -
fetchedanal ogy ,basel essasser tion, t
he
uncr iti
cal assi mi l
ati
onofpopul arsuper stiti
ons, agr eatdeal of
pr ophecyaf tert heev ent( i
tiswonder f ul howcl ear l
yt heast r
ologer
findst hei ndi cationsofNapol eon'scar eeri nhi shor oscope, orthe
phr enol ogistr eadst hem i ntheNapol eoni ccr ani al protuber ances),
muchf anci ful el
abor ationofdet ail,
ringingt hev ariationsona
suffi
cient l
ycompl exandnon- demonst r
abl epr oposi ti
on, culti
vating
aconv eni entv aguenessofex pr ession, toget herwi thanapol oget i
c
skil
linpr ov i
di ngf orandexpl ainingexcept ions, thecour age
toignor ef ail
ur eandt heshr ewdnesst opr ofitbycoi ncidences
andhal f-assi mi l
atedsmat teringsofsci ence, andwi t hitallan
i
nsensi bili
tyt ot hemor alandi ntell
ect ual demandsoft helogical
decalogue, -
-andy ouhav et heskel eton, whi ch, clothedwi thone
fl
esh, becomesAst r
ology ,
andwi thanot herPhr enol ogy ,andwi th
anotherPal mi stryorSol arBi ologyorDescr iptiveMent al
ityorwhat
not.Suchpseudo- sciencest hriveupont hatwi despr eadandi ntense
cravingf orpr act i
cal gui danceofouri ndi vidual affairs, whichi s
notsat i
sf i
edwi t
hj udiciousappl i
cationsofgener al principles,with
dueconsi der ationoft hepr obabi l
iti
esanduncer taint i
esofhuman
l
ife,butdemandsani mpossi bl eandpr eci ser ev elation.Notal lthat
passesf or,andi nawayi sknowl edge, isori slikelysoont obecome
scientif
ic; andwhenapeasantpar adesi nanacademi cgownt her esul
t
i
sl i
kelyt obeacar i
cat ure.

VI
I

Toachi ev ef ortune, toj udgewel l andcommandone' sf ellow- men, to

foretel landcont rol thef ut ure, t
obewi sei nwor l
dl ylor e, are
nat ural obj ect sofhumandesi re; butst il
l anot heri sessent ial to
happi ness.Whet herweat temptt opr ocur et hesegoodf ortunesby
goingear lyt obedandear l
yt or ise, orbymor eoccul tpr ocedur es,
wewi sht obeheal thyaswel lasweal thyandwi se.Themai ntenance
ofheal thandt heper pet uityofy out hwer enotabsentf rom t he
medi æv al occul t
ist '
ssear ch, andf ormedanessent ial par toft he
benef i
tst obeconf erredbyt heel ixi
rofl ifeandt hephi losopher 's
stone.Aser iesofsuper stitionsandext ravagantsy stemsar e
conspi cuousi ntheant ecedent sandt heby -pathsoft hehi st oryof
medi cine, andar er elat edt oi tmuchasast rologyi st oast r
onomy ,
oral chemyt ochemi stry; andbecausemedi cinei npar tr emai nsand
topr ev iousgener ationswasconspi cuousl yanempi rical artr ather
thanasci ence, i
tof fersgr eatoppor tunityf orpr actical error
andmi sappl i
edpar tial knowl edge.I ti snotnecessar yt ogoback
toear lyci vil
izationsort opr i
mi ti
v epeopl es, amongwhom t he
medi cine- manandt hepr iestwer eoneandal i
keappeal i
ngt ooccul t
power s, nort oear l
yt heor iesofdi seasewhi chbehel di ni nsani ty
theobsessi onofdemonsandr esor tedt oexor cism t ocastt hem out ;
i
ti snotnecessar yt oconsi dert hev ariousper sonageswhoacqui red
not orietyasheal er sbyl ay i
ngonofhandsorbyappeal tof aith,
orwho, likeMesmer , introducedt hesy stem ofani mal magnet ism, or
,
l
ikesomeofhi sfol lower s, soughtdi r
ect i
onsf orheal ingf rom t he
clairvoy antdi ctaofsomnambul es; itisnotnecessar yt or ansack
folk-l
or esuper stitionsandpopul arr emedi esf ort het reat mentof
disease; fort hemoder nf ormsof" i
rregul ar"heal ingof fersuf ficient
i
llustrat ionsofoccul tmet hodsofescapi ngt heillst hatf l
eshi s
heirt o.

Theexistenceofaspeci alt
ermforamedi calimpostori
sdoubtless
theresul
tofthepr eval
enceofthecl
asst husnamed; butquackery
andoccultmedicine,thoughmutual
lyoverlappi
ng,canbynomeansbe
heldaccountabl
ef oroneanother
'sf
ail
ings.Manyf ormsofquackery
proceedont hebasi sofsuper st i
tionsorf anci fulorexagger ated
notionscont ainingoccul telement s, butf orthepr esentpur posei t
i
swi set ol i
mitat t
entiont othosei nwhi cht hisoccul tfactori s
distinct i
v e;formedi cal quacker yi ni t
slar gerr elati
onsi snei ther
moder nnoroccul t.Occul theal ingt akesi tsdist i
nct i
vechar act er
from t het heoryunder lyingt hepr act i
cer athert hanf r
om t henat ure
ofthepr actice.I tisnotsomuchwhati sdone, aswhyi tisdone,
orpr et endedt obedoneornotdone, t
hatdet ermi nesi tsoccul t
char act er.Af act orofpr omi nencei nmoder noccul theal ingi si ndeed
onet hati not herf ormschar act erizedmanyofi tspredecessor s, and
wasr ar elywhol l
yabsentf rom t heconnect ionbet weent hepr ocedur e
andt her esul t
; thisisthement al f
act or,whi chmaybecal ledupon
togi vechar act ert oat heor yofdi sease, orbeut ili
zedconsci ousl y
orunconsci ousl yasacur ati
v epr inciple.Itisnoti mpl i
edt hat
"ment al medi cine"i snecessar i
lyandi ntr i
nsical l
yoccul t,butonl y
thatt hegener al tr
endofmoder noccul tnot ionsr egar dingdi sease
maybebestpor t
rayedi ncer taint ypical formsof" psychic"heal ing.
Thel egitimat er ecogni ti
onoft hei mpor tanceofment alcondi ti
ons
i
nheal thanddi seasei soneoft her esult soft heuni onofmoder n
psy chol ogyandmoder nmedi cine.Anexagger atedandext rav agantas
wel laspr etent i
ousandi llogical ov erstatementandmi sstatementof
thispr inci pl
emaypr oper lybeconsi deredasoccul t.

VI
II

Amongsuchsy stemst her ei sonewhi chbyi tsmoment arypr ominence

ov er shadowsal lot her s; andf ort hisr eason, aswel lasf ori ts
mor eexpl ici
torr athermor eext endedst at ementofpr inciples, must
beaccor dedspeci al at tent ion: Ineedhar dlysayt hatIr efert o
thategr egi ousmi snomer ,Chr i
st ianSci ence.Thi ssy stem i ssai d
tohav ebeendi scov er edby ,orr ev ealedt o, Mr s.Mar yBakerGl over
Eddyi n1866.Sev er al ofi tsmostdi st i
nct iveposi tions( wi thout
thei rreligiousset ting)ar et obef oundi nt hewr it i
ngs, andwer e
usedi nt hepr act iceofMr .orDr .P.P.Qui mby( 1802- 1866) ,whom
Mr s.Eddypr ofessi onal lyconsul tedshor tlybef or eshebeganherown
propagandum.Oni tst heor etical side, thesy stem pr esent saser i
es
ofquasi -met aphy si cal princi plesandal soapr of essedi nterpr etati
on
oft heScr i
ptur es; oni tspr act i
cal side, itof fersameansof
cur ingorav oidingdi sease, andi ncludesunderdi seaseal sowhat
i
smor egener al lydescr i
bedassi nandmi sfor tune.Wi thChr isti
an
Sci enceasar el igiousmov ementIshal lnotdi rect lydeal ;Iwi sh,
howev er,topoi ntoutt hatt hisassumpt i
onofar el igiousaspect
fi
ndsapar all
el inSpi ritual i
sm andTheosophy ,anddoubt lessf orms
oneoft hemostpot entr easonsf ort hesuccessoft heseoccul t
mov ement s.Itwoul dbeamostdanger ouspr i
nci plet oadmi tthatt he
treat mentofdi seaseandt her ightt oi gnor ehy gi enecanbecomet he
per qui siteofanyr el igiousf aith.I twoul dbeequal lyunwar r
ant ed
toper mi tt hepr inci pleswhi char er esponsi blef orsuchbel iefst o
takeshel terbehi ndt her ampar tsofr eligioust ol er ance, fort he
essent ialpr i
nci pl esofChr istianSci encedonotconst ituteaf or m of
Chr istianityanymor et hant heyconst ituteasci ence; but ,insof ar
ast heydonotal toget herel udedescr ipti
on, per tai nt ot hedomai n
ov erwhi chmedi cine, phy siology ,andpsy chol ogyhol dsway .AsDav i
d
Har um, inspeaki ngofhi schur ch- goinghabi ts, char act eristically
expl ains, "theoneIst ayawayf rom whenIdon' tgo' st he
Presbyt
eri
un,"sothedoctri
neswhichChri
sti
anScience"
stay
s
awayf r
om,"arethoseoverwhichrecogni
zeddepart
mentsofacademi
c
l
earninghavetheauthor
itytodeci
de.

Mr s.Eddy '
s_ magnum opus_ ,servingatonceast hetext-bookoft he
"science"andasar ev i
sedv ersionoft heScr ipt
ures,"Scienceand
Heal th,withKeyt ot heScr i
ptures,"hasbeenci rculat
edt othe
extentofonehundr edandsev entythousandcopi es.Ishallnot
giveanaccountoft hisbook, norsubj ectitsmor etangibletenets
toal ogical r
eview; Imustbecont entt or ecommendi tspagesas
suggest ivereadingf ort hestudentoft hemoder noccult,andt o
setf orthinthecr edent i
alsofquot ationmar kssomeoft hedi ct
a
concer ningdisease.Yeti tmaybeduet otheaut hor,ormout hpiece,
oft hissystem, tobegi nbyci ti
ngwhatar edeclaredtobei t
s
fundament altenets, eveniftheirconnect ionwithwhati sbui l
tupon
them i sfarfrom ev i
dent .

"Thefundament
al proposi
tionsofChri
stianScienceare
summar i
zedinthef ourf
oll
owing,tome, _sel
f-
evident
_
proposi
ti
ons.Ev
eni freadbackward,thesepropositi
ons
will
befoundtoagr eeinstatementandpr oof
:-
-

"
1.Godi
sAl
li
nal
l
.

"
2.Godi
sgood.Goodi
sMi
nd.

"
3.God,
Spi
ri
t,bei
ngal
l
,not
hingi
smat
ter
.

"4.Life,God,omnipotentGood,denydeat
h,ev
il
,
sin,disease-
-Di
sease, si
n,ev
il
,death,
denyGood,
omni potentGod,Lif
e."

"Whati ster meddi seasedoesnotexi st.""Mat t

erhasno
being.""Allismi nd. ""Mat terisbutt hesubj ect i
v e
stateofwhati sher et ermed_ mor talmi nd_ .""All
diseasei st her esul tofeducat ion, andcancar ry
i
tsi l
leffectsnof arthert hanmor tal mi ndmapsout
theway .
""Thef earofdi ssev eredbodi l
ymember s,
orabel i
efinsuchapossi bil
ity,i
sr ef l
ect edon
thebody ,i
nt heshapeofheadache, f
ract uredbones,
dislocatedj oint s, andsoon, asdi rect l
yasshame
i
sseenr i
singt ot hecheek.Thi shumaner rorabout
phy si
cal woundsandcol i
csi spar tandpar cel of
thedel usiont hatmat tercanf eel andsee, hav i
ng
sensat i
onandsubst ance. ""Insani t
yi mpl iesbel iefin
adi seasedbr ain, whi l
ephy sical ail
ment s( so-called)
arisefrom bel ieft hatsomeot herpor tionsoft he
bodyar eder anged. ..
.Abuni onwoul dpr oducei nsanity
asper cept i
bl east hatpr oducedbycongest ionoft he
brain,wer ei tnott hatmor talmi ndcal lst hebuni on
anunconsci ouspor t
ionoft hebody .Rev er set his
beliefandt her esul tswoul dbedi fferent .""Weweep
becauseot her sweep, wey awnbecauset heyy awn, and
wehav esmal l-
poxbecauseot hershav ei t;butmor t
al
mi nd,notmat ter, cont ainsandcar riest hei nfection.
"
"AChr isti
anSci ent istnev ergi vesmedi cine, never
 recommendshy giene, nev ermani pul at es."" Anat omy ,
Phy si
ol ogy , Tr eat isesonHeal th, sust ai nedbywhati s
termedmat er i
al l
aw, ar et hehusbandmenofsi ckness
anddi sease. "" Youcanev eneducat eaheal thyhor se
sof ari nphy siol ogyt hathewi lltakecol dwi thout
hisblanket ."" Ifexposur et oadr aughtofai rwhi l
e
i
nast at eofper spi rat i
oni sf ol l
owedbychi l
ls, dr y
cough, influenza, congest ivesy mpt omsi nt hel ungs, or
hintsofi nflammat oryr heumat ism, y ourMi nd- remedyi s
safeandsur e.I fy ouar eaChr i
st i
anSci ent i
st ,such
sympt omswi ll notf ol lowf rom t heexposur e; buti f
youbel ievei nl awsofmat terandt hei rf atal effect s
whent ransgr essed, youar enotf ittoconducty ourown
caseort odest royt hebadef fect sofbel i
ef.Whent he
fearsubsi desandt heconv ictionabi dest haty ouhav e
brokennol aw, nei therr heumat i
sm, consumpt i
on, nor
anyot herdi seasewi ll ev err esul tf r
om exposur et o
theweat her ."" Dest r
oyf earandy ouendt hef ev er."
"Topr ev entdi seaseorcur ei tment allyl etspi rit
dest r
oyt hedr eam ofsense.I fy ouwi sht oheal by
argument ,findt het y peoft heai lment ,geti tsname,
andar rayy ourment al pleaagai nstt hephy sical .Ar gue
witht hepat ient( ment all
y ,notaudi bl y)t hathehas
nodi sease, andconf or mt hear gumentt otheev idence.
Ment al l
yi nsi stt hatheal thi st heev er last i
ngf act ,
andsi cknesst het empor al falsity .Thenr eal i
zet he
presenceofheal t
h, andt hecor por eal senseswi ll
respond, sobei t.
"" Mypubl icat i
onsal oneheal mor e
sicknesst hananunconsci ent iousst udentcanbegi nto
reach. ""Thequot ient s, whennumber shav ebeendi vi
ded
byaf ixedr ul e, ar enotmor eunquest ionabl et hant he
scientifict est sIhav emadeoft heef fect soft rut h
upont hesi ck. "" Iam nev ermi stakeni nmysci ent ific
diagnosi sofdi sease. ""Out sideofChr i
st i
anSci ence
alli
sv agueandhy pot het ical ,theopposi teofTr ut h."
"OutsideChr istianSci enceal liser ror."

Surelythisi sar emar kabl epr oductofmor talmi nd!I twoul dper haps
beani nter est i
ng_ tourdef or ce_ ,thoughhar dlysoent ertaini
ngas
"Ali
cei nWonder l
and, "t oconst ructauni verseont heasser ti
ons
andhy pot heseswhi chChr istianSci encepr esent s; butitwoul dhave
l
essr esembl ancet ot hewor ldweknowt hanhasAl ice'swonder l
and.
Foranyper sonf orwhom l ogicandev idencear esomet hingmor ereal
thanghost sormy ths, thef eatmustal way sber elegat edt ot heair
y
real
m oft hei magi nat i
on, andmustnotbebr oughti ncont actwi t
h
earthl
yr ealities.Andy ett heext ravaganceofMr s.Eddy 'sbook, it
s
superbdi sdai nofv ulgarf act, itstranscendent alsel f-confidence,
i
tssol emnassumpt i
ont hatr eiterati
onandv ariationofasser ti
on
somehowspont aneousl ygener atepr ooforsel f-
ev idence, itsshrewd
assimi l
ati
onofat heol ogical flavor,it
soccasi onal successesi n
producingapr esent abl etravest yofsci entifi
ct r
ut h,--all
these
dist
inctionsmaybef oundi nmanyadust -coveredv olume, that
representst hei ntensi tyofconv icti
onofsomeequal lyent husiasti
c
andequal lyi nspi redoccul t
ist, butonel esssuccessf ul i
nsecur i
nga
chorust oechohi sr efrain.
Thet empt at ioni sst rongnott odi smi ss" Eddy ism"wi thout
i
llust rat ingt hepecul iarst ruct uresunderwhi ch, inanef for ttobe
consi st ent ,itisf or cedt ot akeshel ter .Sincedi seasei sal way s
ofpur elyment alor igin, itf ollowst hatdi seaseandi tssy mpt oms
cannotensuewi thoutt heconsci ouscoöper ationoft hepat ient;
since" Chr ist i
anSci encedi vest smat eri
al dr ugsoft heiri magi nary
power ,"itf ollowst hatt hel abel sont hebot tlest hatst andont he
druggi st 'sshel vesar ecor respondi ngl ymeani ngl ess.Andi tbecomes
ani nt er est ingpr obl em t oi nqui rehowt heconsensusofmor t
al mind
cameaboutt hatassoci atesonesetofsy mpt omswi thpr ussi caci d,
andanot herwi thal cohol ,andanot herwi thqui nine.I nhal ingoxy gen
orcommonai rwoul dpr epar eonef ort hesur geon' skni fe, andpr ussic
acidoral cohol hav enomor eef fectt hanwat er ,ifonl yacongr essof
nat ionswer et opr onouncet hef ormert obeanæst het icandpr omul gat
e
adecr eet hatt hel at terbehar ml ess.Chr i
st ianSci encedoesnot
fl
inchf rom t hisposi tion." Ifadoseofpoi soni sswal lowedt hrough
mi st akeandt hepat i
entdi es, event houghphy sicianandpat ientar e
expect i
ngf avor abl er esul t s,doesbel ief,youask, causet hisdeat h?
Ev enso, andasdi rect lyasi ft hepoi sonhadbeeni ntent ional l
y
taken.I nsuchcasesaf ewper sonsbel iev et hepot ionswal lowedby
thepat ientt obehar ml ess; butt hev astmaj or ityofmanki nd, though
theyknownot hingoft hispar ticul arcaseandt hi sspeci al per son,
bel i
ev et hear seni c, thest rychni ne, orwhat ev ert hedr ugused, t
o
bepoi sonous, fori thasbeensetdownasapoi sonbymor t
al mind.
Theconsequencei st hatt her esul ti scont rol l
edbyt hemaj orit
yof
opi nionsout side, notbyt hei nfinitesi mal mi nor ityofopi ni onsi n
thesi ckchamber ."Butwhyshoul dt heopi nionsofοἱπολλοί[ Greek:
hoi pol l
oi ]beofi nf l
uencei nsuchacase, andt heenl ight ened
mi nor i
tiesbesuf fici entt oef f
ectt hemar v elouscur esi nal lthe
othercases?Chr ist ianSci ent i
stsdonott akecol dindr aught sin
spi teoft hecont raryopi nionsori llusi onsofmi sgui dedmaj oriti
es.
Thel ogi cal Chr istianSci ent istconcl udest hatheneednoteat ,"f
or
thet ruthi sf ooddoesnotaf fectt hel ifeofman; "andy etatonce
renounceshi sf aithbyaddi ng, "buti twoul dbef oolisht ov enture
bey ondourpr esentunder st andi ng, fool i
sht ost opeat ing, until
wegai nmor egoodnessandacl ear ercompr ehensi onoft hel i
v i
ng
God. "Andt hement al phy sician, tobeconsi st ent ,mustbeament al
sur geonal so; andnotpl eadt hat , "
Unt ilt
headv anci ngageadmi t
st he
efficacyandsupr emacyofmi nd, i
ti sbet tert ol eav et headj ust ment
ofbr okenbonesanddi slocat ionst ot hef inger sofsur geons. "

Buti tisunpr ofi

tabletoconsi dert hef ail
ingsandabsur dit
iesof
anyoccul tsystem initsencount er swi thact ualscienceandact ual
fact.Itissimpl yasar eal andpr omi nentmenacet orationalitythat
thesedoct ri
nesnat urallyat t
ractconsi deration.Regar dingthem as
i
llustrati
onsofpr esent -
dayoccul tbel i
efs, wear enat urall
yt empt ed
toinqui rewhatmeasur eof( perv erted)t r
utht heymaycont ain; but
themor ewor t
hyquest i
oni s,Howdosuchper versi
onscomet of ind
sol argeacompanyof" suppor t
ingl isteners"?Fort oanyonewho
canr eadandbeconv i
ncedbyt hesequenceofwor dsoft hissy st em,
ordinaryl ogi
chasnopower ,andt ohi mt hewor ldofr eali
tybr ings
nomessage.Nof orm oft hemoder noccul tant agonizest hef oundat ions
ofsci encesobr usquel yast hisone.Thepossi bili
tyofsci encer est s
ont het horoughandabsol ut
edi stinctionbet weent hesubj ective
andt heobj ective.Inwhatmeasur eamanl osest hepowert odr aw
thisdistincti
oncl earl
y, andasot hermendo, i
nt hatmeasur ehe
becomesi r
rational orinsane.Theobj ectiveexists;andnoamountof
thi
nkingi
tawayort hinki
ngitdiff
erentlywi l
lchangei t.Thatis
whatisunder stoodbyul t
imatescientifi
ct r
uth;somet hi
ngthatwill
endureunmodi fiedbypassi ngway sofv iewi
ngi t,opent oeveryone's
veri
fi
cati
onwhocomesequi ppedwi t
ht hepr opermeanst overif
y,-
-a
permanentobj ective,tobeascertainedbycar efullogicali
nqui
ry,
nottobedet ermi nedbysubj ecti
veopi nion.Logici sthelanguageof
sci
ence;ChristianSci enceandwhatsanemencal lsciencecannev er
communi catebecauset heydonotspeakt hesamel anguage.

I
X

Itwoul dbeunf ortunat et oemphasi zet hepopul arpr eëmi nenceof

Chr i
stianSci enceatacostoft henegl ectoft hesi gni ficanceoft he
manyot herf or msof" drugl essheal ing,"whi chbi df orpubl i
cf av or
byappeal toi gnor anceandt ooccul tandsuper st it
iousi nst i
nct s.
Somear eal li
edt oChr istianSci ence, andl ikei tassi mi lat et hei r
cul ttoar el igiousmov ement ; other sar eunmi st akabl yt heat tempt s
ofchar lat anst olur et hecr edul ousbynoi syadv ertisement sof
newl ydiscov er edandsci ent if
ical lyi ndor sedsy st emsof" psy chi c
for ce,"orofsomeper sonal "
ism. "Formanypur posesi twoul dbe
unj ustt ogr oupt oget hersuchv arioussy stems, whi chi nt henat ur e
oft hingsmusti ncludesi nnerandsai nt,themi sgui dedsi ncer e, the
hal f-
bel i
ev erswhot hi nk" t her emaybesomet hi ngi ni t,"or" that
i
ti swor that rial,"al ongwi thschemi ngquacksandadept si n
commer cial fraud.Theyi llust rat et hemanyandv ariousr oadst rav el
ed
i
nt hesear chf orheal th,bypi l
gr imswhoar edi ssat i
sf iedwi tht he
highway sov erwhi chmedi cal sci encepur suesi tsst eadf astt houghi t
maybedev iouscour se.Amongt hem t her ei spl ausi bleexagger ationand
i
gnor antper v ersionanddi shonestl ibel oft her elationst hatbi nd
toget herbodyandmi nd.Amongt hesev er al schi smsf rom t he" Mot her
Chur chofChr i
st i
anSci ence"t her ei sonet hatcl ai mst obet he
"rat i
onal phaseoft hement alheal ingdoct rine, "t hatacknowl edges
ther eal i
tyofdi seaseandt hei ncur abi li
tyofser iousor gani c
disor der s, andr esent sanyconnect ionwi tht he" half -f
anat ical
per sonal itywor shi p"( ofMr s.Eddy )asqui t easf orei gnt oi ts
tenet saswoul dbet hev i
ewsoft he" FreeRel igiousAssoci at ion"t o
the" PopeofRome. "" Di vi
neHeal ing"exhi bitsi tssuccessi none
not ablei nst ance, int heest abl ishmentofaschool andcol lege, a
bank, al andandi nv est mentassoci ation, apr int ingandpubl ishi ng
of fi
ce, andsundr ydi vineheal inghomes; andt hi spr osper ityi snow
tobeext endedbyt hef oundat ionofaci tyorcol onyofconv erts,
whoshal lbeuni t
edbyt hecommonbondoff aithi ndi v i
neheal ing
ast r
ansmi ttedi nt heper sonal poweroft hei rleader .Theof ficial
or ganoft hismov ementannouncest hatt heper soni ficat i
onoft hei r
faith" makesherr eligi onabusi nessandconduct sher sel fupon
soundbusi nesspr inci ples; "thei rl eaderpubl iclyboast sofhi sv ast
financi al ret ur ns.Wi themphat icpr ot estont hepar tofeacht hat
heal onehol dst hekeyt osal vat ion, andt hathi ssy st em i squi te
or i
ginal andunl ikeanyot her ,comest hepr ocessi onofMet aphy sical
Heal erandMi nd-Cur istandVi ticul turistandMagnet icHeal erand
Ast rologi cal Heal t
hGui deandPhr enopat hi standMedi cal Clai rvoy ant
andEsot er icVi brat ioni standPsy chi cSci ent istandMesmer istand
Occul ti
st .Someuseorabuset hemani pul at i
onsofhy pnot i
sm; ot hers
clai mt hepowert oconcent ratet hemagnet ism oft heai randt oexci t
e
thev i
talfluidsbyar ousingt hepr operment alvibrations, orbysome
equallylucidanddemonst r
ablepr ocedure;someadv erti
semagnet ic
cups, andposi t
iveandnegat i
v epowder s,andabsentt reatmentby
output sof" psychi cforce,"andcount l
essot herimposi ngdev ices.
Intruth,theyf orm amot leycr ew, andwi ththeir"Col legesofFi ne
Forces,"and" Psy chicResear chCompani es,"offeringdi plomasand
degreesf orat hreeweeks' cour seofst udyort her eadi ngofabook,
representt hesl umsoft heoccul t.Anaccountoft heirmet hodsis
l
ikelytobeofasmuchi nterestt ot hestudentoff raudast othe
studentofopi nion.

Ther ecanbenodoubtt hatmanyoft hesesy st emshav ebeenst imul at

ed
i
nt olifeori nt or enewedv igorbyt hesuccessofChr istianSci ence;
thisispar t
icul ar lynot iceabl ei nt hei ntr
oduct ionofabsent
treatmentasapl anki nt hei rdi ver sepl atforms.Thi si ngeni ous
met hodofr est or ingt heheal thoft heirpat i
ent sandt heirown
exchequer sappeal edt oal l thebandofheal ingoccul ti
stsf rom
Spi r
it
ual isttoVi brat ioni st, aseasi lyadapt ablet ot hei rsev er al
sy st
ems.I nmucht hesamewayMesmer ,mor et hanahundr edy earsago,
admi nister edt ot hepr act icewhi chhadexhaust edt hecapaci t
yof
hisper sonal attent ion, bymagnet i
zi ngtreesandsel lingmagnet ized
wat er.Theabsentt reat mentr epr esent st heoccul text ensi onmov ement;
andunencumber edbyt hehamper ingrest r
icti
onsofphy sical forces,
super iorev ent owi relesst el egr aphy ,carri
esi tsi nfl
uencei nt othe
remot esthomes.Fr om oceant oocean, andf rom Nor tht oSout h, these
absentheal er ssetapar tsomehouroft heday ,whent heyment ally
conv eyt hei rheal ingwor dt ot hescat t
eredmember soft hei rfl
ock.
Ont hepay mentofasmal lf eey ouar emadeacquai nt edwi tht he
"soul-communi ont i
me- t abl e"f ory ourlongitude, andmayknowwhen
tomeett heheal ingv ibr ationsast heypassby .Ot her sdi sdai nany
sucht empor al det ailsandassur eacur emer elyonpay mentoft he
fee;theheal erwi llknowsy mpat het ical
lywhenandhowt ot ransmi t
thecur ativ
ei mpul ses.Pov er t
yandbadhabi tsaswel lasdi sease
readilysuccumbt ot hemagi coft heabsentt reat ment .Suchan
hy st
er i
cal edi ctast hi si shar dlyext remeorunusual :"Joi nt he
SuccessCi rcl e....TheCent reoft hatCi rcleismyomni pot entWORD.
Dai l
yIspeaki t.Itsv ibrat ionsr adi at emor eandmor epower fullyday
byday ...
.Ast hesunsendsoutv ibr ati
ons. .
.somyWORDr adi ates
Successt o10, 000l i
v esaseasi l
yast oone. "

Iti
simpossi bl etoappr eciatefullytheext ravagancesoft hese
occultheal ersunl essonemakesasuf ficientsacr if
iceoft i
me
andpat i
encet oreadov eraconsi derablesampl eoft heper i
odical
publicationswi t
hwhi chAmer icanoccul ti
sm f airlyteems.Andwhen
onehasaccompl ishedt histaskhei sstillatseat oaccountf or
thereader sandbel iev erswhosuppor tt hesev ar i
oussy stems, so
undreamtofi nourphi losophy .Itwoul dr eal l
yseem t hatt hereis
nocombi nationofi deast ooabsur dt of ail entirelyofaf ol l
owing.
Carlyle,wi t
houtspeci al provocation,concl udedt hatther ewer eabout
fort
ymi l
lionper sonsi nEngl and, most l
yf ool s; whatwoul dhavebeen
hiscommenti nthef aceoft hisv astanduni ver sal arrayofhuman
fol
ly!Ifitbeur gedinr ej oi
ndert hatbeneat hal lthi srubbi sh
heapat ruej ewel l
iesbur ied,t
hatt hewonder ful curesandt he
practical successoft hesev ari
oussy stemsi ndi catet heirdependence
uponanessent i
alandv aluabl
ef actorint hecur eofdi seaseandt he
format i
onofhabi t
s, i
ti spossi blewi t
hr eser vationt oassent ,and
wi themphasi st odemur .Suchsuccess, insof arasi ti sr i
ght ly
repor ted, exempl ifiest het rulyr emar kabl ef unct ionoft hement al
fact ori nt hecont r ol ofnor mal asofdi sor deredphy si ologi cal
funct ions.Thi strut hhasbeenr ecogni zedandut i
lizedi nunobt rusive
way sf ormanygener at ions, andwi thinr ecenty ear shasr ecei v ed
subst ant i
al elabor ationf rom car ef ul
lyconduct edexper iment sand
obser vat i
ons.Speci fical l
y ,t
het her apeut icact i
onofsuggest i
on,
bot hi ni tsmor eusual f ormsandashy pnot i
csuggest ion, hasshown
towhatunexpect edext entsuchact ionmaypr oceedi nsuscept ibl
e
i
ndi v i
dual s.Thewel l-
inf or medandcapabl ephy si cianr equi resno
i
nst ruct ionont hispoi nt ;hismedi caleducat i
onf ur nisheshi m wi th
themeansofdet er mi ni ngt hesy mpt omsoft rueor gani cdi sor der ,of
funct ional der angement ,andoft hemodi ficationsoft heseundert he
mor eorl essunconsci ousi nter ferenceofanunf or tunat ener v ous
sy stem.I tisqui teashumanf ort hephy si cianasf orot hermor tals
toer r; andt her eisdoubt lessaswi dear angeamongt hem, asamong
otherpur sui t
s, ofabi lity,tact ,andi nsight ."Butwhenal li
s
sai danddone, "thef undament al factr emai nst hatt heut il
izat ion
oft hement al factori nt heal l
ev iationofdi seasewi l
l bebest
admi nister edbyt hosewhoar especi ficallyt rainedi nt heknowl edge
ofbodi l
yandofment al sy mpt omsofdi sease.Suchappl icat ionofan
est ablishedsci ent ifi
cpr i
ncipl emaypr ovet obeaj ewel ofwor th
i
nt hehandsofhi m whoknowshowt ocutandseti t.Thedi ffer ence
bet weent ruthander ror ,bet weensci enceandsuper st iti
on, bet ween
whati sbenef icentt omanki ndandwhati sper ni cious, frequent l
ylies
i
nt hei nter pret ati
onandt hespi ritasmuchas, ormor et han, in
thef act .Theut i
l
izat ionofment al infl
uencesi nheal t handdi sease
becomest heoneort heot heraccor dingt ot hewi sdom andt het ruth
andt hei nsi ghti nt ot her eal relationsoft hings, thatgui dei ts
appl ication.Asf arr emov edaschemi stryf rom al chemy ,asast ronomy
from ast rology ,ast hedoct ri
neoft hel ocal izat i
onoff unct i
on
i
nt hebr ainf rom phr enol ogy , ashy pnot i
csuggest ionf rom ani mal
magnet ism, aret hecr udeandper versenot i
onsofChr istianSci entist
orMet aphy sical Heal err emov edf rom t her ational appl icat i
onoft he
i
nf luenceoft hemi ndov erthebody .

Thegr owthanddev elopmentoft heoccul tpresent sani nterest ing

problem i
nt hepsy chol ogyofbel i
ef.Themot ivest hati nducet he
willt
obeliev ei
nt hesev eraldoct r
inesthathav ebeenpassed
i
nr eviewar ecertai nlynotmor eeasyt odet ectandt odescr i
be
thanwoul dbet hecasei nreferencet othemanyot hergener al
problems--phil
osophi cal,scient ifi
c,rel
igious,soci al,pol i
tical
,
oreducational--
onwhi cht her ightt oanopi nioni saccept edasan
i
nal i
enabl
eher itageofhumani tyoratl eastofdemocr acy .Prof essor
Jamest ell
sust hatof ten" ourf ait
hi sfai
t hi
nsomeoneel se's
fai
th,andint hegr eatestmat ter sthisismostt hecase. "Cer tai nly
thewav esofpopul arityofonecul tandanot herr eflectt hepot ent
i
nfluenceofcont agi oni nthef or mat i
onofopi nionandt hegui dance
ofconduct .Whenwel ookupont hepopul ardel usionsoft hepast
throughtheachr omat icglasseswhi chhistori
cal remot enessf rom
presentcondi t
ionsenabl esust oadj usttoourey es, wemar v el that
goodandgr eatmencoul dhav ebeensogr osslymi sled, thatobv i
ous
rel
ationsandf allaci escoul dhav ebeensost upi dlyov er l
ooked,
thatwor t
hlessandpr ejudi cedev i
dencecouldhav ebeenaccept edas
soundandsi gnifi
cant .Butt heopi ni
onstowhi chwei ncli
near eall
coloredo'erwitht hedeept ingeofemot i
onal reali
ty,whichisthe
l
ivingexpressionofouri nter estinthem orouri ncli
nati
ont owar d
them.Whatt heyrequi rei samor evigor
ousi nfusionoft hepalecast
oft hought;f
ort hepr oblem oft heoccultandt het empt ati
onst o
beliefwhichitholdsoutar esuchascanbemetonl ybyast ur
dy
appl i
cati
onofacr it
icallogi c.Onl yaslogicalthoroughnesscomes
topr evai
loversuper fici
al plausi bil
it
y,asbeli
ef scomet obe
formedandev idenceest imat edaccordingtot heiri
ntri
nsicv al
ue
ratherthanaccor dingt ot hei remot i
onalaccept abil
it
y,wi l
lthe
propagandum oft heoccul tmeetwi thgreaterr esi
stanceandav ersi
on.

Thef i
xationofbel i
efpr oceedsundert hei nf l
uencebot hofgener al
andofspeci alforces;thef or mationofabel i
efisatoncea
personal andasoci alreact i
on--ar eact iont ot heev idencewhi ch
recor dedandper sonal exper i
encespr esent ,andt ot hecur rentbeli
efs
ofourenv i
ronment .Toanequal ext enti st her eactiondet ermi ned
byt het emper amentoft her eagent .Andal thought her esul t
ing
i
ndi vidual bel i
efs,howev ercompl ex, arenotmat t
ersofchancenor
aret heircausesal t
oget herpastf i
ndi ngout ,yetsomeoft heir
cont ri
butingf actorsar esov agueandsoi naccessi blet hatthey
aremostpr ofit
ablyconsi deredasspeci f
icr esultsofmor eorless
clearlydiscer nedgener alprincipl
es; andi nmanyr espect st hereis
mor ev ali
di nterestint hegener alprinci plest hani nt hepar ti
cular
results.Itisi nteresting, andi tmaybepr ofitable,toi nvestigate
whyt hisar eai swoodedwi t
hoakandt hatwi thmapl e,buti tis
somewhati dletospecul atewhyt hispar ticulartreehappenst obe
amapl er athert hananoak, evenifi tchancest ost andonourown
proper ty,andt ohav eani nteresttousbey ondal lothert r
ees.

Amongt hemor et angi bletendenci est hati nv ariousway sl eadt ot he

occul tt herei sdi stingui shabl ewhatmaybet er medt hei ntensel y
per sonal t
emper ament ,--
thement al at titudet hatabsor bsknowl edge
onlywhendi ssol vedi nanal l
-per vadi ngper sonal medi um; theat tit
ude
thatf indsapar amountsi gnificancei nt heper sonal i
nter pretation
ofexper i
ences, andr eact stomassi v eandext ensi vegener ali
zat i
ons
mostv aguel yandi mpot ently;theat titudet hatof fer saweakand
verbal assentt osci ent ifi
cpr inci plesandt ot her ealiti
esof
nat ure, butinwar dlycher ishesani nt ensebel iefi nt heper sonal
pur por toft heor derofev ents, andear nest lyseeksf orapr ecise
expl anat i
onofi ndi vidual happeni ngs." Thechr oni cbel iefof
manki nd,"say sPr of essorJames, "thatev ent smayhappenf ort he
sakeoft heirper sonal signifi
cancei sanabomi nat i
on. "Itist his
chroni cment alhabi tthatbr oodsupont hepr obl em ofsubj ect i
ve
exper iences, andi sr eadyt or ecogni zei nsi gnsandomenst hegui ding
principl eofr ational ity;nott hatt hisisal way sdonedesi gnedl yand
super st it
iousl y
, butt heunder lyingbentobscur est heconsi der ation
ofexper i
encei nanyot hert hanaper sonal light ,
andobst r
uct sthat
i
llumi nat i
onoft heconcr etebyt hegener i
c, whi chconst i
tutesan
i
ndi spensabl ef act ori nt hegr owt hofwhol esomet hought .Thev i
ctim
oft hisunf ortunat ehabi twi l
l r
emai nl ogi cal lyunf ittosur vivethe
struggl eagai nstt heoccul t
.Onl yinsof arashesucceedsi nget ti
ng
awayf rom hi sper sonal perspect i
v ewi llhebeabl et oappr eciate
thet ruest atusoft hepr oblem whi chenl istshi si nterest .Abov e
allisitnecessar yt osubor dinat eexpl iciti ndi vidual explanat i
ons
tothegener alill
uminat i
onofwel l
-establ i
shedpr inciples.Itmay
bei nterestingt onot ethatt hepar takingofmi nce-pieatev ening
i
nducesbaddr eams, butitishar dlypr of it
abletospecul atedeeply
whymydr eam t ookthef orm ofal eer i
ngdemonwi tht heimpol i
tehabit
ofsquat t
ingonmychest .Thest ufft hatdr eamsar emadeofi snot
suscept ibleoft hattypeofanal ysi
s.Themostgener ousal lowance
mustbemadef orcoincidencesandi rrelev anci
es,andi tmustbe
const antlyremember edt hatt heobscur ephenomenaofpsy chology,
and, indeed, thephenomenaofmor ethor oughlyest ablishedand
i
nt r
insicallymor edefinitesci ences, cannotbeexpect edt opass
thet estofdet ailedandconcr et
ecombi nationsofci rcumst ances.In
othercl assesofknowl edget hetempt ationt odemandsuchexpl ici
t
explanat i
onsofobser v
ationsandexper iencesisnotsost rong,
becauseoft heabsenceofanequal l
yst rongper sonal i
nterest;but
clearlythisdoesnotaf fectt helogi calst atusofthepr oblem.

Ther epl ytot hisar gumentIcanr eadi lyant icipate; andIconf ess
thatmyadmi rationofHaml etissomewhatdul l
edbyr easonoft hat
i
ll-
adv i
sedr emar kt oHor atioaboutt her ebei ngmor et hingsi nheav en
andear tht hanar edr eamtofi nourphi l
osophi es.Theoccul tist
alway ssei zesupont hatci tationt oref utet hesci ent i
st.Hepr ints
i
tashi smot t
oonhi sbooksandj our nal s, andr egar dsi tasasl ow
poisont hatwi l
li
nt i
meef f
ectt hedest ruct i
onoft her abbl eof
scientist s,andr ev eal thet r uthofhi sownPsy cho- Har moni cSci ence
orHel i
ocent r
icAst rol ogy .Iti sonet hi ngt obeopen- mi nded, andt o
reali
zet hei ncompl etenessofsci ent i
ficknowl edge, andt oappr eci ate
howof tenwhatwasi gnor edbyonegener ationhasbecomet hesci ence
ofthenext ;andi tisav erydi ff
erentt hingt obei mpr essedwi th
coincidencesanddr eamsandpr emoni tions, andt or egar dt hem as
givi
ngt hekey notet ot heconcept ionsofnat ureandr eal i
ty,and
tolookuponsci enceasami sdir
ect edef for t.Suchdi fferencesof
atti
tudedependf r
equent lyuponadi fferenceoft emper amentaswel l
asuponi ntellectual di scer nment .Themanort hewomanwhof l
iest o
thethingsnotdr eamtofi nourphi losophyqui t
ecommonl ydoesnot
underst andt het hingswhi chourphi losophyv er ycr editabl yexpl ains.
Thet wot y
pesofmi ndar edi ff
erent, and, asPr of essorJames
expressesi t,
"thesci ent i
fic-academi cmi ndandt hef emi nine-my stical
mindshyf rom eachot her'
sf actsjustast heyf l
yf rom eachot her's
temperandspi ri
t .
"

Certainspeci al inf l
uencescombi newi tht hesef undament aldiff
erences
ofatt i
tudet of av ort hespr eadofbel iefi ntheoccul t;
andoft hese
thechar acteroft hebel iefsasoft hebel i
ev ersf ur nishessome
evidence.Atv ar i
ousst agesoft hediscussi onIhav eref erredt o
thedecept ivenat ur eoft hear gumentbyanal ogy ;tot hedomi nati
ng
sympat hywi thaconcl usi on,andt her esul ti
ngassi mi lationand
overest imat ionofappar entev i
dencei ni tsf avor ;tot hef requent
fai
luret ounder standt hatt hef ormat i
onofv alidopi nionandt he
i
nterpr etationofev i
dencei nanyf i
eldofi nqui ryr equiresomewhat
ofexper ttrainingandspeci alaptit
ude, obv i
ousl ysoi nt echni cal
mat ters, butonl ymoder atelylesssoi nmat ter smi sleadi ngly
regardedasgener al;tobi asandsuper stiti
on, tot heweakness
thatbendseasi lyt ot hei nfluencesofcont agion, tounf ortunat e
educat ional limi tationsandper versions, and, nott heleast ,t
oa
defectiv egr oundi ngi nt henat ureofsci entificf actandpr oof.
Themy steryat tachi ngt ot hebehav ioroft hemagnetl edMesmer
tocal lhiscur ativeinf l
uence" animal magnet i
sm, "
--aconcept ion
thatst i
llprev ai
lsamongl atter -
dayoccul ti
sts.Thepr i
ncipl
eof
sympat heticv i
bration, inobedi encet owhi chat uning-forktakesup
thev ibrati
onsofanot herinuni sonwi t
hit,i
sv iolent l
ytransferred
toimagi narybr ainvibr ati
onsandt ostil
lmor ei magi narytelepathic
currents.TheX- r
ayandwi relesst elegraphyarecer taintobe
uti
li
zedi ncor roborat ionofunpr ov enmodesofment alacti
on, and
willber egar dedasf ur ni
shingt hekeyt oclair
voy anceandr apport;
j
ustaswel l-
knownel ectri
cal phenomenahav egi venr i
set othe
noti
onsofposi ti
veandnegat ivet emper ament sandmedi umi sti
cpolar
attr
act i
onandr epulsi on.Allthisresul t
sf r
om t heunwar r
anted
andabsur dappl i
cat i
onofanal ogies;foranalogi es, evenwhen
appr opriate,arel i
tt
lemor et hansuggest iveorcor roborati
v eof
rel
ationsorconcept ionswhi chowet heirmainsuppor ttoot herand
mor est urdyev i
dence.Anal ogyundercar efulsuper vi
sionmaymakea
useful appr entice,butendl esshav ocresultswhent heser vantplays
thepar toft hemast er.

Nobet teri llust rat i

onscoul dbedesi redoft heef fect sofment al
prepossessi onandt her esul tingdi st or tionofev i
denceandofl ogical
i
nsi ghtt hant hoseaf fordedbyt hecar eerofSpi ri
tual i
sm andt hat
ofChr i
st i
anSci ence.I nbot ht hesemov ement st heassi milation
ofar el i
gi oust rendhasbeenofi nest i
mabl ei mpor tancet ot hei r
dissemi nat ion.Sur elyitisnotmer elyormai nlyt heev idences
obt ainabl ei nt heséancechamber ,nort hei rresist i
bl eaccumul ati
on
ofcur esbyar gumentandt hought -heal i
ngs, thataccountf orthe
organi zedgat her ingsofSpi ritualistsandt hecost l
yt empl esand
thrivingcongr egat i
onsofChr istSci ent ist .Iti st hepr esent ation
ofapr act ical doct r
ineofi mmor talityandoft hespi ritual natur e
ofdi seasei nconj unct i
onwi t
hanaccept edr eligioussy stem, that
i
sr esponsi blef ort hesev astr esul t
s.The" Keyt ot heScr iptures"
hasi mmeasur abl yreinfor cedt he" Sci enceandHeal th,"andbr ought
believ er st oanewf orm ofChr i
stiani tywhonev erwoul dhav e
beenconv er tedt oanewsy stem ofmedi ci nepr esent edonpur ely
i
nt ellect ual gr ounds.Rat ional ityisdoubt lessachar act eristic
tendencyofhumani ty,butl ogi calit
yi sanacqui redpossessi on,
andonebynomeansf irml yest ablishedi nt her aceatl arge.So
l
ongaswear er eprov edbyt hedi scipl ineofnat ure, andt hat
ratherpr ompt ly, wet endt oacti naccor dancewi tht heest abl i
shed
relationsoft hi ngs; thati sr ational i
ty .Butt her ecogni tionof
themor er emot econnect ionsbet weenant ecedentandconsequent ,and
thedev elopmentofhabi tsoft houghtwhi chshal lleadt or eliabl e
concl usionsi ncompl exsi tuat ions; andagai n,theabi lityto
distingui shbet weent hepl ausi bleandt het rue, thef irmnesst o
suppor tpr inci plei nt hef aceofpar adoxandseemi ngnonconf or mit
y,
tot hinkcl ear l
yandconsi stent lyint heabsenceoft hepr act i
cal
repr oofofnat ur e--t
hati sl ogical ity.Iti sonl yast her esul t
ofapr olongedandconsci ent ioust rai ning, ai dedbyanext ensi v e
exper ienceandbyaknowl edgeoft hehi st or ical exper i
enceoft he
race, t hatt hei nher entr ational tendenci esdev elopi nt oest ablished
l
ogi cal habi tsandpr i
ncipl esofbel ief .Formanyt hisdev elopment
remai nsst unt edorar rested; andt heycont inueaschi ldrenofa
l
ar gergr owt h, l
eani ngmuchonot her s, rar elyv ent ur i
ngabr oadal one,
andwi sel yconf iningt heirexcur sionst of ami li
argr ound.Whent hey
becomepossessedwi tht hedesi ret ot r av el amongot hercul tur es,
theirl ackofappr eciationoft hesi ght swhi cht hei rjour ney sbr ing
befor
et hem givest
othei
rrepor
tsthesamedegr
eeofr
eli
abi
l
ityand
val
ueasat tachestothemuchridi
cul
edcommentsoft
hephi
li
sti
ne
_nouveauxriches_.

Thesur veyoft hemoder noccul tmakesi tseem qui teut opi ant ol ook
for
war dt ot hedaywhent heoccul tshal lhav edi sappear ed, andt he
l
ionandt hel ambshal l f
eedandgr owst rongont hesamenour ishment.
Doubt l
essnewf or msandphasesoft heoccul twi llariset ot ake
thepl aceoft heol dast heirpopul ar i
t ydecl ines; andt hewor ld
wil
l bet hemor eint erest i
ngandmor echar acteristicallyahuman
dwel li
ng- pl acef orcont ainingal l sor tsandcondi ti
onsofmi nds.None
theless, itist hepl ai ndut yandpr ivilegeofeachgener at iont o
uti
li
zeev er yoppor tunityt odispel er rorandsuper stiti
on, andt o
opposet hedi ssemi nationofi rrat ional bel iefs.Itispar ticular ly
theobl i
gat i
onoft het orch-bear er sofsci encet oi ll
umi nat et he
pathofpr ogr ess, andt ot r
ansmi tthel ightt othei rsuccessor swi t
h
undimi nishedpowerandbr i
ll
iancy ;thef lamemustbur nbot hasa
beacon- lightt ogui det heway fareral ongt hehi ghway sofadv ance, and
asawar ningagai nstt hewi l
l-
o'-the- wispst hatshi neseduct ivel yin
theby -
way s.Thesaf estandmostef ficientant idot etot hespr ead
oftheper ni ci
oust endenci esi nher enti nt heoccul tli
esi nt he
cult
iv ationofawhol esomeandwhol e- soul edi nter esti nt hegenui ne
andpr of i
tabl epr obl emsofnat ur eandofl ife,andi nthecul ti
v ation
withi tofast eadf astadher encet ocommonsense, thatr esul tsi n
arightper spect i
v eoft hesi gnificanceandv alueoft hi ngs.These
qualities, for t
unat elyf orourf or ef ather s,wer enotr eser v edt o
bet heexcl usivepr er ogat i
veoft hemoder n; and, fortunat elyf or
post erity, arelikelyt or emai nchar act eristicoft hesci ent ifi
cand
antagoni st i
ct otheoccul t.

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Spirit
ual
ism ishereconsider
edonlyinitsgeneralbear
ingsupon
moder nconceptionsoftheoccult
;anyconsiderat
ionofthespeci
al
phenomenapr esentedunderitsauspi
cesoroft heinfl
uenceswhich
cont r
ibutetoabel i
efi
nitstenetswouldleadtoofarafiel
d.The
topicisseparatelyconsi
deredfrom adif
ferentpoi
ntofv i
ewina
l
at eressay.

[2]Topr ev entmi sunder st

andi ngi tiswel l torepeatthatIam
speaki ngoft hegener alaverageoft horough- goingSpiri
tualist
s.The
factt hataf ewmedi umshav eengagedt heat tenti
onofsci entif
ical
ly
mi ndedi nv estigatorshasnobear ingont hemot i
veswhi chlead
mostper sonst omakeapr ofessi onal callonamedi um, ortojoin
aci rcle.Thef urtherfactthatt hesei nv estigatorshav eatt i
mes
foundt hemsel vesbaf fl
edbyt hemedi um' sper formancesandt hataf ew
oft hem hav eannouncedt heirr eadinesst oacceptt hespi r
it
uali
stic
hypot hesi s,isofi mpor t
ancei nsomeaspect s,butdoesnotdet ermine
thegener al tr
endoft hespi ri
tual i
sticmov ementi nthedi recti
onin
whi chi ti
sconsi deredi nthepr esentdi scussi on.

THEPROBLEMSOFPSYCHI
CALRESEARCH
I

Thedi v i
si onoft hesci encesr ef lect st hedi v ersi tyofhuman
i
nt erest s; itr epr esent st heeconomi cal adapt at i
onofor gani zed
thoughtt ot hecondi tionsofr eal ity ;
andi tlikewi ser ecogni zest he
i
nt ri
nsi cal lyandobj ect iv elydi st inctr eal msandaspect s, i
nwhi ch
andunderwhi chphenomenaoccur .Iti sobv ioust hatt hesci ences
wer eshapedbyhumanneeds; thatphy sicsandchemi st ryandgeol ogy
andbi ol ogyandpsy chol ogydonotconst itut ei ndependentdepar tment s
ofnat ure' sr égi me, butonl ysomanyaspect sofcompl exnat ur al
act i
vities; thatacr oss- sect ionoft hecomposi tehappeni ngsofa
cosmi cmomentwoul dr ev eal anendl essl yhet er ogeneousconcomi t
anceof
diversef or msofener gyact ingupondi v erset y pesofmat erial; that ,
asweconf ineourat tent ionsomewhatar bitrar ilyt ooneoranot her
componentoft heaggr egat e, webecomephy sici sts, orchemi sts, or
geol ogi st s, orbi ol ogi st s, orpsy chol ogi st s; that , indeed, Nat ur ei s
allthingst oal lmen.Ther ei s, f ur ther mor e, acommuni t yofspi ri
t
bet weent hesev er al sci ences, ast her ei sal ogi cal uni tyofmet hod
andpur posewi t hint her eal m ofeach.Howev eri gnor antt heymaybe
ofoneanot her '
sf act s, thechemi standt hepsy chol ogi str eadi ly
appr eci at eoneanot her '
spur poses, andf indabondofsy mpat hyi nt he
pur suitofacommonl yi nspi redt houghdi ffer ent lyappl iedmet hod.
Thesear chf orobj ect ivet r
ut h, theext ensi onoft her ealm ofl aw
andr egul arity, theexpansi onandor gani zat ionoft hear myoff acts
const ant lymar shal edandr ev iewedandmader eadyf orser vice, the
everwi deni ngdev el opmentofpr incipl esandt hef ur ther ingofa
deeperi nsi ghti nt ot hei rsi gni fi
cance, --thesear ei deal sf ort he
adv ancementofsci ence, fareasi erofexpr essi ont hanofexecut i
on,
butt hecl earandaccept edf or mul at i
onofwhi chi tsel fat test sa
highlydev elopedst ageofaccur atet hought .Acl ear -cutconcept i
onof
thepur posesandmet hodsofsci ent ifici nv est igat ionandoft hescope
oft hesev er al sci encesi sadear lyboughtpr oductofgener ationsof
wel l-
direct ed, asal soofmi sdi r ect ed, ef for t.Thepat hofpr ogr ess
l
eadi ngt ot hisachi ev ementhasbeent or tuousandi ndi rect ;ther e
hasbeenmuchexpendi tur eofener gyt hatr esul tedmer el yi nmar king
ti
me, ingoi ngt hr ought hemov ement sofl ocomot ionbutwi thno
adv ance, inf ollowi ngaf alset rai l,or ,thr oughal ossoft hesense
ofdi rect ion, i
ncomi ngbackaf teraci rcui tousmar cht oanear li
er
star t
ing- poi nt.Iti seasy ,whenacer tainhei ghti sr eached, to
l
ookdownandback, andseehowmuchmor er eadi lyt heascentmi ght
hav ebeenaccompl ished; buti ti sav er ydi ffer entmat tert of or ma
successf ul planf orat t
ai ningt henexthi ghercommandi ngpoi nt.Itis
i
nev i
tabl et hatt her eshal l bedi ffer encesofopi ni onast ocour se
andmanœuv re, ander r orsofj udgmentofcommi ssi onandomi ssion; but
suchdi ver sityi squi teconsi stentwi thanunder lyingcoöper at ion
andsi ngl enessofpur pose.I tisi nt hei nspi rat ionandi nt he
execut ionoft hatpur poset hatsci encebecomesdi ffer ent iat edf r
om
theunsci ent i
ficandnon- sci ent ific.

Bet weentheorganizedeffor
tandwell-
recognizedplanofact i
onof
scienceandthechaot i
cmov ement
soft heuntutoredmind,thereisa
mar kedcontr
ast.Thesav age,l
iket
hechi l
d,constantl
ymeet swith
theunexpected;everyexperi
encelyi
ngout si
dehisnar r
owbeat en
tracksti
rshim wit
hashockandof t
enf i
ll
shim withfear--
the
handmai dofignorance.Heisapttopicturenatureasaf ear
ful
monst er
,andtopeopl et heworl
dwithtyr
annical beings.Stepby
steptheregionoftheknownexpands, andsuggest st henatureoft he
unknown; menexpect ,theyfor
esee,
theypredict.Theappar entchaos
ofmut ual
lyi
nimicalforcesgiveswaytothepr ofoundhar monyof
unify
inglaw.Andy ettheunknownandt hebor derlandt hatseparates
i
tf r
om theknownar eal waysnearby,t
otemptcur iosityandthe
spir
itofadventur
e.

Thepr oblem heret obeconsi deredr elatestot heat t

itudewhi chmay
mostpr operlyandpr ofit
ablybet akenwi thregar dtotheout l
yi
ng
phenomenaoft hemi nd.Ar etheyout casts,tobet reat edi naspi r
it
ofchar i
tyandf orbear ance?Ar etheyt het rueowner soft hel and,
drivenof f,l
i
ket heI ndianbef orethewhi teman, byther el
ent l
ess
mar chofci vil
izationt oapr escri
bedr eservation?Ar et heyt he
unjustlydeposedandr i
ghtfulheirs,soont ober estoredt ot heir
kingdom byaf airerandmor esear chingexami nati
onoft heirti
tl
e?Or
aret hey ,
gypsy -l
ike,ofobscur eor i
gin, surviv
ingi naci vili
zation
whi cht heyarei nbutnotof ,att
empt ingt oekeoutanuncer tai
n
existencebypeddl i
ngr eli
csofant i
quat edloret othecur i
ousand
thecr edulous?

I
I

Thecur rentusageoft het erm" Psy chi cal Resear ch"t akesi tsmeani ng
from t heSoci etyforPsy chical Resear ch, foundedi nEngl andi n
1882.Theor iginal pr ogrammeoft hesoci etyi nv olvedasy stemat ic
i
nv est i
gat i
onof" thatl argegr oupofdebat ablephenomenadesi gnated
bysucht ermsasmesmer ic, psy chical , andSpi ritualist i
c.""From t he
recor dedt est imonyofmanycompet entwi tnesses, "i tisur ged, "t
her e
appear stobe, ami dstmuchdel usionanddecept i
on, ani mpor tant
bodyofr emar kabl ephenomena, whi char e_ primaf aci e_inexpl i
cabl e
onanygener all
yr ecogni zedhy pot hesi s, andwhi ch, ifincont est ably
establ i
shed, woul dbeoft hehi ghestpossi bl ev alue. "Thewor k
ofinv estigat ionoft hese" resi dual phenomena"wasi nt rustedto
sixcommi ttees, whower et oi nqui resev er all
yi nt o" thenat ure
andext entofanyi nfluencewhi chmaybeexer t
edbyonemi ndupon
anot her,apar tfrom anygener allyrecogni zedmodeofper ception;"
i
nt ohy pnot ism, theso- calledmesmer i
ct r ance, clairv oy ance,and
otheral li
edphenomena; tounder t
akear ev isionofRei chenbach' s
resear cheswi thref erencet odi scov er i
ngwhet herhi s" sensiti
ves"
possessed" anypowerofper cept ionbey ondahi ghl yexal ted
sensi bil
ityoft her ecogni zedsensor yor gans; "t oi nv est igatethe
repor tsofappar iti
onsatt hemomentofdeat h, andofhousesr eput ed
tobehaunt ed; toinqui rei nt ot hecausesandgener al lawsoft he
phenomenaofSpi r
itualism; andt ocol lectmat er ialrel ativetot he
historyoft hesesubj ect s.Iti st hei nv est i
gat i
onoft heset opics
from t hepoi ntofv iewpr ev alenti nt hepubl i
cat i
onsoft hisSoci ety
thatconst itutest hedef initionofPsy chi cal Resear ch.Thi sphr ase,
whi chhascomei ntopr omi nencewi thi nl esst hanascor eofy ear s,
hasnosi mpl eorf ami l
iarsy nony m; i
tmustnotbei nter pretedbyt he
combi nedconnot ationofi tscomponentwor ds, butmustbeaccept edas
thet echni cal equi valentoft het rendandcont entofacer taintype
ofinv estigat ionofobscur ephenomenaoral legedphenomena, inmost
ofwhi chpsy chol ogi cal fact or sar epr omi nent .
Ifthet er m mayatal lbebr oughtwi thint heci rcleoft hesci ences,
i
tcer tainl yt her eassumesasomewhatuni queposi ti
on.I tnat ur all
y
becomest heanal ogue, ori tmaybet her ival ofPsy chol ogy ;yeti ts
precisest atusandi t
slogi cal relationst oot herdepar tment sof
scient i
ficr esear char efarf r om obv ious.Themoder nconcept ionof
Psy chol ogyi sgener ouslycompr ehensi ve; itencompassest heendl essl
y
variableandcompl expr ocessesofhumanment ality ;i
tpur sueswi th
enthusi asm t hest udyofdev elopment al pr ocessesofi ntel l
igencei n
childhood, int heani mal wor ld, i
nt heunf oldmentoft her ace; i
t
studies, fort heirownv alue, theaber rantandpat hol ogi cal for ms
ofment al act ion, andbr i
ngst hesei nt or elat i
onwi th, andt hus
i
llumi nat est hecompr ehensi onoft henor mal .I tformsaf fi
liations
wi t
hphy siol ogyandbi ologyandmedi cine, wi thphi losophyandl ogic
andet hics, wi t
hant hropol ogyandsoci ologyandf olk- l
or e;itbor rows
freelyf rom t heirmat erials, andat tempt st oi nt erprett hemat er i
al s
thusbor rowedf rom t hepsy chol ogi cal poi ntofv i
ewandt oi nfusei nto
them i tsdi stinctivespi rit.Sur elyPsy chi cal Resear chshoul dbeabl e
tof i
ndanooki nsocommodi ousahome; ift hepr obl emsofPsy chical
Resear char elegitimat emember soft hepsy chol ogi cal fami l
y, some
prov i
sionshoul dbepossi blef ort hei rrecept ionwi thi ntheol d
homest ead.Nordoest hisgr oupofpr obl emsr epr esentadi fferenceof
school , insomesuchwayast hehomœopat hist sr epr esentasecessi on
from t her egul arschool ofmedi ci ne; norcani tber egar dedast he
speci al studyoft heunusual andt heabnor mal i
nt hespher eofmi nd,
andt husst andi nt her elationwhi cht er atologyorpat hol ogybear s
tophy siol ogyandanat omy :fori nt hatev enti twoul dconst itute
asi mpl edi v i
sionofAbnor mal Psy chol ogy , andal thoughPsy chi cal
Resear chhascl oseal l
iancewi t
ht hel atter, itcannotbe, andi s
unwi l
lingt ober egar dedasasubor dinat epor t
ionoft hatdomai n.

From asur veyoft hel i

teratureofPsy chi cal Resear chonemi ght
readilydr awt hei nfer encet hatwher easPsy chol ogyst udi est he
recogni zedandexpl i
cabl ephasesofment al phenomena, Psy chical
Resear chi soccupi edwi tht hedi sput edandmy st erious.Onemi ghtal
so
concl udet hatwher easPsy chol ogyi sconcer nedwi tht hephenomena
commonl yassoci atedwi thment al act ivit
iesandt hei rv ar iati
on
undernor mal asal sounderunusual andpat hologi cal ci rcumst ances,
Psy chical Resear chi si nterestedi nt hedemonst rat i
onofsuper normal
faculties, andi nt heest ablishmentoff or msofment alityt hat
divergef rom andt r anscendt hosewi thwhi chev er y-dayhumani ty
i
sper mi tt edt obecomef ami l
iar;andt hat ,mor eov er, insomeof
i
tsexcur si onsPsy chi cal Resear chdoesnotl imi titsel ftoment al
mani fest at i
ons, buti nv esti
gat esundi scov eredf ormsofphy sical
ener gy, andser i
ousl yconsi der swhet herbehi ndandbey ondt hewor ld
ofphenomenat herei sanot herandadi fferentwor ld, i
nwhi cht he
establ i
shedor derandt hement al andmat erial l
awsoft hispl anet
donotobt ain.Butt heunwar r
ant edchar acter ,nott osayabsur dity,
ofsuchadi ffer ent i
at i
onorcl assi ficat ioni satonceappar ent ,
i
fweat temptt ocar ryitov erint oot herdepar tment sofsci ence.
Specul at ionsi nr egar dt otheconst i
tut ionoft heear t h'scent re
orast ot hef utur eofourpl anet ,iflegi timat ei nchar act er, are
asr eadi lyi ncor por ablei ntogeol ogyast heconsi der ationofmor e
definiteandbet terknownphenomena; biologi stsr ecogni zet hatt here
aremy t hical aswel lasanomal ouspor tionsoft hei rdomai n, butdo
notconsi dert hatf reaksofnat ureei therdest royt hev alidityof
anat omi cal andphy siological princi pl es, ordemandat ot al l
ydi stinct
andt ranscendentor gani zat ionormet hodf ort hei rst udy .Thechemi st
maybecomei nt er est edi nt heexami nat ionofwhatwasr eal lydone
wheni twassupposedt hatot hermet alswer econv er tedi nt ogol d; the
phy sicistmaybecomei nt erest edi nt heappl icat ionsofel ect ricit y
andmagnet ism, ofopt i
cal ref lect ionsandi magesi nt hepr oduct i
on
ofst agei l
lusi ons; butt heconcept ionofchemi str yandofphy sics
nat ur allyembr acesconsi der at ionsoft hegr owt h, t heer ror s, and
theappl i
cat i
onsoft hesesci ences.Andwhi let hesecompar i
sons
donotf ur nishacompl etepar al l
el tot her el at i
ont hatseemst o
per tai nbet weenPsy chol ogyandPsy chi cal Resear ch, y eti ti sas
truei nt heonecaseasi nt heot her s, thatt hedi ffer ent iat ionof
agr oupofpr obl emsont hebasi sofunusual nessofoccur rence, of
my st eriousnessofor igin, ofdoubt ful aut hent icity ,orofappar ent
par adoxi cal ort ranscendentchar act er , i
sasi l
logi cal asi tis
unnecessar y .Thel egi ti
mat epr obl emsofPsy chi cal Resear char e
equal lyandnecessar il
ygenui nepr obl emsofPsy chol ogy , thatr equi re
nospeci al desi gnat i
on.Theyneednotbeespeci al l
yi mpor tant ,nor
i
nt er est ing, norpr of i
t able, norwel lcompr ehendedpr obl emsof
Psy chol ogy , butt heybel ongt her ei ft heyar esci ent ificpr obl ems
atal l
.Theobj ect iont oPsy chi cal Resear chi snotav erbal one;
i
ti sanobj ect i
ont ot hesepar at ionofacl assofpr obl emsf rom
thei rnat ural habi tat ,anobj ect iont ot hev iolentt ranspl ant ing
ofagr owt hf rom i tsownenv ironment .Iti sapr ot estagai nstt he
not iont hatwhi let hepsy chol ogi stmaybel ist enedt owi thr espect
andaut hor ityi nonepor tionofhi st opi c, thel ay manandt hemember
oft heSoci et yf orPsy chi cal Resear char eequal l
yormor ecompet ent
topr onouncej udgment si nacl osel yal li
edf iel d.I ti sapr ot est
agai nstt hev iewt hatf ort hecompr ehensi onofsuchpr ocessesas
sensat ionandper cept ionacour sei nPsy chol ogymaybeusef ul, but
thatt elepat hymaybeest abl ishedbyanymoder at elyi nt el l
igentbut
notspeci allyi nf or medper cipi entandagent ; ort hatt hest udyof
hal luci nat i
onsi si ndeedacompl exanddi fficul tsubj ect ,buthaunt ed
houses, andphant asmsoft hel i
v ing, of f
erapr operoccupat i
onf ora
l
ei sur ehour .Al l thisi swr ongandabsur d; andy eti ti shar dl yan
exagger ationt odecl ar et hatamaj orityoft hosewhopr of essadeep
i
nt er esti n,andexpr essanopi ni onaboutt heonegr oupoft opi cs,
woul dbesur pr isedt ohav edemandedoft hem af ami li
ar itywi tht he
dat aofPsy chol ogyasapr er equi sitet oani nt el l
igentcoöper at ioni n
Psy chi cal Resear ch.I ft hepr obl emsofPsy chi cal Resear ch, ort hat
por tionoft hepr obl emsi nwhi chi nv est i
gat ionseemspr of itabl e, ar e
ev ert obei llumi nat edandexhi bi tedi nani nt el li
gi bl ef or m, it
wi l
l onl ycomeaboutwhent heyar ei nv est igat edbyt hesamemet hods
andi nt hesamespi ri
tasar eot herpsy chol ogi cal pr obl ems, when
theyar est udi edi nconnect i
onwi thandasapar tofot hergener al
probl emsofnor mal andabnor mal Psy chol ogy .Whet hert hi si sdone
undert heauspi cesofasoci et yori nt hepsy chol ogi cal labor at or i
es
ofuni ver sitiesi s, ofcour se, adet ail ofnoi mpor tance.I tis
i
mpor tant ,howev er, whatt het rend, andt hespi rit, andt hemet hod,
andt hepur poseoft hei nv est i
gat ionmaybe; asi ti sequal ly
i
mpor tant ,whatmaybet het raini ng, andt hecapabi li
ties, and
ther esour ces, andt heor i
gi nal ity, andt heschol ar shi poft he
i
nv est igat or s.

I
sthe"
psychi
cal r
esearcher
"thenmer elyapsychol
ogistgoneast
ray
?
I
sheamer edi
lett
ante,anamat eurcol
lect
orofcuri
ousspecimens,
ori
shesomethingverydiff
erentfr
om apsy chol
ogi
st?Hei s
doubt l
essoneort heot heroral l oft hese.Hemaybeapsy chologist
i
nt het ruestandbestsenseoft hewor d;andasal lpsy chologists
havet heirspecial i
nterest s,sohi smaybecent redint hegr oupof
phenomenawhi chhav ebeenunwi sel ysepar atedf rom their_ mil
ieu_,and
havebeeni naptlyt ermed" Psychi cal Resear ch."Iam r eadynotonl yto
admi tbutt oemphasi zet hataconsi der abl
epor ti
onoft heinfluenti
al
contributorstoPsy chicalResear char eanimat edbyast r
uly
sci
ent ifi
cmot i
ves, andcar ryont heirwor kwi thasmuchdev otion
andabi l
it
y,withascar eful alogical acumen, withasshr ewd
compr ehensionoft hedanger sanddi ff
icul
tiesoft heirt opic,as
charact eri
zet hel aborsofanyot herf ieldofpsy chologicalendeav or.
Butthi sstatementcanbynomeansbeext endedt oall;nordoesi t
atallmi li
tat
eagai nstt heopi niont hatmanyoft hoset owhom i t
doesappl y,subscr ibet oillogical andper ni
ci ousconcl usions, and
i
ndirect l
yencour ageamostunf or t
unat eatt i
tudei not hers.

I
II

Appr oachi ngt hemat ternextf rom adescr ipt ivepoi ntofv iew, it
becomesper tinentt oi nqui rewhatar et heact ual int erest swhi ch
givev i
t alityt oPsy chi cal Resear ch, whichsuppor tt hei nv est igat or
i
nhi sl abor iousandt edi ouscol l
ect i
onandcompi lationofcases,
whi chpr ov i
det hemember shipf ort heSoci etyf orPsy chi cal Resear ch,
andt hest ill wi derci rcleofi nter est edr eader s, whi chi nduceso
manycor respondent st or ecor dl ongandpai nstaki ngaccount sof
theirpecul iar" psy chi cal "exper iences, whi chmaket hedi scussi on
oft hesemat ter saf av oritet opi cofconv er sat ion.Thatt hese
i
nter est sar edi v ersei sobv ious; y ettheyf al lnat ural lyint oa
fewgr oupsort ypes, ofwhi cht heoccul tint er estispr obabl yt he
mostwi despr ead.Thi s, initspr onouncedf or m, pr oceedsupona
suppr essedoracknowl edgedconv i
ctiont hatt hewor ldwhi chsci ence
reveal si sbutat or soofr eal i
ty; thati tsv eryhead- -thatwhi ch
givessi gni ficanceandexpr essi ont ot hewhol e--maybemi ssi ng,
andcanonl yber est or edf r
om i sol atedf ragment s, themsel v est obe
foundbyr aregoodf or tune.Thekeyt ot her iddl eofexi stencei s
tobesoughti nt heper sonal signi fi
canceofev ents; i
nmoment sof
greatst ressandst rai n,incr i
tical emer genci eswhencommuni cat i
on
betweeni ndi v idual sdeepl yconcer nedmustbeest abl i
shedt hought he
heav ensf all, itiscl ai medt hatt heheav ens_ do_occasi onal ly
fal
l, t
hatt hel awsofear thar et ranscended, andt hephant asmsof
thedy ingar et el epat hi callywaf t edt ot hesent ientconsci ousness
oft hei nt er est edki nsmanorf ri
end.Appar itionsandpr esent i
ment s
arei nter pr et edasmy sticsy mbol soft heor derofev ent s, whi chcast
theirshadowsbef or eorcoi nci dent l
ywi tht hem.Thei nt elligenceof
thedepar ted, li
kewi se, i
sdi scer nedi nt hesemani fest at i
ons; and
throughhaunt edhousesandséancechamber s,thr ought hei nspi r
ed
utterancesofent rancedmedi ums, messagesar er ev eal edt hati ndicate
concl usi v elyt hei mpossi bil
ityoft heirtr ansmi ssiont hroughor di nary
channel s, or, itmaybe, theirunmi stakabl e" spi ri
tual "or igin.The
super nor mal , transcendent , undi scov eredwor l
doft heoccul tshi nes
through, thoughf itfullyandv i
sibl eonl yt ot hosewhohav eey est o
see, thecommonpl ace, const rai nedphenomenaofear th- boundr eali
ty.
Var i
abl easmaybet hef or mul at ionandt rendoft hi sint er est ,
yeti nsomef or mt hi ssuspi cionorquasi -bel ief(forwhi cht he
term" occul t "seemsappr opr i
at e)t hatt her ear ethi ngsundr eamtof
i
nourphi losophy ,thatt heser esidualphenomenaar epr of oundly
signifi
cantandaf for dagl impseoft hegr eatunknown, aswel lasof
thef al
li
bil
ityandt hepov ertyofsci ent
ificconcept i
ons, furnishes
av eryconsi derable_ clientèle_ofPsy chi cal Research.Thewhy
andwher eforeoft hisincli
nat i
onneednother ebedi scussed; its
prevalencei sunmi stakabl e.Andt houghi tappear snowi nacr ude
andsuper stit
iousgui se, andagai ni namor erefi
nedandcr i
ti
cal
attit
ude,andmor er arelyisunwi ll
inglyassumedast heonl ypossi bl
e
alternati
vei nthef aceofst r
iki
ngper sonal andot herev idence, yet
thereisasuf fi
cientcommuni t
yofbel iefi nthesesev eral posit
ions
towar rantt heiri
ncl usioninacommont houghv ariablet ype.As
appliedtoPsy chical Resear ch,itisimpor tantneithertogener ali
ze
from thewor stnorf r
om t hebestexpr essi onsoft hisoccul ti
nterest,
butt oappr eciateitsr angeofdi st r
ibutionami dthedi ver sit
yof
temper amentandendowment .

Astheoccul ti nter estr ecedest oanobscur eposi tioni nt he

backgr ound, andast hef or egr oundandmi ddledi st ancecomet obe
suff
usedwi tht hel ightofcr i
tical discernmentandoft hesci ent i
fi
c
spi
ritofi nqui ry ,the" psy chi cal resear cher "approxi mat est ot he
psychol ogi cal poi ntofv iew.Thi sessent iall
ypsy chol ogi calinterest
i
snecessar i
lyast rongonei nsomeoft hedi sti
nct ivepr obl ems
ofPsy chi cal Resear ch, andof tenmi ngleswi thot heri nterest sto
for
m acur iouscomposi te.I tmaybeamor bid,anuni nformed, a
misgui ded, adi lettant ei nt erest ,buti t
spsy chologi cal char acter
maybenot edwi t
houti mpl i
cat ionofanyf urthercommentof
approv al ordi sappr ov al.Fav or ablyi nterpreted,t hispsy chol ogical
i
nteresti sani nt eresti nt hei ntrinsicnat ureandanal ysisof
ment al processes, --ani nt eresti ntracingt hev arioust hreadst hat
composet het wi stedst randsofconsci ousness, i
nf oll
owi ngt he
kal
eidoscopi ct ransf ormat ionswr oughtbyat t
ent ionandassoci ati
on,
i
nobser v i
ngt hepl ayofhabi t,t hesubt lepr ocessesofi l
lusionand
misinter pretat i
on, theunexpect edi ntrusionoft hesubconsci ous,
andlikewi sei nt hepur sui toft heseasexempl ifi
edi nconcr ete
i
nstances; amongot her s,insuchal l
egedphenomenaasar ecommonl y
describedas" mesmer ic, psy chi cal,andSpi r
itualistic."

Whi let hisinterestmaybecombi nedwi t

ht heoccul tinter
est ,t
he
twoar enotr eallycongeni al andar einessenceant agonisti
c.Wear e
allrational onlyi nspot s;andmanya" psy chi calresear cher"pur sues
someofhi sinvest igati
onsundert hegui danceofasci enti
fically
psychol ogicalinter est,
whi leinot herdi rect ionst heoccul tinterest
takest hehel m.Theanal ysisoft hecont rastbet weent hetwomaybe
helpf ulinreal i
zingmor ef ullythedi vergencesofPsy chologyand
Psy chical Resear ch.The" psy chical resear cher "wi shest opr oveor
todi spr ovesomet hing;withr egar dtot hisort hatphenomenonhe
wishest oknow" whatt her ei sinit,"andi saccor dinglyattr
act edt o
phenomenawhi chseem t ohav esomet hingmy ster i
ousint hem.Assoonas
hesucceedsi nf i
ndi ngaconsi stentandcommonpl aceexpl anat i
onf or
agr oupofphenomena, hismai ncur iosityi ssat isfied,andhet akes
topast uresnew.Whenoncehehasshownt hatt heosophicmar velsar
e
ther esul toft r
icker yandcol l
usion, thent hephy sical appearances
ofTheosophyhav ebeen_ explained_ .Ithasbeendemonst ratedt hat
therei s" nothingi nt hem,"t hatis, nothingt ranscendent al
.The
verdicti sgi v
en, andt hecour tpassesont ot henextcase.Butt he
psychol ogist'
si nterestinhowMme.Bl av atskyper formedherast ral
mani f
est at ionswasal waysav er ysubor dinateandi nci dent al one; the
l
ogi cal sci ent ist ,whet herhehappenedt obephy sicistorbi ologi st
orpsy chol ogi st, wasqui t
econv incedt hatMme.Bl av at skyhadnot
discov er edt hemeansofcar ryi
ngponder ablesbyunseenagenci es
from " Chi nat oPer u"(which, byt heway ,woul d,ifpossi ble,bea
mat terf ort hephy sicistandnotatal lfort hepsy chol ogi stto
i
nv est i
gat e) , anymor et hanshehadbeenabl etodi scov erthesecr et
ofimmor t
al ity( whi chwoul dint ur nbeabi ological discov er
y ), or
hadbeenabl et ol eaveherbodyi nNewYor k,whi l
eher" astral "soul
i
nspect edwhatwasgoi ngoni nI ndia( whi chmi ghti ndeedber egar ded
asapsy chol ogi cal f
eat )
.Thepsy chol ogical problem ofTheosophy , so
farast her ei sone, i
sofadi ff
erentt ype; ittakesupt hei nqui ry
ast ohowsuchmar velouspr etensi onscomet obebel ieved, bywhat
i
nf l
uencesconv ictioni sformedanddoct ri
nesspr ead.I tcont ribut es
ani ncidentoranapti ll
ustrati
ont ot hepsy chologyofbel i
ef,ort o
thesoci al psy chol ogyofcont agion.Thepsy chologi sti sinter est ed
i
nt hei llust rat ionwhi chsuchamov ementaf fordsoft heact ionof
certainment al pr ocessesandi nf luences; andhi sint erestper si sts,
whet hert her ei spr esumabl y"somet hingi nit,
"ornot .Ther esul ting
diff
er encei nat titudebet weent hepsy chol ogistandt he" psy chi cal
resear cher "isi ndeedf undament al ,andev enmor esoi npr i
nci pl et han
i
npr actical issue.

Itisdesi rabl ebutnoteasyt of indpar all

el il
lust rationsoft his
differencei nat titudei not hert hanpsy chol ogi cal discussi ons; but
per hapst hef ollowi ngmaybeper t
inent .Ifthewi despr eadi nteresti n
theNor thPol ewer emer elyt hati nt hepossi bilit
yofi tsfur ni shing
thekeyt ot hemy steryoft henor t
hwar d-turni ngmagnet ,andwer eat
oncet odi sappearupont her emov al oft hemy stery, suchani nt er est
woul dbequi tepar alleltot hatoft he" psy chi cr esear cher;"butt he
i
nt erestoft het ruephy sicisti nanyphy sical phenomenonwhi chi n
thef ut uremaybedemonst r
atedt oexi statt heNor thPol ewoul dbea
per sistentone, andonedependi ngf ori tsv alueont hei l
lust ration
thusr eveal ed, notofmy sterybutofr ecogni zedphy sical pr i
nci ples.
Fur ther mor e, bei tobser vedt hathowev erv al uabl emaybet hephy si
cal
fact sobt ainabl ebyapol arexpedi tion, ther ei snoov erwhel mi ng
obligat ionr est inguponev eryphy sici stt odeser thi sl abor ator yand
embar kf ort hef ar t
hestnor t
h; butt hatsuchexpedi ti
onsar edeci ded
byconsi der ationsofgener alint erest ,expedi ency ,andi mpor t
ance.
Ther ei snoobl i
gat ionr estingupont hephy sici stanymor et han
upont hepsy chol ogisttomakel argesacr i
ficesf ort hepur suitof
i
ll-
def inedr esi dual phenomena, andcer tainlynotf ort her ef utal of
far-fetchedt heor iesandsuggest edsuper nat ural not ions.Phy sici st
andpsy chol ogi stal ikecont r
ibut emostt ot headv ancementoft heir
sciencebyanopen- mindedbutsy st emat icpur sui tofdef inite,
signi fi
cant ,andl ogicallyfashi onedpr oblems.

Letitnotbei nfer
redf rom theemphasi spl aceduponthiscont r
ast
thatPsy chicalResear chisinitselft obecondemnedort obe
regardedasusel ess.Notatal l;onl yinmanyaspect sitisnot
psychologi cal,
andt hepsy chologi stisundernoobl i
gationtof i
ndan
i
nterestin, nortooccupyhi msel fwi t
h,thisaspectofthings,
if
hisgener al t
renddoesnothappent opointthatway.Thephy sici
st
maybecal l
eduponwi t
hequal propriet
yt oaidinmanyi nqui
ries
whicht heSoci etyforPsy chical Researchhasunder taken.Among
theearlyr ecordsoft heSoci etyappear sanaccountofamanwho
present edhi msel fwi t
hani r
onr ingonhi sar m, f
art oosmal ltohav e
beensl i
ppedov erhi shand, andwhoseemedt oi mpl yt hatpossi bl ythe
spiritsputi tthere, ort hati tcameont hr oughsomesuper nat ural
agency .Thiswasr egar dedasapr opercasef ort heSoci et yf or
Psy chi calResear cht oexami ne.I fi tcoul dhav ebeendemonst rated
thatt her i
ngr eachedi tsposi tiont hr ought heexer ciseoft hewi ll
ofsomel i
v i
ngper sonsorspi ri
ts, thephenomenon, Isuppose, woul d
i
nsomesensebepsy chol ogi cal ;ifi twer edemonst ratedt hati t
camet ranspor tedt hrought hef our t hdi mensi onofspace, itmi ghtbe
termedphy sical.Buti nr eal i
tyi twaspr obabl yphy siologi cal , for
therewasev i
dencet hati twasbyt heef f ectsofet her izat iont hat
thehandwascont ractedandt hatt her ingwasf or cedov eri t.Sur ely
i
tismostabsur dt odesi gnat esuchani nqui ry,howev eri nter esting
andpr operi tmayber egar ded, Psy chical Resear ch.I tcer tainlyis
ahi ghl ycommendabl ef unct ionf orasoci etyt otakeuponi tself
thei nv estigationofsuchcl aimsast heosophyorspi ri
t ual ism put
forwar d,whenev ermov ement soft hist ypear elikel ytodev elopi nt o
psy chi cepi demi csort opr oveasoci al menace.Anyaut hor itati
v ebody
thatwi llexhibittheabsur dityofsuchcl aims, andexposet het r
ue
_modusoper andi_oft hemani fest at i
ons, willper form ani mpor tant
civi
cf unct i
on.Suchaf unct i
onwasper for medbyt heRoy al Commi ssion
of1784, inexposi ngt hev ainpr etensi onsandt hei nsidi ousdanger s
ofani mal magnet ism; Mr .Hodgson' si nv estigationsoft heosophy ,the
Sey ber tCommi ssi on'sr epor tonspi rit
ual ism, arebot habl eandusef ul
cont ribut i
onsoft hesamet ype; and, atpr esent,anaut hor itative
statementr egar dingt het heor et i
cal absur dityandt hepr act ical
danger sofChr i
stianSci encemi ghtpr ov eef ficacious.Suchspeci al
i
nv est igationsr epr esentt hepr act ical appl i
cat i
onofsci encet o
concr et econdi t
ionsandpr obl ems; theyar ewoef ullymi snamed, and
theirsi gnificancei sl ikel yt obemi si nterpr eted, whent heyar e
present edasPsy chi cal Resear ch, andar egr oupedal ongwi thot her
probl emsofat otal l
ydi ffer entnat ur e.

Ishallnextt ouchbr ieflyuponot herdi v ersey etal li

edi nterests
i
nPsy chicalResear ch, whi chmayser v et oi l
lust r
at efurthert he
vari
ousav enuesofappr oacht othishet erogeneousgr oupofpr oblems.
Ishallspeakoft heseast heexpl anat ory ,thei nv estigative,and
theant hropologi cal inter ests.Thef i
rsti ssat i
sf i
edwi thfinding
outhowal legedmar velsar ereal
lyper for med; ittakesupt he
physical phenomenaofspi rit
uali
sm ort heosophy ; i
tinvest i
gat es
conjuringt r
icks; i
tdi scov erst heor i
ginofnoi sesi nhaunt ed
houses; itferretsoutt hemeanswher ebymedi umsobt ainknowl edge
oftheirsi t
ters'priv ateaf f air
s.Thisi spr operwor kf orexper ts
i
npr est i
digit
at i
onandf ordet ecti
v es,--notf oral lsuch, forto
besuccessf ul,theconj urerandt hedet ect ivemusthav especi al
knowl edgeandf itnessf ort hi
sbr anchoft het rade.Whi lethe
fact
st husgat her edmaybeusef ul asi llust rativemat eri
al tot he
psychol ogist,theyf orm noessent ialpar tofhi spr ofession; nori s
thereanyspeci alreasonwhyheshoul dbebestsui tedt odet er mine
thetechni cal_ modusoper andi_ofsuchmani festat i
ons.Thatsome
psychol ogistswi thast rongi nterestint hist ypeofphenomenami ght
proper l
ycoöper atei nsuchani nvest i
gat i
on, i
ft heychose, ist oo
obvioust omer itremar k;butt otraceoutandexposet ri
cker ycannot
beimposedupont hebur densomedut iesoft hepsy chologist .

Wi
thacer
tai
nty
peof"
psy
chi
cal
resear
cher
"thi
sexpl
anat
ory
i
nt eresti st hedomi nantone; andbydi spel linger rorandr epl aci ng
falsenot ionsbyt rueoneshemayper for m ausef ul ser v i
cet o
thecommuni ty.Theexpl anat oryi nt eresti squi tecer taint obe
suppl ement edbyt hei nv est i
gat i
v e,andt hatbecauset hel attersoon
becomesnecessar yt ot hef or mer .Whi let heonei sconcer nedwi ththe
expl anat ionanddescr ipt i
onoft heact ual mar v elsaccompl i
shed, t
he
othermustconsi deral sowhati sr epor tedandwhati sbel iev edt o
hav ebeenaccompl ished.Themechani sm ofat r i
ck, whet herbr ought
forwar dasev i
denceofspi ritual i
sm ornot ,whencl ear l
yex hibi ted,
expl ainst het rick; al ooseboar dundert her oof ,ort her ef l
ect ion
from al ust roussur face, mayatoncer ev eal howmy ster i
ousnoi ses
andl ight swer er eal l
ypr oduced.Butonemustgof ar thert oaccount
fort her ecogni ti
onofr elat i
v esi nt hef or m oft hemedi um cov er ed
wi t
hf li
msydr aper y ,fort heaut omat icspel lingoutofmessages,
orf ort hesuccessesofguessi ngexper iment s.Theset woi nt er est s
thuspr oceedhandi nhandandf urni shv al uabl emat erial whi cht he
psy chol ogi sti sr eadyt oi nt erpr etandt out ilize; fort hest udy
ofhowf al sebel ief sspr ead, ofhowdecept i
onpr oceeds, teemswi th
poi ntsofpsy chol ogi cal si gni ficance.Thi s, howev er ,isbynomeans
auni quechar act er isticofPsy chi cal Resear ch; ther ear eal so
i
nt erest ingpsy chol ogical poi nt si nsuchdi v er seoccupat ionsast he
act or'spr of essi on, injuggl ingandt ricksofski ll
, i
nadv er ti
si ng,
i
nr eligionsr ev i
val s, etc.I ti shi ghl ydesi rabl et hatt hemat er ials
thusgat her edshoul dbepsy chol ogi cal lyut ilized, andi ti sequal ly
desi rabl et hatsuchmat er ial shoul dbecol l
ect ed.Manyv al uabl e
studi esi nPsy chi cal Resear ch, whi chowet hei ror iginnott oa
trulypsy chol ogi cal interestbutt ot hisgener al expl anat or yand
i
nv est igat i
vei nter est ,hav ei nci dent al l
ybr oughtt ol ightmat er i
al
ofgr eatsuggest ivenessf ort hepsy chol ogi st , andmat er i
al whi ch
qui tepossi blywoul dnotot her wi sehav ebeendi scov ered.Iam mor e
thanwi ll
ingt ocont ri
but ewhat ev erIcant ot hemai nt enanceofa
Coöper at ivePsy chol ogical Inv est igat ionSoci etywhi chshal l st and
readyt ot akeupt hei nv est igat ionofanyphenomenawhi chpr omi se
toy ielddat aofpsy chol ogi cal i
nt erest ;whi chshal l,howev er , keep
farr emov edf rom anyphaseoft het ranscendent al ort heoccul t;
whi chshal lnotf eel i
tsel funderanyobl igat iont o_ di spr ov e_
anyi mpr obabl eorabsur dhy pot hesi swhi cht hi sort hatseekerf or
not or i
et ymaychooset oputf or war d; whi chshal lnotbedomi nat ed
mer elybyt hespi ritoff indi ngoutwhet hert her ei s" any thingi n"
onemov ementoranot her , butwi llsimpl yst andr eadyt osuppl ement
thewor koft heacademi cl abor at oriesbyunder t
aki ng, int hesame
spir i
t, aspeci al for m ofi nv est igat ion, whi ch, underexi sting
circumst ances, suchl abor at oriesort hei ri ndi vidual di rect orscannot
expedi ent l
yunder take.

Theant hropologi
cali
nterest ,abov ereferr
edt o,istomymi nda
mostv ali
done, andisbestr epresentedinMr .Andr ewLang' sv olume,
"CockLaneandCommonSense. "Mr .Langt hereexami nest hest or
ies
ofghost sandappar i
ti
ons, andcl airv
oy ance,andspi r
itualknocks
andraps, andst r
angeinfluences, andhaunt edpl aces, notatal l
fordetermi ni
nghowl i
ttl
eorhowmucht heset hingsar etrue, but
howt heycomet obebeliev edin.Howi sitthatthesamet alei s
tol
d,thesamepower scr edited, t
hesamemani f
estationspr oduced,
i
nev i
denceoft hesupernatur al
?I nsavageaswel lasinanci ent
magic,int hestori
escurrenti nformercent uriesaswel lasi nour
owndayandgener at
ion,ther eisapr onouncedgener i
csimi lari
ty.
Ther ei scer t
ainl yasst rongani nterestinthei nv estigationoft he
growt handdi st ributionoft hesebel i
efsasoft heot herclust ers
ofbel iefwhi chant hropol ogyandf olk-l
oreconsi der.And, mor eover,
recent lyacqui r edknowl edgeofhy pnoticandaut omat icphenomena, of
hy peræst hesi aandner vousdi sease, shedmuchl i
ghtont heobscur e
talesoft hepast ,andassi stt hecompr ehensi onofhowsuchbel iefs
coul dhav eor i
gi nat ed.Inbr i
ef ,Mr.Langout linest hepr ogr ammef or
a" Compar ativePsy chical Resear ch,"andt ellsust hat" wef oll
owt he
stream off abl e, aswet rackabur nt oitshead, andi tleadsus
i
nt oshyandst r angescenesofhumanl if
e, haunt edbyv eryf earf
ul
wi l
df owl ,andr ar elyv i
sited, savebyt hecredul ous.Ther emaybe
ent er
tainmenther e,and, tot hest udentofhi sspeci es, theremay
bei nstruct ion."Par toft hei nstructionwi l
lconsi sti ngai ningan
i
ncr easedf ami li
ar it
ywi tht hepsy chological condi ti
onswhi chproduce
andf ost ert hesenar rati
v esandbel i
efs,andwi tht heirsoci aland
traditi
onal signi fi
cance; inconcl udi
ng, withMr .Lang, "thatt he
psy chol ogical condi t
ionswhi chbegatt heanci entnar r
at i
vespr oduce
thenewl egends. "

I
V

Thusf ar,ourat tent ionhasbeencent r

edupont he_ tendenz _,the
basi sofi nterest,andt heaf f
ili
ationsofPsy chical Resear ch.
Itwi llbewel ltot ur nt oaconsi der ationoft hecont entoft he
probl ems.I nasmuchast het ermr epr esent saconv enientbutar bi t
rary
desi gnat ionofahet erogeneousgr oupofphenomena, wear epr epar ed
tof indt hatt hedat aoft hesev eral probl emst huscol l
ected
will beasdi ver seast hei rmet hodsofst udy .Wemaybegi nwi t
h
thegr oupofpr oblemswhi chmi ghtpr operlybeconsi deredi nt he
chapt erofAbnor mal Psy chologyt hati sdev otedt ot hemi lderf or ms
ofaber r
antorunusual ment al phenomena.Thest udyofhy pnot ism
occupi esapr omi nentpl acei nPsy chol ogyandi nPsy chical Resear ch.
Ther emar kableexhi bitionsofext r emesuggest ibility,particular l
y
thehy per æst hesiat husi nduci bl
e, andagai nthei ll
umi nationof
thesubconsci oust her ebyef fected, hav ebroughtaboutar eal i
zing
senseofhowf earf ullyandwonder full
ywear emade.Bet weensav age
priestanddoct or, andDel phicor acl e,andmedi æv al ascet ic, and
magnet icsomnambul e, andi nspi rat i
onal medi um, ther eisani r regular
connect ioni nt heirent rancei nt oat rance- l
ikecondi tioninv ol vi
nga
readj ustmentoft hest rat aofconsci ousnessandoft hedi st ri
but ion
ofaut hor i
tyint hehi er archyoft hener v ouscent res.Thi swasand
remai nsoneoft hegat eway st ot hel andofmar v el andmy stery .The
i
mpor tanceofhy pnot ism i nPsy chol ogyi sini tsuse, bothasamet hod
ofexhi bitingther elat i
onsofpr ocessesnotot her wi seaccessi ble
toexper iment ,andasademonst rationoft heact ual possi bi l
iti
es
ofsuggest i
oni nheal thanddi sease.Thehy pnot icphenomenaar e
i
ntr insicallyinterest i
ngandv aluabl eascont ri
but ionst ot he
nat ural historyofment ality;thehy pnot i
cmet hodofst udyof ferst he
exper iment alpsy chol ogi stt heoppor tuni t
yt oappl yhi smostpot ent
aidt or esear chi npr eci sel ythatf iel dofi nqui r
yi nwhi cht he
exper iment almet hodsofor dinar yconsci ousnessar el eastav ailable.

I
nt hi
sdomai n,
thepsychologi
standt he"psychi
calr
esear
cher
"
proceedmostami cabl
y;andyetthei
rpur posesandpoi
ntsofvi
ewlead
them fr
equentl
ytopartcompany, al
thoughitmaybeonlyforabri
ef
_aur evoi r_.Whent he" psy chi cal resear cher "l eav est hemai nhi ghway
tot rackapossi ble" telepat hic"hy pnot icsubj ect ,oronewho, whi l
e
hy pnot ized, i
ssensi tiv et ot hemagnet iccur rent ,orwhoexper iences
thechar act eri
st i
cef fect sofdr ugsappl iedi nseal edv ialst ot he
backoft heneck, orwhof all
si nt ot hehy pnot iccondi tionwhen
handl i
nga" magnet ized"dol l,
--thepsy chol ogi sti saptt odecl i
net he
i
nv itationt ojoi nint hepur suit.Ishoul dadv isehi m, howev er ,
to
goal ongf ort hesakeoft heexcel lenti ll
ust rat ionst husobt ainabl e
oft heef fect sofunconsci oussuggest ion.Fr om t het imeoft he
fi
rstser iousi nv est i
gat ionoft hesephenomenaupt ot hepr esent ,
unconsci oussuggest i
onhasbeenoneoft hemostpot enti nf l
uences
fort hepr oduct i
onofal legedmar v elsandpseudo- phenomena.Al l
the
ser i
esofexper i
ment sbr oughtf orwar dati r regul ari nt er valsdur ing
thepastcent ur ytoest abl ishsuper nor mal sensi bilit
ieshav edepended
fort heirappar entsuccess( apar tf rom t ricker y)uponunconsci ous
suggest i
onoft heoper at or s,combi nedwi tht heshr ewdassi mi l
at i
on
oft hedesi redorexpect edr esul tont hepar toft hesubj ects.
Thet ransposi tionoft hesensesdi scov er edbyPét etin( 1787) ,the
hy pnot izedsubj ectswhoi nBr aid'sday( 1850)pr ov edt hel ocat i
on
oft hephr enol ogical organsbyt heappr opr iat enessoft heiract i
ons
whencer tainpar t
soft heheadwer epr essed, t
hesensi tivenesst o
magnet sandher met ical l
yseal eddr ugsbr oughtf orwar dbyRei chenbach
(1845) ,andbyBour ruandBur ot( 1885) , andDr .Luy s's( 1890)
absur dt rifl
ingwi t
hpuppet s, andpr obabl y ,too, Char cot 'sshar p
different iat i
onofdi stincthy pnot i
ccondi t i
ons( 1882) ,
--al lf
ur nish
i
llust rationsoft hesubt lepossi bili
t i
esofunconsci oussuggest ion.
Besi desador ni ngani nter est ingpsy chol ogi cal tale,theypoi nta
mor al t
ot hei ntendi ngi nv est igat or, andopenhi sey est ot heext reme
caut ionnecessar yt oexcl udet hissour ceofer ror, andt or eal izet he
ev er-presentpossi bilityt hat ,inspi teoft hest erili
zingappar atus
andt heot herequi pment sofmoder nr esear ch, theger msoft his
i
nsi diousf orm ofdel usi onmayhav ebeenunwi ttingl yi ntroduced.

Theappl icati
onofourknowl edgeofhy pnot i
sm t otheexpl anati
on
ofall
egedsuper normal andunusual sensi bil
it
iesi spar t
icularly
i
nteresti
ngt othe" psychical r esear cher ";thegener al enlargement
ofourknowl edgeoft hesecondi tions, irr
espect iveofsuchan
appli
cation, r
epr esentstheai m oft hepsy chol
ogi st.Thel attermay
i
ndeedci teMr .Lang'sdict um t hat" sciencei sonl yconcer nedwi t
h
tr
uth,notwi t
ht hemi schiev ousi nfer enceswhi chpeopl emaydr awfrom
tr
uth,"asanexcusef orhi sowndecl inati
ont ocoöper atei nthe
corr
ect i
onofsuchmi schiev ousi nfer ences.Butt heci v
icconsci ence
ofthepsy chologistmayconv incehi mt hatt her emov alofer roris
oft
enani ndispensabl erequi si tet ot hedi ssemi nationoft ruth.

Thest udyoft hesubconsci ousort hesubl i

mi nalconsciousness, of
mul ti
pleper sonalit
y, ofment alaut omat isms, ofinv ol
untaryactions,
ofinducedv isuali
zat i
ons, ofsporadi chal l
ucinations,maybeci ted
asf urtherill
ustrati
onsoft opicsinter esti
ngt othe" psychical
researcher "fortheirbear i
ngsupont heappar entt ranscendenceof
thenor mal ,andt othepsy chologistf oril
lustr
ationsofi mpor tant
groupsofment alpr ocessesandr el ati
ons.Imustr efertot hegeneral
l
iteraturefordescr iptionsoft hesesev eralphenomena; thesubt l
e
connect ionbet weenonehy pnoticcondi ti
onandt henext ,bri
dging
overaper i
odofnor mal consciousnesswi t
hcompl eteforgetfulness
ofthehy pnoticconsci ousness; thest i
ll
mor esubt leev i
dencef or
thelatencyofi mpr essi onst husr evivablebyanappeal tot he
subconsci ous; theel abor ati
on, intranceexper i
ences, ofthesenet her
wor l
dphenomenai nt oor gani zedper sonalities, whichi nther emar kabl
e
caser epor tedbyPr of essorFl our noyexpandedf r
om aper soni ficati
on
ofMar i
eAnt oinet t
et othatofaMar tianr evisit
ingMar s, descr ibing
Mar t
ianscener yandcust oms, andwr i
tinginMar ti
anl anguage, and
againt other eincar nat i
onofaHi ndupr incessoff ourcent ur i
es
ago;theaf fil
iati
onoft hesecasest othoseofspont aneousl oss
ofper sonal it
yi nact ual life,liket hatoft heRev .Ansel Bour ne,
rel
atedbyPr ofessorJames; theaut omat icwr itingsper formedby
hypnot i
csubj ect sandbyper sonsi nnor mal condi ti
ons; thepowert o
i
nducev isionsby" cr yst al gazi ng,"andaudi toryhal lucinationsby
"shell
-hear ing";thecensusofhal lucinations, toget herwi tht he
veryimpor tantser iesofobser vationsr elati
v etot hepsy chol ogy
ofdecept i
on, --
theser epr esentt hemor et rulypsy chological
contri
but ionsofpsy chol ogist sand" psy chical researcher s"t ot heir
commondomai n.

Thepl acewhi cht heexpl anat ionofspi ritual i

st i
candt heosophi c
mani fest at i
onsoccupi esi nPsy chi cal Resear chhasal r eadybeennot ed;
thatofghost sandr appi ngsandhaunt edhousesand_ polter gei sts_i
s
quit esi mi lar.Notwhol lyy etmeasur abl ydi fferenti st hest at us
oft hest udyofhal luci nat ions, present iment s,andpr ev isionsor
premoni tions.I nt hisent iregr oupofphenomena, thei nt erest sof
Psy chol ogyandofPsy chi cal Resear char ei nt hemai ndi stinct .Thi s
i
sr eadi lyillustrat edwi thr efer encet ot hest udyofhal luci nat ions.
Thesear ei nterest ingt ot hepsy chol ogi stqui tei nt hesamesense
asanyot hernat ur al pr oductofpsy cho- phy siologi cal act i
on; the
prev alenceofhal lucinat ionsunderf airl
ynor mal condi tionspr esent s
oneoutofal argenumberofi nter est ingdet ail
s, andf or msapr oper
i
nv est igat ionf ort heSoci et yf orPsy chical Resear ch.Thei rcensus
ofhal luci nat ionshar dlybear soutt heconcl usi onswhi chhav e
beendr awnt her ef r
om, butcont ai nsmuchi nter est ingi nf ormat ion.
When, howev er ,theemphasi soft hei nv est i
gat ioni spl acedupon
"veridical "hal luci nat i
ons, andt heest abl i
shmentoft heconcl usi on
thatsomanymor eoft hesehal lucinat i
onsandpr esent iment s" come
true,"orhav eamy ster i
oussi gni ficance, t
hanchancewoul dal low,
thent hepsy chol ogi cal i
nt eresti squi teobscur edbyani nter est
ofat ot all
ydi fferentchar act er.A" ver idical "hal luci nat i
onhas
l
ittlepsy chol ogi cal per ti
nence; f
ori tisequal lyi nter esting
psy chol ogi cal l
ywhet heri thappenst ocomet rueornot .Thebear i
ng
oft hehal luci nationuponori tsor igini nsomeoft heoccupat i
ons
ofnor mal waki ngl i
fe; thepossi bilityofi tsi nter pret ationas
apecul i
arr etroact i
vei llusi onofmemor y ,asPr of essorRoy ce
hassuggest edf orsomecases; itssi gni fi
canceasanunconsci ous
per cept ionoft heshadowal readypr esent ,noty etv isibl eto
consci ousness, butcomi ngbef or et heev ent ,
--suchar esi gni ficant
char act erist i
csofhal luci nat i
ons.Ther esul tsoft hest udyof
halluci nat ionsmayl i
kewi sebeappl iedt oadet er mi nat ionoft hei r
relationt ot hesum t otal oft hesequencesofconsci ousnesst hat
const itut eourment al life; butt her ei sonl yamosti nci dent al
psy chol ogi cal int eresti nt heappar ent lyper sonal l
ysi gni fi
cantor
"veridical "aspectoft hephenomena.Andf ur ther mor e, whet hert hey
aret ruly" v eridical "oronl yseemi ngl yso; whet her , i
not herwor ds,
ther eisev i
denceenoughi nqual ityandquant ityt omakei tapr oper
scient ifici nqui ryast ot heexi st enceofacause- and- ef fect-like
rel
ati
onbetweenpr esenti
mentandissue,
--
thi
sisalogi
cal
inqui
ry,
alt
houghonewhi ch,alongwi
thotherfact
ors,
incl
udespsy
chologi
cal
consi
derat
ions.

Weher enat urallyappr oachwhathas, ont hewhol e, f

or medt hemost
conspi cuouspr obl em ofPsy chi cal Resear ch- -t
hatassoci at edwi t
ht he
term" tel epat hy."I twi llcont ribut et ocl ear nessofdi st i
nct iont o
consi dersepar at elyt hequest ion, whet hert heev idenceaccumul ated
i
nanywi sej ustifiest heconcl usi on, thatt her eexi stsaf or m of
communi cat i
onoccasi onal l
ygoi ngonbet weenmi ndandmi ndapar t
from t her ecogni zedchannel sofsensat ion.Thi s, too, i
sast rict l
y
l
ogi cal quest i
on, andi ssopr esent edi nt hef oll
owi ngessay .We
areher econcer nedwi tht hest at usoft elepat hyi ni tsr elat iont o
Psy chol ogyandPsy chical Resear ch; thi si tispossi blet oi ndi cat e
brief l
y .Fi r
st ,i
ft her er eallyexi stt hisext ra- nor mal , fi
tful
andoccasi onal, uncer tainandspor adi cf or m ofcommuni cat ion,
andi fitcanbeconcei vedofi npsy chol ogi cal terms, itfor ms
ani nt er est i
ng, possi blyev enamoment ouscont ribut iont oour
knowl edgeofment al processes.I nt hepr esentst at usoft heal leged
condi tionsofoper at ionsoft elepat hy ,itwi llhar dlymodi fy
ser i
ousl yt hedi rect ionorscopeoft hedev elopmentofPsy chol ogy .
Itbei ngunnecessar yt ocr ossbr idgesbef or ecomi ngt ot hem, itmay
besuf ficientt oobser v ethatupt ot hepr esentt her eexi st sno
deci dedpr ospectei theroft hedemonst rationoft her eal ityoft his
processorofi tspsy chol ogi cal for mul at ion; andf arl essei therof
i
t sincl usi onwi thint hesci enceofPsy chol ogy ,orofi tspr act ical
util
izat ion.Whent hedaycomeswhent hei ncont est abl eest abl ishment
oft elepat hy ,asi ndeedofanyt ot allynov el cont ribut iont o
Psy chol ogy ,
shal lrequi rear ev isionofpsy chol ogi cal pr inci ples,
Psy chol ogywi llcer tainlyhav et ober ev ised.What ,then, manywi ll
retor t,canbemor ei mpor tantf ort hepsy chol ogistt hant odev ot e
himsel ft ot hei nv est igationoft el epat hy ,todeci dewhet herhi s
Psy chol ogyneedsr econst ruct ionornot ?Theansweri snearathand:
ther ei snoobl igat ionuponanysci encet or econst ructi tsbasal
princi pleswhenev eri tissuggest edt hatt hesear ei ncor r ector
i
nadequat e.Itisnott hesuggest i
onoft hei ri nadequacyt hati s
signi fi
cant ,butt heconcr etef act sandev idenceav ai l
abl et opr ov e
thei rinadequacy .Ifanewv iewcanest abl i
shi t
sel fbyi tsl ogi cal
cogencyanddi spl aceanaccept eddoct rine, ifnewf act s, adequat ely
est ablished, makenecessar yar ev isi onofcur r
entgener al izat ions,
nosci ent i
standnosci encewi l
l pr ot est .Thepr esentst at usof
telepat hyi ssi mpl ynotaf ormi dabl ecandi dat ef ort hisdi st inct ion.

Thatt heev idencebr oughtf orwardi nproofoft elepathy,similarl

y
tot hatadducedf or"veri
dical hal
lucinations,"iscapabl eof
psy chological interpr
etation,andal socont ainsi nteresti
ng
i
llustrati
onsofobscur eandsubt lement alpr ocesses, becomesev ident
tot hediscer ningst udent,andmer it
sanext endeddemonst r
at i
on.It
i
si nt hepur suitofsuchademonst rationt hatt hepsy chologistturns
tot herecor dsof" phantasmsoft hel i
ving,"andofexper i
ment al
thought -t
ransf erence, t
her ebyaddingt oanal r
eadysi gnif
icantand
extensivecol lect i
onofmat er
iali
ll
ust r
ativeoft hei nfl
uences
oft heunder cur rentsoft hought -
processes.Yeti tisbynomeans
urgedt hatt hisi stheonlyphaseofut i
litywhi cht hestudyof
telepathyhol dsout .Thatanyonewhoi sconv incedofhi sabi l
it
yto
demonst ratetel epathyisf reetofollowhi sconv i
ction,willnotbe
disput ed; t
hatint hecour seofhi sinvestigationshemaysucceed
i
nr eveal i
ngthepr esenceofunr ecognizedf or msofment al action,
i
twoul dbemer edogmat ism t odeny .Twot hings,howev er ,shouldbe
clear l
yunder stood; t
hef i
r st,thathisdat acannotcl aim ser ious
attent i
onbef oret heyar est rongint heirvali
dity,andext ensi ve
i
nt heirscope,andconsi st entlysignif
icanti ntheirstructur e;
then, andnotbef or e,aret heyr eadyf orthecr ucibleofsci ent i
fi
c
l
ogi c, f
rom whi cht heymayormaynotemer geasst andar dmet al,
tobest ampedandci rcul
at edasaccept edcoi noft her ealm.The
secondpoi ntr
elat est othest atusoft heobl igati
ont odi spr ovet he
telepat hicpositi
on.Thi sismor eoftenaquest i
onofexpedi encyt han
ofr ight.Iftheobligat i
oncanr eadilybedi schar ged,itisusual ly
desi rabletodoso, forther easont hatther emov alofact ual error
andmi sconceptioni sof tenoneoft hemet hodsofadv anci ngsci ence;
butt her eisnobur denofdi sproofrestingupont hesci ent ist.

Thatt hepr oceedi ngsoft heSoci et yf orPsy chi cal Resear ch

cont ainv aluabl emat er ial incr edi tabl equant i
tyi sev i
dentt o
anyunpr ej udi cedr eader ;inmanyway st heyar enei t
hersobadnor
sogoodast heyar epai nt edt obe.That" psy chi cal resear cher s,"
thoughpur sui ngt hei rl abor swi thdi fferentmot i
v es, hav einone
direct i
onandanot hercont ribut edt ot headv anceofPsy chol ogy ,I
hav eat tempt edt omakecl ear .Fur ther mor e, theact ivit
yoft his
Soci etyhasbeenpr omi nenti nmaki ngt hebor der l
andofsci ence
oft o-daypr esentaf armor ehopef ul aspectt hanev erbef or e.It
hassubst itut eddef i
ni tenessofst at ement ,car ef ulexami nat ion,
recogni tionofsour cesofer ror ,cl oseadher encet oascar ef ully
aut hent icat edf actasi sat tainabl e, forl ooseandext ravagant
specul ation, forbar easser tionandobscur ingi rrelev ancy .I thas
madepossi bleasci ent ifi
cst at ementandadef initenessofconcept ion
ofpr oblems, ev enwher ei tspr oposedsol utionoft hem maybet hought
misl eadi ngori nadequat e.Buti nmyopi niont hedebi tsideoft he
l
edgerf arout bal ancest hecr edi tsi de.Thei nf l
uencewhi chPsy chi cal
Resear chhascasti nf av oroft heoccul t,t
heenr ollmentundera
commonpr ot ect iveaut hor ityoft hecr edulousandt hesuper stitious,
andt hebel i
ev er si nmy ster yandi nt heper sonal signifi
canceof
thi
ngs, i
sbutoneoft heev il
swhi chmustbel aidati tsdoor .
Equal l
yper nici ousi st hedi st or tedconcept i
on, whi cht hepr omi nence
ofPsy chi cal Resear chhasscat ter edbr oadcast , ofthepur posesand
met hodsofPsy chol ogy .Thest at usoft hatsci encehassuf fer ed, its
repr esent ativ eshav ebeenmi sunder stood, itsadv ancementhasbeen
hamper ed, itsappr eci at i
onbyt hepubl icatl argehasbeenweakened
andwr ongl yest imat ed, byr easonoft hepopul ar it
yoft heunf ortunat e
aspect sofPsy chi cal Resear ch, andofi tsconf usi onwi tht hem.
What ev eri nt hepubl icat ionsofPsy chi calResear chseemst of av or
my st eryandt osubst ant i
at esuper nor mal power sisr eadi l
yabsor bed,
andi tsbear ingsf anci f ullyi nter pr et edandexagger ated; themor e
cri
t i
cal andsuccessf ul lyexpl anat orypaper smeetwi thal ess
extendedandl esssensat ional recept ion.Unl essmostwi sel ydi rected
Psy chi cal Resear chi sl ikel y, bynotl et t
ingt her ighthandknowwhat
thel efthandi sdoi ng, tof ost ert heundesi rabl epr opensi tiesof
humannat ur easr api dl yasi tant agoni zest hem.Li kei ndiscr imi nat e
almsgi ving, ithast hepossi bi l
itiesofaf for
di ngr eli
efandof
maki ngpaupersatthesamet ime.Parti
cular
lybytheunwar r
anted
acceptanceoftelepathyasareali
tyorasawor kinghypothesis,
and
thest i
l
lmoreunwar ranteduseofthishighl
yhypothet
ical
process
asameansofexpl ainingmorecompl exandobscurephenomena, has
i
tdef eatedoneofthemosti mportantpurposeswhichitmighthave
served.

Thepopul araswel l ast hemor ecr i

tical accept anceofPsy chical
Resear ch, bothoft het er m andoft heconcept i
onsassoci atedwi t
h
i
t,hasdi ssemi natedat otallyf alseest i
mat eont hepar toft he
publ i
catl argeoft hescopeandpur posesofmoder nPsy chol ogy ;
andhasqui tepossi bl ygi venanunf ortunat et wistt ot het rendof
recentpsy chological thought .Ther ightappr eciationofsci entific
aimsandi dealsbyt hei ntelligentandi nfluent i
al publ ichascome
tobeal mosti ndispensabl et ot hef av orabl eadv ancementofsci ence.
Psy chologycanl essaf for dt hanmanyanot hersci encet odi spense
witht hishelpf uli
nfluence; andnosci encecanr emai nunaf fect edby
persistentmi sint
erpr etat i
onofi tstrueendandai ms.I fPsy chical
Resear chi stocont i
nuei nitspr esentt emper , i
tbecomesessent i
al
tohav ei tclearlyunder stoodj usthowf aritspur posesandspi r
it
are,andhowmuchf ar t
hert heyar enot ,i
naccor dwi tht hepur poses
andt hespi r
itofPsy chol ogy .Theopt i
mi sticpsy chol ogi stant i
cipates
thedaywhenhewi ll nol ongerber egar ded, eitheri nhi ghl ifeor
i
nl owl ife,asacol l
ect orofghostst oriesorani nv estigatorof
medi ums.Thedi suseoft heunf ortunat et erm" Psy chical Resear ch,"and
farmor e,themodi fi
cat ionoft heconcept ionsani mat i
ngt hi sty peof
i
nv estigation, t
hepur sui tofi tsmor ei ntrinsicallypsy chologi cal
problemsi namor et rulypsy chol ogical spi ri
t,andper haps, most
ofal l
,thedi sassoci ationoft het er m" Psy chol ogy "from t he
undesi rableandi rrelev antconnot ationsofPsy chical Resear ch, ar
e
allconsummat i
onsdev out l
yt obedesi red.

THELOGI
COFMENTALTELEGRAPHY

Whatwi llbepr onouncedst rangeorcur i

ousi sl argel
ydet ermi nedby
therangeandcomposi ti
onoft hecommonbodyofknowl edget owhose
l
awsanduni f
or miti
est hephenomenai nquest i
onappar entlyf ailt
o
conform.Whati spassi ngst rangetoonegener ati
onmaybecomeeasi ly
i
ntell
igiblet othenext .Weal lhaveey est hatseenotf oral lbut
alimitedr angeoff actsandv iews;andweunconsci ouslyf i
llout
theblind-spot sofourment al r
eti
næaccor dingt othehabi tsand
acquisiti
onsoft hesur roundi ngareas.Weobser veandr ecor dwhat
i
nterest sus; andt hisinterestisinturnt heout comeofagr eater
orlesserendowment ,knowl edge,andt raining.Anewobser vat i
on
requir
es, asar ule,notanewsense- organoranaddi tional f
acul ty,
norev enmor epower fulornov el
appar atus, butani nsightint o
thesigni f
icanceofqui telowl yandf r
equentt hings.Mostoft he
appear ancesoft heear th'
scr ust,whicht hemoder ngeol ogistso
i
ntell
igent lydescr i
bes, werej ustaspat entcent uri
esagoasnow;
whatwehav eaddedi st hebodyofknowl edget hatmakesmenl ookf
or
suchf actsandgi v
est hem ameani ng.Andal though"t hehei rofall
theages, "wecanhar dlypr esumet ohav einv esti
gatedmor et hana
modestpor tionofourpot ent i
alinher i
tance;futur
egener at i
ons
willdoubt
lessacqui reinterest sandpoi ntsofviewwhi chwi ll
enablethem t ofi
llsomeoft hemanygapsi nourknowl edge, tofind
ameani nginwhatweper chancei gnoreorr egardast ri
vial,andto
reducetoor derandconsi stencywhatt ousseemsst rangeorcur ious
orunintel
li
gible.Andf uturegener ations,byv i
rt
ueofabr oader
perspecti
veandadeeperi nsight,maygi veli
ttl
eheedt owhatwe
l
ookuponassi gnif
icant,
--muchaswepr onounceirrel
ev antand
supersti
ti
oust hemi nuteobser vanceswher ebypr i
mi t
ivef ol
kst r
ivet o
attr
actthegoodf ortunesandt oav oidthedanger sofhumanexi stence.

Thepossi bilityoft het ransf erenceoft hought ,apar tfrom t he

recogni zedchannel sofsensat i
on, hasbeent oof requent l
ydi scussed,
wi t
ht hesuppr essedorunconsci ousassumpt i
ont hatourknowl edge
oft hemeanswher ebyweor dinar i
lyandnor mal ly ,consci ousl yand
unconsci ousl y,conv eyt oot her ssomenot ionofwhati spassi ngi nour
ownmi nds, i
scompr ehensi veandex haust i
v e.Not hingcoul dbef arther
from thet rut h.Whenev eramodeofper cept i
on, nomat terhowl imited
orappar ent lyt ri
v i
al, hasbeent horoughl yi nv estigat ed, t
her ehav e
beendi scov ered, oratl eastsuggest ed, unr ecogni zedpossi biliti
es
ofitsuseanddev el opment .Andnor esul tofexper iment alinqui ryi s
mor econst ant lyill
ust r
atedt hant heext entt owhi chi nferencesf rom
sensat ionsandt heexer ciseoff acul tiesmaypr oceedwi thoutar ousi ng
consci ousnessoft hei rexi stence.Manycol or-blindper sonsr emai n
quiteignor antoft hei rdef ect;andi twasonl yaf tert hedescr i
pt ion
ofhi sownnot abledef icienciesbyDal ton( i
n1794)t hatt hegener al
prev al
enceofcol or-bl i
ndnessbecamer ecogni zed.Thef actthata
port i
onofev eryone' sr etinai sasbl i
ndashi sf i
nger -
tipescaped
obser vat ionunt ilaboutt wocent ur i
esago; andt hisbecauset he
normal useofourey esdoesnotpr esentt hecondi tionsofi tseasy
detect ion; andf oral iker easonweper sist ent lyref uset oseet he
doubl ei magest hatar econst antlyf or meduponourr etinæ.Wi tht he
sameunconsci ousnesst hatwer ecei v esensat i
onsanddr awi nf erences
from them, dowegi v et oot her sindicat ionsofwhati sgoi ngoni n
ourmi nds, andr eadbet weent hei rwor dsandundert heirexpr essi ons
what" hal fr ev ealsandhal fconceal st het hought st hatliewi t
hi n."
Itisimpor tantt oemphasi zet heser iousl imi tati
onsasy etat tachi ng
toourknowl edgeoft hedet ailedpossi bilitiesofnor mal per cept ion
andi nf erence, inor dert or eali
zet hecor r espondi nghesi tancywi th
whi chweshoul dr egar danyser i
esoff act s, nomat terhowappar ently
i
nexpl icabl e, asev idenceofasuper nor mal ki ndofment al tel
egr aphy .

Af urt
herpri
ncipleimport antinthisconnect i
on, andonewhi chi s
l
ikewiseborneoutbyexper i
ment al i
nquiry,i
sthegener al si
mi l
arit
y
i
nourment almachi ner
yi nmat tersgr eatandsmal l,andt heresulti
ng
fr
equencywi thwhi chsimi l
artrainsoft houghtmaybecar ri
edon
bydi f
fer
entper sonsast heout comeofsi milarbutindependent
brain-
funct
ioning.Therei sanat uraltendencyt oexagger atethe
i
ndi vi
dual
it
yofourownway soft houghtandexpr ession; andy etbut
l
ittl
erefl
ecti
oni snecessar ytosuggesthoweasi lythisf ondbel ief
maybeatl eastpar ti
all
ydel usive.I
ncer tainli
nesoft hought ,
suchasmat hemat i
cs,weshoul dregar ditasstrangei ft wot hi
nkers,
starti
ngwiththepr emisesdet ermi nedbyt heproblem i nhand, should
notr eacht hesameconcl usi on; inother s, suchaseconomi cor
political quest i
ons, weobser vethepr eponder anceofev i
dencei none
direct ion, andy etcanappr eciat ethegr oundsofacont raryopi ni
on;
andwhi leinst i
llothercaseswer egar dt hev erdictasamat terof
tast eorofi ndividual preference, itmaybequest ionedwhet herthis
i
ssounmot ivedorl awlessapr ocessasi scommonl yassumed.Whi le
wepr oper lyexpectmor ement alcommuni tyincer tai
nl i
nest hani n
other s, wehav egoodgr oundsf orbelievingt hati texi
st sev erywhere
andonl yawai tst hepr opermodesofi nvest i
gat i
ont or eveal i
tin
i
tsf ull extentandsi gni f
icance.Wi ththemar vel
ousl yincreased
facilitiesf orthedi ssemi nat ionandt ranspor tationoft hought , t
he
rangeofsuchment al communi t
yi scertaint obecor respondi ngly
extended.Coi ncidencesar isingf rom thebr i
ngingt oget herofwi dely
separ at edandappar entl
yunr elatedhappeni ngsar esur et omul ti
ply
,
whent hemeansofbr i
ngingt hem t ogetherar esov astlyincreased.
Eachman' swor ldi senlargedbyt heenlar gementoft hewhol e.I
t
becomespossi blef orhimt ocomei ntor el ationwi thinfinit
elymor e
per sonsandev ents, andt her esulti
ngcoi nci dencesar enowaday smor e
l
ikel yt obenot i
cedandr ecor ded.

Ifweconsi dert hel ogical easewi thwhi cht hesuccessf ul sol utionof
onepor tionofapr obl em suggest st henextst ep; howi mper cept ibl
y
andy etef fectivel ysent i
ment sandpoi nt sofv i
ewandt hespi ri
t
oft het imear edi ssemi nat ed; howmanyper sonst her ear ei nt hi s
busi l
yr ef lectiveer aoccupi edwi thsi mi lart hought sandschemes,
andhowr eadi lytheymaycomei nt ocommuni cat i
on; howmanyar e
anxi ousl yst udy i
ngt hepopul art ast eanddemandt odet er mi newhat
l
iterar yv ent ureormechani cal inv ent i
oni sl ikelyt obet imel yand
successf ul;howt hepossessi onofacommoni nher it
ance, pat riotic
i
nt erest s, educat ion, li
ter ature, pol i
tical ar ena, soci al usages,
newspaperi nt ell
igence, househol dconv eni ences, andt heendl ess
ever ydayf act orsofourcompl ex, richlydet ailedexi stenceal l
cont ribut et oourcommonl if
e,--shal lwewondert hatsomet wo
orhal fadozeni nt ell
ect sshoul dgi v eexpr essi ont osi milar
thought satnear l
yt hesamet ime?Woul di tnotbei nfinitelymor e
wonder f ul i
fsuchcoi nci dencesdi dnotconst antlyoccur ?I nt hemor e
original cont ri
but ionst ol iteratur e,sci ence, andi nv ent ions, such
thought -cor respondencesshoul dber ar er ;andcer tainlyt hisi st rue.
Cont r astt henumberofst riki
ngsi mi lar i
t iesi nt hehi gherwal ksof
l
iterat ur eandsci encewi tht hoset hatoccuri nsmal l i
nv ent i
ons.
Har dl yadaypasseswi t
houtt hecoi ncidenceoft woper sonst hinking
ofdev i
cesf oraccompl i
shi ngt hesamepur poses, soessent ially
simi lart hatpat ent scoul dnotbegi vent obot h.Itiscer tainlynot
diffi
cul tt ounder standwhysev eral differ entpat ternsoft ypewr iti
ng
machi nesshoul dbei nv ent ednear lysi mul t
aneousl y,andi twoul d
notbeal toget hermy ster i
ousi f,att hef irst ,twoi nv ent orshad
i
ndependent l
yr eachedt hei deaofawr i
t i
ng- machi neatnear l
yt he
samet i
me.Theexper ienceofof feringanar t
iclet oanedi torand
recei vingar epl yt ot heef fectt hatanot herar ticledeal ingwi tha
simi lart opi ci nasi mi l
arwaywasal r
eadyawai tingt hecomposi tor
i
snotunusual .Itist ruet hatt hesecoi nci dencesar eofami nor
order , buti tseemsdesi rabl et oemphasi zet hef requencyoft hese
mi norf or msi nor dert osuggestt hel aw- abi dingchar act eroft he
rarerort hemor est rikingf orms; fort hisi sj ustwhatt henor mal
distribut i
onofsuchphenomenawoul dl eadust oexpect .
Itwoul dbepl easantt obel i
evethatt heappl icationoft hedoct ri
ne
ofchancest opr obl emsoft hi
schar act erisqui t
egener all
y
recogni zed; butt hi sr ecogni ti
onissoof t
enaccompani edbyt he
feeli
ngt hatthel awv eryclearlyappliest oal l casesbutt he
onet hathappenst obeunderdi scussi on, thatIf eart hebel ief
i
sunwar ranted.Mor eov er,thenotionseemst opr evailthatthese
coincidencesshoul doccurwi t
hequal frequencyt oal lpersons;
while,inf act,thel awofpr obabili
typr ov i
desf ort hemostv ari
ous
distr
ibut ionamongi ndividuals.Howev er, t
heat tempt ,andi tmaybe
thesincer eattempt ,toappl yproperconcept ionsofpr obabi li
tyand
i
mpr obabi l
itytosuchpr oblemsof tenf ails,becauseofanunf ortunat
e
ment al attit
udewhi chpr esents,withanout war dacqui escencei n
theobj ect i
vev iewoft hepr oblem, ani nwar dconv ict
ioni nwhi ch
thesubj ect i
vei nt erpr etat i
onisreallydomi nant ;
fort hisand
otherreasons, t hisobj ect i
vemet hodofv iewi ngt hemat t
er,howev er
perti
nent ,i
snott hemosti mportant.

I
I

Oneoft hemostdepl or abl eat ti

tudest owar dst hebor der landphenomena
ofwhi chment al telegr aphyort el epat hyf ormsat y pe, i
st hatwhi ch
i
nsi stsuponanexactanddet ailedex pl anat i
onofconcr et eper sonal
exper i
ences, andr egar dst heseassoessent i
allypecul iart hati t
refusest oconsi dert hem i nconnect ionwi tht hemanyot heri nstances
oft hesamecl ass, wi thoutr efer encet owhi char at ional expl anat ion
i
sunat tai nabl e.Thi st endency ,toi nsi stt hatt hel awsofsci ence
shal lbepr eci sel yandi ndet ail appl i
cabl et oi ndi vidual exper iences
possessi ngaper sonal int er estf orus, haswr oughtmuchhav oc; ithas
cont ribut edt osuper st ition, fost er edpseudo- sci ence, andencour aged
char lat ani sm.Toant agoni zet hist endencyi tisnecessar yt oi nsi st
upont hest atist i
cal nat ur eoft hei nqui r y.Weshoul dcer tai nlybe
fami liari nt hisst at i
st i
c- fil
ledagewi tht hel aw- abi dingchar act er
ofi ndi vidual happeni ngswhenconsi der edi nl ar gegr oups.Somany
typesoff act sdependi nguponi ndi vidual andhet er ogeneousmot ives
shoott oget herandf or m cur v esofsur prisingr egul arity;thenumber
ofmar riagesorofmi sdi rect edl et ters, thef alsificat i
onofagesor
thedi stribut i
onofhei ght sofi ndi v idual s, andcount lessot heri tems
thati ni ndi v idual casesseem acci dent al, orcapr ici ous, orduet o
ahostofmi nut eandunaccount abl ef act or s,nonet hel esspr esent
ast rikingst at istical regul ar ity.Theowner sofagami ng- tabl e,
count ingupont hest at i
st ical regul ar ityoft heacci dent al, are
assur edofast eadyi ncome; theyar ei nt er estedl ongenought oobt ai
n
anext ensi v ev i
ewoft hef luct uat ions, andt oseet hel awt hatgui des
thewhol e.Notsot hei ndi v idual pl ay er; hei sint er est edonl yi n
thatpar ti
cul arpor ti
onoft hegamei nwhi chhi smoneyi satst ake.
Hedet ect smy st eriousl awsoff or tuneandf reaksofl uck; seesi na
seriesofcoi nci dencesormoment ar ysuccessest hepr oof sofhi spet
schemes, anddi smi ssest hegener al doct rineofchanceswi thdi sdain,
becausei ti snotobv iousl yappl i
cabl et ohi scase.Thi si nf l
uences
thel oser saswel l ast hewi nner s; bot har eabsor bedi nt hei rown
mi nut epor tionsoft hegame, andf or gett hatt hel awmakesdi stinct
prov isionf ort empor aryl ossesandgai ns, greatandsmal l,buti s
asi ndi ffer entt ot het imesandor derofsuchoccur rencesast ot he
per sonal ityoft hoseaf fect ed.
Thedi stinct i
onbet weent hei ndiv idual andt hest atistical aspectof
apr obl em maybef ur theri ll
ust ratedi nt hemuch- di scussedquest ion
ofthedi ffer encesi nbr ainchar act er i
st icsofmenandwomen.
Whent hecl ai mant sf orwoman' sequal itypoi ntt ot heacknowl edged
i
nabi lityofananat omi stt odet ermi newhet herapar ti
cul arbr ai
n
belongedt oamanorawomanasconcl usi v eev idenceoft hei r
content ion, t heyunconsci ousl yassumet hatt hepr obl em i scapabl e
ofdet ermi nat ioni nthei ndi vi
dual speci men.Asounderl ogi cwoul d
i
nsur egr eat ercaut i
on.Thedi ff
er encesi nquest ionmaybecer tai
nly
establ ishedandt ypical ,andy etdependuponst at isti
cal ,notupon
i
ndi vidual dat a.Gi vet heanat omi stagoodl ynumberoff airl
y
select edbr ai nsandt el lhimt hatal lthewomen' sbr ainsar ei n
onegr oup, andal lthemen' sbr ainsi nanot her ,andhewi lltell
youwhi chgr oupi sfemi nine, whi chmascul ine; andt hismor et han
offset shi sf ailurei nt hef or mert est .I test ablishesast atistical
regular ity.I ndi vi
dual lywemayar guet hatmanywomenofour
acquai ntancehav elar gerheadst hant hemen; t
hatt heEngl ish,are
nott allert hant heFr ench, becauset heFr enchmenwehav echancedt o
meethav ebeenqui t
east all ast heEngl ishmenofouracquai ntance;
thatt hel awsofchancedonotappl yt ot hegami ng- t
abl e, because
ont hatbasi sweshoul dhav ecomeoutev enandnotasl oser s;and
thatcoi nci dencescannotexpl ainourst rangement alexper iences,
becauset heyar ealtoget hert oopecul iarandt oof r equent .Itisonl y
i
nt hemostcompl etest agesandi nt hemor edef initer ealmst hat
knowl edgebecomesappl icabl eaccur at elyanddef i
nitelyt oi ndividual
cases.Fort hepr esenti tiswel lif,wi thsuchabst ruseorr ather
i
ndef ini t
emat erial,wecangl i
mpset hest atistical regul ar i
tyof
theent iregr oupofphenomena, t raceher eandt her et hepossi bleor
probabl eappl icat i
onofgener alpr incipl es, andr ef uset oal l
owour
opinionst obedi sar rangedbyr at herst ar tlingi ndi vidual cases.The
explanat ionoft hese, howev erint er est i
ngt heymaybet oour selves
orent er taini ngt oot her s,isnott het estofourknowl edgeoft he
subject .

Ipi
ckupast one,andwi thapecul i
arturnofthehandt hr
owi tfr
om
me; pr
obablynost udentofmechani cscanexactlycal
culat
et hecour
se
ofthatproj
ectil
e,
--norisitwor t
hwhi l
e.Whathecandoi stoshow
whatlawsar eobey edbyi dealproj
ecti
les,i
deall
ythrownunderideal
condit
ions,
andhowf arthemor eimpor t
antpracti
calcasestendto
agreewithordivergef r
om t heseconditi
ons.I
tisunfairt
otesthis
sci
encebyi t
smi nut eapplicabil
i
tytoourspecialexperi
ences.

Whent hepr oblemsi nvolvedi nment al t

elegraphycomet obegener al
l
y
vi
ewedundert hegui danceofasoundl ogic,theout l
ookwi ll be
hopef ulthatthewhol edomai nwi llgradual l
yacqui redef i
niteor der;
andt hatitsdev otees,af t
erappr eci atingt hest atisti
cal regul arity
ofthephenomena, willcomet ot heconcl usiont hatmuchoft he
ener gyandabi li
tynowexpendedi nasear chfort heexpl anat ionof
compl exandnecessar il
yindef i
ni teindi vi
dual cases, isont hewhol e
unpr of i
table.Wi t
hani nf i
niteti
meandani nfi
nitecapaci tyitmi ght
bepr ofit
ablet ostudyal lthings; but ,
atpr esent ,sanityconsi st s
i
nt hemai ntenanceofapr operper spect i
veoft her elati
v eimpor tance
oftheaf fairsofthei ntell
ectual andt hepr actical li
fe.Itmay
bet hatt hemanwhopuzzl esdayandni ghtov ersomet ri
vial my stery
expendsasmuchbr ai
nener gyasagr eatintellectual benef act orof
manki nd; butthewor l
ddoesnotequal lycher i
sht het wo.
I
II

Itbecomesi mpor tanti nt hef ur therconsi der ationofcoi nci dences

toemphasi zet hegr eatoppor tuni typr esent edi nt hei rdescr i
pt ion
forer r
or,fordef ect iv eobser v ation, fornegl ectofdet ails,
forexagger at i
onoft hedegr eeofcor respondence; andequal ly
demonst rabl ei st hesl i
ghtamountofsucher rorormal -obser v at i
on
thatisal l
-suf f
icientt oconv ertapl ainf actint oamy stery .
Consi dert hedi sfigur ementt hatasi mpl et aleunder goesasi tpasses
from mout ht omout h; thef or get fulnessofi mpor tantdet ai l
sandt he
i
nt r
oduct ionofi magi nar yones, exhi bit edupont hewi tnessst and; the
almostuni v ersal t endencyt osubst itut einfer encesf r
om sensat i
ons
andobser v at i
onsf ort heact ual occur rences; andaddt ot heset he
stri
kingr esul t
sofexper iment al inqui ryi nthi sdi rect i
on- -for
exampl e, thedi ver gencesbet weent heaccount sofsl eight -of-hand
performancesorspi ritualisticséancesandwhatr eallyoccur red- -
and
i
tbecomesl essdi fficul ttounder standwhywesoof tenf ai lto
applygener al pr inci plest oindi vidual cases.Thecasescannotbe
explainedast heyar er ecor ded, becauseasr ecor dedt heydonot
furnishtheessent ial poi ntsuponwhi cht heexpl anat i
onhi nges.The
narratormaybeconf identt hatt hepoi ntsoft hest or yar ecor rect l
y
obser ved, thatal lthedet ai l
sar egi ven; andy ett hisf eel i
ngof
conf i
dencei sbynomeanst obet r
ust ed.Iti squi tepossi bl ethat
thepoi ntst hatwoul dshedmostl ightont hepr obl em ar et oot rivi
al
toat tr
actat tent i
on; asl i
ght lyi mper fectconnect ionasef fectiv ely
breakst heci rcui tandcut sof ft hepossi bil
ityofi l
lumi nat i
onas
amor eser iousdi st urbance.Af tert heexpl anat i
oni sgi venort he
gapsuppl iedort hebr eakdi scov ered, weof tenwonderhowwecoul d
hav efail
edt odet ectt hesour ceoft hemy ster y;butbef oreweknow
whatt oobser veandwhatt or ecor dandwhatt obeonourguar d
against ,
thepossi bi lit
yofer r
ori sext remel ygr eat ,fargr eat er
thanmostofuswoul dbewi llingt omakeal lowancef or; andt he
stri
ctdemonst rat ionasal sot her efut at i
onofapr oposedexpl anat ion
becomescor r
espondi ngl ydi f
f i
cul t.

I
V

Iturnt oanot herpoi nt ,insomer espect sthemosti mpor t

antofal l
;
Irefert other eadi nesswi thwhichwei nterpretast heremar kable
frequencyofcoi nci denceswhati sduet oast ronginteresti nagi v
en
direction.Inasmuchasweobser v
ewhati nterestsus, arecent ly
acqui redinter estwi llleadt onewobser vations--t
hatis,newt o
us, howev erf ami l
iart heymaybet oot hers.Takeupt hest udyof
almostanyt opi ct hatappeal stohumancur i
osity,
andi ttakesno
prophett opr edi ctt hatwi t
hinashor tti
mesomepor t
ionofy our
readingory ourconv er sation,orsomeacci dent ali
nformat ion,
wi l
lunexpect edl yr ev eal abear i
ngont hepr ecisesubjectofy our
study ,oft
ensuppl yingagapwhi chi twoul dhav ebeenmostdi ffi
cult
other wiset of i
ll;butsur elythisdoesnotmeant hatallthewor ld
hasbecomet el epat hicall
yawar eofy ourneedsandpr oceededt oattend
tot hem.Somey ear sagoIbecamei nterestedi ncasesofext reme
l
ongev it
y,par ticular lyofcent enarianism, andf orsomemont hs
ev eryconv ersat ionseemedt oleadt ot histopic,andev erymagazi ne
andnewspaperof fer edsomenewi tem aboutol dpeopl e.Nowaday s
myi nterestist ransf erredt oot hert hemes; butt hepar agr apher
continuesqui tecredi tabl ytomeetmypr esentwant s, andt he
centenar i
anshav ev anished.WhenIam wr it
ingaboutcoi ncidences, I
becomekeent oobser vet hem; suchf orexampl east his: Iwasr eading
forthesecondt imeanar ti
cleon" Ment al Tel egraphy "( byMar kTwai n
i
n" Harper '
sMont hlyMagazi ne,"December ,1891) ;Iwasoccupi edwi th
whati sther edescr ibedasamostwonder ful coincidence, thenear l
y
simultaneousor i
ginat ionbyt heaut horandbyMr .Wi l
liam H.Wr ight
ofasi milarliteraryv ent ure,--
whenIhappenedt ot akemyey esf rom
thepageandsawonmydeskav isiting- cardbear ingt hename, "
W.H.
Wr i
ght."Itwasnott hesameW.H.Wr i
ght ,butagent lemanwhom Ihad
metf orthef i
rsttimeaf ewhour sbef ore, andhav enotseensi nce.
HadInotbeenespeci allyinterestedi nt hisar ti
cleandi tssubj ect ,
theident i
tyoft henameswoul dcer tainlyhav eescapedmyat tent i
on,
andt herewoul dhav ebeennocoi nci dencet or ecor d.Qui teapr opos
bothofcoi ncidencesandoft heirdependenceuponper sonal interest,
Ifi
ndr ecor dedi nacur rentmagazi net heexper ienceofonewho
becameent husiastical lyinterestedi nt hor oughbr edcat s:"Strangel y
enough- -f
ori tisat hi ngwhi chisr ecur rentlyst r
ange- -
I, whohad
rarel
yseenanypr i
nt edmat terrelatingt ocat s,nowf oundt hewor d
i
nev erynewspaper .Adopt inganewi nt eresti slikest art i
nga
snowbal l;asl ongasi tmov es,itgat her sot herpar t
icl
est oitself .
"

Itisonl ynecessar yt obecomedeepl yinterestedi ncoi ncidences,

tolookaboutwi t
hey esopenandeagert odet ectt hem, inor dert o
discov ert hem onal lsides; r
esol vet or ecordal l t
hatcomet ohand,
andt heyseem t omul tiplyunt ilyoucanr egardy our sel fandy our
fri
endsaspr ovident iallyf avoredi nt hisdi r
ection.I fy ourcal li
ng
dev elopsat ast ef ormat tersoft hiski nd,--
forexampl e, i
fy ouar ea
wr i
ter ,
wi thakeensensef orthel i
ter arypossi bili
tiesanddr amat ic
effect sofsuchcoi ncidences, orify ouar eofani magi nat i
v eturn
ofmi ndwi thapr onouncedorav aguey earningf ort hei nterest i
ngor
theunusual ;ifyouhav eamor egener ousormor eper sistentendowment
oft heday -dreami ng, fant asti
c, self-dramat i
zat ionofadol escence,
thati shal funr eal andy ethalfext er nali
zedi nt hev i
v idnessof
yout hful f
ancy ,
--i
si tst ranget haty oushoul dmeetwi t hmor eof
these" psychi cexper iences"t hany ourpr osaicnei ghborwhoset houghts
andaspi rat i
onsar et ur nedt oqui teot herchannel s, andt owhom
anaccountofy ourexper iencesmi ghtev enpr ov et iresome?I fyou
cultivatet hehabi tofhav ingpr esent iment s,andofr egar dingt hem
assi gni f
icant ,isitst ranget hatt heyshoul dbecomemor eandmor e
frequent ,andt hatamongt hemany , someshoul dbev aguel ysuggest iv
e,
orev endi rectlycor robor ativeofact ual occurrences?

Thef r
equentcoi ncidences, whi chf orm soi nfl
uenti
alaf actorin
di
ssemi nat ingani ncli
nat i
ont owar dssuchanhy pothesisast elepathy
,
aredoubt lessl argel
yt her esul tofani nterestintheseexper iences.
Thisinteresti sverynat ural andpr oper,andwhenest imat edati ts
tr
uev al
uei scer t
ainlyhar ml ess; itmayi ndeedcont ri
butemat erial
worthyofr ecordf orthest udentofment alphenomena, --oritmay
gi
v espicet ot hemat ter-of-facti ncidentsofawor kadayexi stence.
Tomanymi nds,howev er,thet empt at
iont omagni f
yt hi
si nterest
i
ntoasi gni ficantportionofone' sment al l
i
fe,toinvestitwi t
h
aseriouspowert oshapebel iefandt oguideconduct , i
sunusual l
y
str
ong, insomecasesal mosti rresisti
ble.Itisthi
stendency
thati
sessentiall
yantagonist
ictoal ogi
cal
v i
ewandt heref
ore
toascienti
fi
cst udyoftheseirr
egularmentali
ncident
s;iti
s
thi
stendencyt hati
sresponsibl
eformuchoft hespuri
ousandthe
unwholesomei nter
estintheproblemsofment al
tel
egraphy.

Itwoul dnat urallybeexpect edt hatt henat ureandsubj ect -mat terof
themor ef r
equentt y pesofcoi ncidencesandpr esent iment swoul dt hrow
somel ightupont hei ror igin, andwoul di nsomemeasur er einf or cet he
gener al posi ti
onabov et aken.Weshoul dexpectt hatsuchcoi nci dences
woul dr elatet oper sonsandaf fairsthatar efrequent lyinour
thought s, andt hatsi mi lariti
esoft houghtandpr esent iment sbased
upont hem shoul doccuramongper sonsi ntimat elyacquai nt edwi thone
anot her 'st hought -habi ts, atl easti nr egar dtot hatl ineoft hought
towhi cht hecoi ncidencer elat es;theseexpect ationsar ef airly
wel lbor neoutbyt hef act s.Iti sacommonpl aceobser vat i
ont hat
present iment sandunusual psy chicexper iencesmostf requent lyr elate
tot hosewhoar edeart ous, orinwhom wehav eamoment ar il
yst rong
i
nter est ; thattheydeal wi t
hev entswhi chwehav eanxi ousl ydr eaded
ordesi red, orwi thmat ter sov erwhi chwehav epuzzl edorwor ried;
andagai n, thatt heyoccurundercondi ti
onsofemot ional st rain,
exci t
ement , oranxi ety.I nbr ief ,theydeal wi t
hwhati sf requent l
y
i
nourmi ndsorwhatmor eorl essunconsci ouslyf ur nishest hegener al
emot i
onal andi ntel lect ual backgr oundwhi chgi veschar act ert oour
moodandt oourassoci ationsofi deas.Ineedhar dlyaddt hati tis
themor esuccessf ul andst rikingcoi ncidencest hatwer ememberand
recor d, andt heot her st hatar equi cklyf orgotten.Mor eov er, sol arge
ashar eofment aloper at ionsoft het ypei nquest i
ont akespl acei n
ther egi onoft hesubconsci ous, thatourr ecollectionofwhathas
occupi edourt hought si sbynomeansaf inalaut hor i
ty.Occasi onal l
y
wedet ectt hesesubconsci oussi milariti
esofment al oper ations,
whenaf terasi lencet hesamequest ionort houghtshapesi tsel fon
thel i
psoft wospeaker satt hesamet ime; andher eagai n, ar enot
manyoft hosewhogi veut ter ancet ot hesamet hought s,orf inishone
anot her 'ssent ences, i
nt imat ecompani onsi nt hewal ksofl ife?I si t
stranget hati nt hedai lyi nter cour sewi t hacongeni al spirit
, they
shoul dhav eabsor bedenoughofoneanot her'
sment alprocessest o
anticipat e,nowandt hen, ast epi nthei rassoci ationofi deas?

Stillanot herf actorthatf igur essomewhati ncoi ncidences

relatest oev ent swhi char esoonerorl aterv erylikelyorqui te
cer taintooccur ,andi nwhi cht hecoi ncidencei sconf inedto
thecl osesimul t
aneityoft heact ionont hepar toft woormor e
per sonsconcer ned.Thecr ossi ngofl ettersiseasi l
yt hebest
i
llust rati
onoft histypeofoccur rencewhi chhast hesembl ance
oft hought -
communi cation.I tissoeasyt of alli
nt ot hehabi tof
delay ingal ldelayablemat tersasl ongaspossi blethati tmust
frequent lyhappent haty ourownsenseofdut yisar ousedandy our
cor respondent '
spat iencei sexhaust edatnear lyt hesamet i
me.IfA
i
st ohearf r
om B, orBf rom A, wi t
hinaper iodnotv erydef i
nite
butst il
lreasonabl ylimited, ever yday '
sdel aymakesi tmoreand
mor epr obabl ethatthei rlet terswi llcross.Thesameconsi derati
on
appl iest oot heraffairsofdai l
yl i
fe; wedel ayamat terofbusi ness
andar ejustaboutt oat t
endt oitwhent heot herpar tyconcer ned
comest ous, orwedel ayof feri
ngsomesoci al attent i
onunt il
justas
wear eaboutt odosoi tisaskedofus; andsoon.I nbr i
ef,
wef i
nd
notonl yinsi cknessanddeat h,inf ami l
yt iesandf riendships, i
n
travelandadvent
ure,butalsointhespeci
alandinthecomplicated
i
nt erest
sofourciv
il
izedlif
eanabundantopportunit
yfor
coincidences;
andwef indthatthei
rfr
equencyi
sclearl
yrelat
edt o
thecommonnessoft heev ent
,andtoitsf
amili
ari
tyandclosenessof
relati
ontoourhabit
soft hought.

Rev iewi ngt hear gument swhi chhav ebeenpr esent ed, wef indat endency
tounder est imat et hepossi bilitiesofexpr essi onandcommuni cat ion
throught henor mal channel soft hesensesandt hesubt leinf erences
basedupont hem, andal soani nsuf fici entappr eci at i
onoft he
unr ecogni zedbutbynomeanssuper nor mal capabi li
t i
es, whi ch
speci al andunusual suscept ibilityort rai ningoft hesesamepower s
ofi nter pr etat ionandt hought -rev elat ionmaybr i
ngabout ;wef i
nd,
further ,apr ev alentunder est i
mat ionoft hegener icandatt i
mest he
speci ficsi mi larityoft hepr oduct sofoursev er al div er seandy et
homogeneousment al equi pment s, andwi thi tal ackofconsi der ation
oft hegr eat lyi ncr easedf aci liti
esf orsuchment al communi ty
affor dedbymoder ncondi t
ionsofr api dt ransi tandr api dshar ing
oft hecommonbenef itsofci vilizat ion.Wef indami sconcept ionof
thenat ur eoft heappl icat ionoft hedoct rineofchancest oment al
coinci dences, whi chbr ingsaboutanappar entr ecogni ti
onbutan
i
nt rinsi cbel ittlingoft her ôl ewhi chchancer eal lypl ay si nt he
evidenceadv ancedf ort elepat hy ;wef indt hatt hi ser rori spr obabl y
duet oanunf ortunat e, int ensel yi ndi v idual v iewoft hepr oblem,
whi chi nsi st suponanexpl anat ionofper sonal exper iences, and
disregar dst heessent ial lyi mper sonal andst at istical nat ureoft he
i
nqui ry .Thi sunf ai rat ti
t ude( whi chi sequal l
yunf airi fappl ied
toot herandmor eexactdat a)r ender sdi fficul t,ifnoti mpossi ble,
ajustappr eci at i
onoft het heor et ical aspectoft hepr oblem and
oft heappl icat ionoft heor yt opr act i
ce.Wef ind, fur ther mor e,
thatt her ecor deddat aar el ikel yt oi nv ol veanunusual degr eeof
unr eliabi lityowi ngt osuchnat ur al psy chol ogi cal tendenci esas
def ect iveobser vat i
on, exagger at ion, pr econcept ion, andt heor dinar y
l
imi tat ionsandf ailingsofhumani ty ;nori sanyser iousamountof
suchnegl ectneededt obr i
dget hegapbet weeni nt elligiblef actand
unint el li
gi blemy ster y .Fi nal ly, itisnotsuf fi
ci ent lybor nei nmi nd
thatt hedat aar ei nl ar gepar tcr eat edbyt hesubj ect iv eat titudeof
expect ationandi nt er esti nsuchexper iences, andt hatt henat ure
oft hemor ef requentcoi nci dencesf ur ni shessat i
sf act oryev i
dence
oft hei rnat ur al rel at i
onst odomi nanti nt er est sandoccupat i
ons.
Theconcor dantsuggest ionf r om t hesev ar iousconsi der ationsi st hat
av er yl ar gepar toft heexper iencesof fer edi nev i
denceofment al
telegr aphy ,findsamuchmor enat ur al andmor econsi stentexpl anation
whenv iewedast hecompl exandi rregul arr esul tsoft ypesofment al
processesi ncl udedwi thi nt hel egi ti
mat eandr ecogni zeddomai nof
psy chol ogy .Ther ei snodesi ret oov erlookt hel ooseanddi st ant
connect iont hatof t
enper tainsbet weent hegener al consi der at i
ons
andt hepar ticul arphenomenaher er el ev ant ; ont hecont rary ,this
l
ackofexpl icitandi nt i
mat econnect ioni sal ogi cal char act er i
st i
c
oft her el ationoft heor yt opr act icei ndeal ingwi thsuchcompl ex
andi rregul armat er i
al , andi sl ikel yf oral ongt imet or emai nso.
Amor epr oper lycul tiv at edl ogi cal sensewi ll bringaboutamor e
sat i
sf act or yappr eci at ionofandagr eat eri nt ellect ual cont entwi th
t
hisaspectoft
heproblem;i
twil
lber
ecognizedt
hatiti
swisert
o
makethebestofactualt
houghadmi
tt
edlyunsat
isf
actor
ycondi
tions
t
hantoflytoevi
lst
hatweknownotof.

VI

Ithereforer egar dthei ncli

nat i
ont owar dsat elepat hichypothesi s
asther esul tofadef ect i
velogical attit
ude, whi chi nturnmaybe
regardedast heout comeofanat ural butunf or t
unat epsychol ogical
tendency .Inconsi deri
ngt hequest ion, "Whati st hepr operinference
tobedr awnf rom t heaccumul ateddat aappar ent lysuggest i
veof
'
communi cationbet weenmi ndandmi ndot her wi sethanthr ought he
knownchannel soft hesenses' ?"wear econsi der ingalogical
problem--apr obl em ofconsi derabl edifficulty,notonet obeent er ed
uponwi t
houtdel iberationandpr epar ation.Inconsi deri
ngthe
question, "Howi sitthatsuchev idencei sr eadi lyaccept edaspr oof
oftelepathy ?Howi sitthatthishy pothesi sisf av or edaboveot her s
i
ntrinsi
cal l
ynol essi mpr obable?"wear el i
kewi seent eri
ngupona
compl expr obl em, butonet hati spsy chol ogical inscopeandnat ure.
Iti
st oamor ef undament alconsi derationoft hesequest i
onst hatwe
nowt urn.

Ihav ebasedmydi scussi onofment al telegr aphyal mostwhol l

yupon
theoccur renceofcoi ncidences( usingt hatt er m notast heequi valent
whol lyofchanceoccur rences, butincl udingsuggest i
veori nter est i
ng
conj unct ionsofci rcumst ancesi ngener al), fort her easont hat
coinci dences- -bot ht hoseofacommonpl acechar act erandt hoset hat
seem t opossessast rikingper sonal signi ficance- -hav epr epar edt he
popul armi ndf ort heaccept anceoft het elepat hichy pot hesi s, and
stil
lconst itut et hemostf ormi dabl ear rayofev idencepr esent ed
fort hathy pot hesi s.Theot hercl assofev idencet obeconsi der ed
i
st heexper iment al, whi chmaybesai dt oi ncl udeasi t
smost
distinct i
vet ypet her esul tsoft est sinwhi chi ntentional attempt s
atment al telegr aphywer emadeunderdef initecondi ti
onsandusual ly
withspeci allysel ect edsubj ect s; andasanot hert ype, thepr eci se
verificationandr egi strat i
onofpr esent iment sandpecul iarand
startling" psy chi cexper iences"wi t
hr eferencet othei rcoi nci dence
withdeat h, acci dent s,andot herser i
ousev ent si nlife.Itmaybe
admi ttedt hatt heexper i
ment al dataar eequal lywor thywi tht he
other sofal ogi cal anal ysis, andi ndeedt hatt heypr esenti nsome
respect sdi ffer entandmor ef av orablecondi tionsf ort heappl i
cat ion
ofsuchananal ysis.I ngener al,howev er( andIdesi retoconf i
ne
thisdi scussi ont ot hegener al pr i
nciplesi nv ol vedandnott ot he
anal ysisofspeci al cases) ,
theconsi der ationst hatdet er mi net he
l
ogi cal v
al ue, ort hel ackofi t,oft heonet ypeofev i
dencear e
appl icablewi thoutunduemodi fi
cationt ot heot her.NordoIconsi der
thatt heexper i
ment al dat ahav eser iousl ymodi fi
edt hel ogi cal stat us
ofthepr obl em asawhol e; nort hattheyhav e, excepti nr el ativ ely
fewcases, beenoft hemsel v essuf f
icientt omakeconv ertst oa
beliefi nt elepat hy .Theyhav eundoubt edl yv erymuchst rengt hened
anddi ssemi nat edt hatbel i
ef ;butt hisi mpl iest hataf avor abl e
disposi t
iont ot hebel i
efwasal readypr esent .Itisbecausei t
seemst omet hatt hepr esenceoft hisf av or abl edisposi t
ion, al beit
i
nsuppr essedorhal f-
acknowl edgedf orm, isi nmostcasesduet o
somephaseoft hear gumentf rom coi nci dences, thatIhav emadei t
cent r al inmydi scussi on.Imustnotf ail topoi ntout ,howev er,
thatexper iment si nt hought -transf er encehav eonei mpor tant , and
thatal ogi cal,adv ant ageov erobser vat ionsofcoi nci dences; thi sis
thepossi bili
tywhi cht heypr esentofqui teaccur at elyal l
owi ngf or
theef fectofchance.I ncoi nci dencest heest imat eofchanceast he
sour ceoft heconj unct ionofev entsi sf r equent ly,ifnotal way s, a
mat terofcompl exj udgmentov erwhi chser i
ousdi f ferencesofopi nion
will occur .Someoft hepubl ishedquant itativeest imat esmadeby
ser i
ousandabl est udent sofsuchpr obl ems, oft hepr obabi li
ties
thatcer taincoi nci denceshav ebeenduet ochancehav ebeen
pronouncedal toget herwi deoft hemar kandev enabsur dbyot hers.In
exper iment sar rangedwi thduepr ecaut i
onst her ecanbenouncer tai
nty
ont hispoi nt; thepr opor ti
onofsuccesses, thati s, ofst riking
coinci dences, maybecal cul at ed.I ft heact ual numberofchance
coinci dencesappr eci ablyexceedst hecal culat edpr opor tion, andi f
thet heor yonwhi cht hecal cul at i
onwasbasedcor respondst ot he
act ual condi tions, thent her esul tswer enotduet ochanceal one.But
whet hert heywer eduet of raud, ort osomeunconsci oust ransf erence
ofi ndi cat ions, ort ot elepat hy ,ort ospi r i
ti nfluence, ort o
i
nt er fer enceoft hedev il,ort ot hef actt hatt hepar ticipant si n
theexper imentwer ebor nwhent hest arsandpl anet spr esent edcer t
ain
conj unct ions, ort ot heexi st enceofat ot allyunr ecogni zedf or m of
ment al vibrations, -
-all t
hesear emer ehy pot heseswhi chmaybest rong
orweakorabsur d, accor dingt ot hei rpowert or eal l
yaccountf or
ther esul ts, t
ot hei rconcor dancewi tht hesum t otal ofsci ent ific
knowl edgei nt hisf i
el dandwi tht hel ogi cal principlesgui di ngt he
format ionofsci ent ifi
chy pot heses.Toj umpf rom t heconcl usiont hat
ther esul tsar enotduet ochancet ot heconcl usi ont hatt heyar e
duet ot elepat hy , i
snowhi tmor eabsur dt hant heposi tionoft he
ast rol oger ,ort hespi rit
ual ist i
cexpl anat ionofconj ur ingt ricks.
Thatt her eissomet hi ngi nt heser esul tst obeexpl ai nedi sadmi t
ted;
whet hert her esul tshav ebeenobt ai nedandr ecor dedi nsuchaway
ast ocont aint hecl uet ot hei rexpl anat ioncannotbeaf firmed;
whet herourpr esentst ateofknowl edgeenabl esust oexpl ai
nt hem may
bear guedpr oandcon; whet hert heyar ewor thser iousat tent ioni s
alsoadebat abl equest ion; butnoneoft hesecondi tionswar rant sa
resor tt ot het elepat hichy pot hesi s.Thathy pot hesi sasal l other s
mustbewei ghedi nt hel ogi cal bal ancewi thoutpr epossessi on, and
withf ul lrealizat ionoft hepossi bili
t y, that" gener al appear ances
suspi cious, "or" notpr ov en, "oracompl et esuspensi onofj udgment ,
maybeamongt hepr esentv er dicts.

VI
I

Sof arast hestrengthandweaknessoft hear gument sf orment al

tel
egraphydependupont heper spectiveofv al
ueat tachedt ot he
vari
ousdat aandt otheconditionsunderwhi chthesehav ebeen
gathered,Ihav epresentedmyest i
mat eandindicatedt hebur denof
myconcl usions.ButIam awar ethatImayhav elai
dmy sel
fopent o
thecharge- -
whichwi ll
bebr oughtnotbyt headv ocatesoft elepathy,
butbyi t
smostemphat icopponent s--
ofanegl ectofconsi derati
onof
thegener allogi
cal st
atusoftelepathyasager maneandl egiti
mat e
hypothesis.Thatt hehypothesisoft elepathywhencar efull
y
i
nterpretedi scapable,i
fnotofexpl ainingthedat a,atleastof
beingfit
tedwi thoutunduest raini
ngt oal argeporti
onoft hedat a,
maybecl aimedwi t hsomepl ausi bi l
ity ;thatIr egar dt hehy pot hesi s
asunwar rant edandunnecessar yhasbeenmadesuf ficient lycl ear .But
whati ft hehy pot hesi si snotal egi timat eone, notonewhi cht he
met hodsandspi ritofsci encecanpr oper l
yorpr of i
t abl yconsi der ?I f
thisbet hecase, itwoul dseem super fluoust oconsi derwhet hert he
hypot hesi si swar rant edbyt hedat aorcapabl eofexpl ainingt hem.
Thati tist hepol icyofsci encet oal lowt heut mostl at itudeof
opinionandt heor yandt oi nter pr ett hepossi blei nanunpr ej udi ced
andl iber al spi r
itwi l
l readi lybeconceded.Thati tisequal ly
thepol icyofsci encet odemandofal l claimant sf orr ecogni ti
on
authent iccr edent ialsf ramedi naccor dancewi tht hel awsofl ogi cand
thepr incipl esofev idenceandpr obabi li
ty ,i
ssomet imesov er looked.
Sciencecannotpossi bl yconsi deral lhy pot heses, butonl yl egi t
imat e
ones.Toexpl aincoi nci dencesandt hesuccessofexper iment sin
thought -transf erencebyassumi ngt hatt herei sademon, whose
speci al busi nessi ti st omakepeopl ehav euncannyf eel i
ngswhen
theirr elat ivesi ndi st antpl acesar edy i
ngori ndanger ,andt o
suggestt ot heguesserwhati si nt hemi ndoft hepar tyoft hesecond
parti nt heexper iment , i
scer tai nlynotanhy pot hesi swor thyof
consi der at i
onbysci ence; andi nci dent allybei tnot edt hatt hi s
hypot hesi smaybesuccessf ul l
yshapedt of i
tthef act s, andcannot
bedef init elydi spr ov ed.Someabsur dhy pot hesesmayber eadi ly
dispr ov edandot her snot ;butar esci ent istsreal lycal ledupont o
dispr ov et hem?Ther er ecent l
yf ell undermyobser vat ionacl aimf or
thet heor yt hatwhenper sonsf el tanunaccount abl eav er sionf orone
anot her , eitheratonceoraf terat imeoff ri
endshi p, itwasduet o
theiropposi tehor oscopi cnat ures, andi twoul dbef oundt hatt hei r
birt
hday swer enotf arf rom si xmont hsapar t,thati s, near lyas
farapar tast heypossi blycoul dbe.Di v orces, br eachesofpr omi se,
fami lyf euds, andant i
pat hi esatf irstsi ghtcoul dt husbeaccount ed
for.Now, itwoul di nv olv enov er ybur densomeunder taki ngt odi sprove
thist heor y; butIshoul dnotexpectacor dial appr ov al ofmyef f
or ts
ont hepar tofmycol leaguesi fIcar riedt hrought hei nv estigat i
on.
Thehy pot hesi si sunsci ent ific,orev enant i
-scient ific, andi ts
exami nat ionunnecessar yandunpr of i
tabl e.Yeti ti snotal way s
possi bl et or endersodeci siv eav er dict ;andi nt hepr esentcase,
whi l
eIi ncl inet ot hebel ieft hatt hehy pot hesisoft el epat hyi s,
asusual lyadv ancedandi nessence, ani ll
egitimat eone, Ist il
l
regar di taspossi blet hati nt hef utur esomemodi ficat ionoft his
hypot hesi smaybef ramed, whi chwi ll bringi twi thi nt hescopeofa
l
iber al concept i
onoft hesci ent i
f i
c.I ti si mpor tantt omaket hi s
atti
tudeper f ectlycl ear : i
ft el epat hymeanst hehy pot hesi sofa
newf or ce, thati s, theassumpt ionofanasy etuncompr ehendedmode
oftheout putofener gy , subj ectr igor ousl yt othephy si cal bonds
ofmat erial causat ionwhi chmakepossi blear at ional concept ionof
psy cho- phy si ologi cal pr ocesses; andi f ,further, someonewi l
l put
forthar at ional concept ionofhowt hisassumedact ioncant akepl ace
apar tf rom t heexer ci seoft hesenses, Iam pr epar edt oadmi tt hat
thishy pot hesi sis( notsound, orst rong, ori naccor dancewi tht he
facts, orcapabl eofexpl ai ningt hef act s, orwar rant edbyt hef act s,
but)onewhi chi tisl egi timat e, thoughper hapsnotpr of it
abl e, to
consi der .I f,howev er, telepat hyi sputf or war dasat ot al l
ynewand
pecul iarki ndofact ion, whi chi squi teunr elatedt ot heor dinar y
forceswi thwhi choursensesandsci ent ificobser v ationacquai nt
us, andwhi chi snotsubj ectt ot hel i
mi tat i
onsoft hemat er ial
wor ldofcausat ion; ift elepat hyi ssupposedt or ev eal tousawor ld
beyondorbehi ndormy steri
ouslyint
ertwinedwi t
hthephenomenaof
thi
swor l
d,-
-awor l
dinwhi chev entshappennoti naccor
dancewi th
theestabl
ishedphy sicall
aws, butfortheirpersonalsi
gnifi
cance
evenindefianceoft hosel aws,
--t
henitbecomesi mpossiblefor
thesci
entisttoconsi derthishypothesi
swi thoutabandoninghis
fundamentalconcept ionsoflawandsci ence.

Mydef ense, ther efor e,fornotbegi nningandpossi blyconf i

ning
thi
sdi scussi ont ot hequest ionoft hesci entif
iclegiti
macy
ofthet elepat hichy pot hesisi sthat,int hepr esentst atusof
opinion, i
tdoesnotseem t omehopef ul toi nfl
uencebel iefby
suchapr esent ation.I tseemst omeaf armor epract ical stepto
presentt heunwar rantedchar acteroft hehy pothesisandi tslogical
i
nsuf fi
cienci esasameansofi nfl
uenci ngt hosewhohadbeen, orwer e
l
ikelytobe, impr essedbycoi ncidencesanddeat h-war ningexper iences
andguessi ngexper i
ment s.And, mor eov er,itisnecessar y ,solong
assuchexper i
enceshav east r
onghol dont hepopul arimagi nati
on
andshapet hepopul arconcept i
onsoft henat urebot hofment al
processesandoft hef i
eldofpsy chol ogy ,toportrayaswel las
maybet henat ural expl anationandsi gni fi
canceoft hephenomena,
andt oi ndicat ethegener al t
rendoft heconcept ionsunderwhi ch
theymaybepr ofitablyv iewed; andt his, event houghi tbebut
measur ablypossi bl etoappl ygener al pr i
nci pl
est ospeci al cases.
Thisst epi sanessent ialpartoft hel ogi cal taskher eat tempt ed.
Underot herci rcumst ancesi twoul dhav ebeenadv isabl e, asitalway s
wouldbepr oper ,t odet er minet helegi timacyofanhy pot hesi sbef or
e
consider ingi taswor thyofdet ail
edexami nationonot hercount s.But
here,asi sf requent lythecase, itisacondi tionandnotoneofour
ownchoosi ngt hatconf rontsus.

VI
II

Whati st hel ogical concl usiont obedr awnf rom t hedat aof ferable
i
nev idenceofsomesuper sensor yf orm oft hought -transf erence,
andwhencet hedi sposi ti
ont obel i
ev ei ntheexi stenceofsucha
procedur e? -
-theser emai nt hecent ral quest i
onsoft hedi scussi on.
Ast ot hef ormer ,Icansaynomor eindi smi ssi ngt het opi ct han
thatt omet hephenomenar epresentacompl excongl omer ate,inwhich
i
mper fect lyrecogni zedmodesofsense- act ion, hy per æst hesi aand
hyster ia,fraud, consci ousandunconsci ous, chance, col l
usi on,
similar i
tyofment al processes, anex pect anti nt er esti n
present i
ment sandabel iefi ntheirsi gnificance, ner vousnessandi l
l
health, ill
usionsofmemor y ,hallucinat i
ons, suggest i
on, cont agion,
andot herel ement sent eri ntot hecomposi tion; whi ledef ect iv
e
obser v ation,falsif
icat i
onofmemor y, forget ful nessofdet ai ls,bias
andpr epossessi on, suggest ionf r
om ot her s, lackoft r ainingandof
apr operi nvestigativet emper ament ,furtheri nv al i
dat eandconf use
ther ecor dsofwhati ssupposedt ohav ebeenobser ved.Manyoft he
repor tedf actsar enotf act satal l
;other sar et oodi stor tedl yand
toodef icientlyrepor tedt obeei theri ntelli
gibl eorsuggest i
v e;
somear eaccur atelyobser v edandpr oper l
yr ecor ded, andt hese
somet imescont ainapr obabl esuggest ionoft hei rnat ur al explanation,
somet imesmustbeputdownaschance, andmor eof tenmustbel ef
t
unexpl ai ned.Tocal l t
hisabsenceofanexpl anat iont el epat hyi s
surelynoadv ance; toposet hishy pot heticpr ocessast he_ modus
operandi_ofanyresultt
hatcanbeevenr emotel
yandcontingentl
y
otherwiseaccountedforseemssuperf
luous;t
oactual
lyuset hi
s
hypothesistoaccountforsti
l
lmoreobscureandmor eindefi
nit
eand
l
esscl earl
yestabl
ishedphenomenaisamostegr egi
ouslogicalsi
n.

Ast ot henat ur al tendencyt obel iev ei nt el epat hy ,itmaybe

regar dedaspar toft heant hr opocent ricandegocent ricv iewof
theuni ver seandi tshappeni ngs, andasanexempl ificat ionoft he
per sist enceoft hemy stical v i
ewofmundaneev ent s,--bot hofwhi ch
aredomi nanti npr imi tivephi losophy , remai nconspi cuouswher ev er
super st iti
onst illhasahol d, fl
our ishi npseudo- sci enceandi n
esot ericcul ts, andwi l
l pr obabl ynev erbecomewhol lyobsol et e.
Mr .Cl odd' sr emar ksconcer ni ngt hegener alnot i
onsunder lying
"sympat het icmagi c"maybeappl iedt ot hebi asi nf av oroft he
telepat hict heor y: "Thegener al ideahasonl yt obedeckedi nanot her
gar bt of itt hef rameofmi ndwhi chst ill reser vessomepetspher e
ofnat uref ort heoper at ionoft hespeci al andt hear bi trar y."
Howev erdi fficul titmaybet or eal i
zef ul l
yandi ndet ail thatt he
obj ect iveor deroft hingsi snotar rangedf oroursev eral per sonal
benef its, thatconcl usi oni si nev i
tabl yf or ceduponusbyat rue
i
nsi ghti nt ot hei nexor abl el ogi cofev ent s, andhar moni zeswi tht he
reflect ionsofourmor el ogi cal moods.What ev ert i
det her emaybe
i
nhumanaf fairsi sl ar gel yofourownmaki ng; ther ei snot hi ngt o
mar kt hef l
oodexceptourownj udgmentandi nsi ght .Wemaysel ect
andar rangeandadaptci rcumst ancesaccor di ngt oourneeds, butt he
select ioni smadebyusandnotf orus: "Wemust_ take_t hecur rent
wheni tser v es. "Someef for ti snecessar y,someschool ingmustbe
gonet hr oughwi t
h, t oenf or cet hisat titudeandt ogi vei tt he
pract i
cal ef fect ivenessofal ivingconv iction.Theat ti
tudeof
conf or mi tywi thcur rentbel ief ,theeasyaccept anceoft hepl ausi ble,
theav oidanceofcar ef ul andquest ioni nganal y sis, aref armor e
i
nv itingandl essexact ingt hant her egul ationofbel iefbyt hel ogic
ofmat uredpr inci ples.Thest renuousl i
fehasqui teasi mpor tanta
mi ssi oni ni nt ellect ual asi npr act i
cal af fairs.I twi llbeadeci ded
adv ancewheni tbecomesgener allyacknowl edgedt hatt hedi scussi onof
suchanhy pot hesi sast el epat hypr esupposesani ntimat eacquai ntance
notmer el ywi tht hef act sconcer ned, butwi tht hel ogi cal aspect sof
thei rint er pret at i
on; thatt hepr obabi li
t yoff or mi ngasoundopi nion
onsuchmat ter si smeasur ednotbyt hef ervoroft hei nt er esti n
them, butbyt hei ntel l
ect ual requi sitesnecessar yt ost eerone' sway
amongt hei ntricaci esanddanger sofsuchanexpedi ti
on.Noper sons
aremor edeepl yi nter est edi nt hesuccessf ulissueofav oy aget han
thepassenger s; butt hisi nter estdoesnotqual ifyt hem t of or m an
i
nt elligentopi nionupont hepr operdi r ect ionoft hemachi ner yor
theset tingoft hecour se, --muchl essdoesi tf i
tt hem t ot akean
act i
v epar tint heact ual nav igat ion.Yett her ear eal way st hose
whoconf ident lycr iticiset heact ionsofcapt ainandpi lot ,and
areanxi oust odi spl ayt hei rabi lityt of orm opi ni onsoft hei rown
i
nr egar dt ot hei ntricat enav i
gat ionov ernat ure'shi ghway s.The
mostef ficientant idot et ot het oor eadyi ncl i
nat iont owar dst he
popul arort hesuper fi
ci al int er pret at i
onoft hephenomenai nv olved
i
nment al telegr aphyi sdoubt lesst hecul tivationoft hel ogi cal
vigorandpr udencesof requent lyr ef er redt o;andnextt ot hi si san
appr eci ationoft hemar v elouscompl exi tyandunf at homabl esubt letyof
ment al oper at i
ons.
THEPSYCHOLOGYOFDECEPTI
ON

Thesay ingt hatappear ancesar edecept i

veisani nheritancef rom
anci enttimes; toOr iental andt oGr eekphi l
osopher st heillusory
nat ureoft heknowl edgef urnishedbyt hesenseswasaf requentand
af erti
lethemeofcont empl ati
onanddi scussion.Thesamepr oblem
standsopent ot hepsy chol ogistofto-day;but, pr
ofiti
ngbyt he
speci al
izat i
onofl ear ni
ngandt headv anceoft echnicalsci ence,he
cangi v
ei tamor ecompr ehensi veaswel l
asamor epr acticalanswer .
Thephy siological act ivit
iesunder l
yingsense- perceptionar enow
fairlywell underst ood; theexper imental methodhasext endedi t
s
domai nov erthef i
eldofment alphenomena; andi nmanyway shav ewe
becomemor eexper tinaddr essingourquer iest othesphi nx,Nat ur
e,
soast of orcear epl y.Toout li
net heposi t
ionofmoder npsy chology
withr eferencet ot hisinter esti
ngpr oblem ofdecept i
oni st heobj ect
oft hepr esentessay .

Inasense- i
mpr essi onwer ecogni zeapr imitiveel ementi nt he
acqui sitionofknowl edge.Thedepr i
v ationofasenseev enundermost
favor abl eci r
cumst ancesl eavessomet racesofani ncompl etement al
dev elopment .Thi si sdue, nott ot hemer esense- impr essionst hatthe
organf ur nishes, butt ot heper cept ionandcoör dinat ionoft hese
byi nferent i
alpr ocessesofamor ecompl exnat ure.I ti snott he
ey eoft heeagl e, butt hebr ai
ndi rect i
ngt hehumaney e, thatl eads
toi ntell
ect ual supr emacy .Phy siologyr ecogni zest hisdi st i
nct ion
asonebet weenl owerandhi gherbr ai n-cent res.Amanmayhav ehis
retinaorhi sopt icner v ei njured, andsobebl indi nt heor dinar y
senseoft hewor d.Hei spr event edf rom acqui ringf ur therknowl edge
byt hisav enue; but ,unl esshebecomebl indi near lychi ldhood, he
wi l
l r
etai namemor yf orv isual images, wi l
lbeabl emor eorl ess
clear l
yt oi magi nepi ctor iallytheappear ancesofobj ectsf rom v erbal
descr iptions, andi nt hef reer oami ngsofhi sdr eam f ancywi l
llive
i
nawor ldi nwhi chbl indnessi sunknown.Ont heot herhand, t
her e
i
sacondi tionr esul tingf rom t hedi sintegr ationofcer tainpor ti
ons
oft hef inel yorgani zedcor texoft hebr ain,inwhi cht hepat ient
mayr et ainf ullsightandunder st andi ng, butbeunabl et oder i
v e
anymeani ngf rom whathesees.Thesamecl ust erofsensat ionst hat
enabl esust or ecogni zeabook, api cture, af ace, andt oar ouseal l
thenumer ousassoci at i
onsat tachingt ot hese, isasunmeani ngt o
him ast hesy mbol sofaci pheral phabet .Thiscondi ti
oni ster med
"psy chicbl i
ndness; "andwhati st her elosti snott hepowerof
vision, butofi nter pret ing, ofassi mi lating, ofr eadi ngt hemeani ng
ofv isual sense- impr essi ons.I tist hisi nterpret ingandassi milat i
ng
processt hati slar gel yconcer nedi nt hef ormat i
onofi ll
usi ons.

Intheexper
iencesofdail
yli
fewehav etodonotwithsi
mple
sensat
ions,
butwi t
hmor eorlesscomplexi
nfer
encesfrom t
hem;
anditi
sjustbecausetheseinfer
encesgoonsoconstantl
yandso
unconsci
ouslythatt
heyarecontinual
l
yandpersi
stent
lyover
looked.
Itisanoccasi onal exper iencei nr ai singawat er-pitchert ohav e
thev essel fl
yupi nt hehandi nav eryst ar tli
ngmanner ,--
the
reasonf ort hisbei ngt hatthepi t
cher , whi chonei saccust omedt o
findwel lf
ill
ed, happenst obeempt y .Thi sexper ienceshowst hat
weunconsci ouslyest i
mat et hef or cenecessar yt or aiset hev essel,
butonl ybecomeconsci ousoft hist rainofi nf erencewheni thappens
toleadt oconcl usionscont radi ctor yoft hef act.Theper cept ion
ofdi stance, oncet houghtt obeaspr imitiveaf act orincogni tion
ast hei mpr essi onofacol or,isl ikewi set her esul tofcompl ex
thoughunr ealizedi nferences; andt hephenomenaoft hest ereoscope,
byi mitatingt hecondi t
ionsoft heper cept ionofsol i
dityandt hus
maki ngusseeassol idthef latr epr esent ati
onsofapai rofdi agrams
orphot ographs, furnishabr i
llianti l
lust rat i
onoft hev ariety
andcompl exi t
yofsuchunconsci ousr easoni ngs.Asf oressent ial
pur posesnor mal per sonshav eacommonanat omy ,acommonphy si
ology
,
andacommonpsy chology ,itr esul tst hatwedr awt heseunconsci ous
i
nf erencesaf tert hesamepat ter n; andsocompl etelyar et heyt he
out comeoft henor mal r
eact ionst oourcommonenv i
ronment ,
that
weneednotbe, andasar ulear enot ,awar eoft hei rexi stence
unt i
l-
-andpr obabl ywi thsomel i
ttleef for t--
ourat tent ioni s
directedt ot hem.Unconsci ousl yandspont aneousl ywel ear nt o
see, -
-t
hati s, toext ractmeani ngoutoft hesense- impr essi onst hat
fallupont her etina.

Thesi mpl esttypeofadecept ionoccur swhenani nf erenceoran

i
nter pretationoft hi stype, owingt oan_ unusual disposi tionof
external circumst ances_ ,l
eadst oaconcl usionwhi chot herand
presumabl ysuper iortestimonyshowst obef al
se.Thus, i
nt he
obser vat i
onwhi chAr istotl
eknewanddescr ibed,thatapeaorot her
roundobj ecthel dbet weent wof i
ngerscr ossedoneov ert heother
seemsdoubl e,iti
st heunusual posit
ionoft hef i
nger st hatinduces
theillusion.Underor dinaryci r
cumst ancesasensat ionofcont act
ont hel eftsideofonef i
ngerandont her ightsideoft hef inger
nextt oi t(tother ight)coul donl ybepr oducedbyt hesi mul t
aneous
applicat i
onoft wobodi es.Weunconsci ousl yandnat ural l
ymake
thesamei nferencewhent hef i
ngersar ecr ossed, andt husf al
l
i
ntoer ror-
-aner ror, i
tisimpor t
antt oobser ve,whichwedonot
_outgr ow_but_ antagoni ze_bymor econv i
ncingev i
dence.Thepeahel d
betweent hecr ossedf i
nger scont i
nuest o_ feel
_li
ket wopeas, butwe
areundernot empt ationt o_ beli
eve_t hatt herereallyar et wopeas.

Thelimi t
ationsofoursensesl eaddi rectlytot hepossi bil
it
ies
oftheirdecept i
on, whi chmayi nt urnber ealizedi nadvertent l
y
orutil
izedint entionally.Weappr eciat ehowdef ecti
veisour
l
ocalizationofsoundwhenweat temptt of i
ndacr i
cketbyl ocat i
ng
whencepr oceedsi tschi rp;t
hesamedi f
ficultylendsuncer taint y
tothedet ermi nationoft hedi rect ionoff og- hor nsignalsof
passingst eamer s.Thi suncer tai ntycoöper atesi nthei l
lusionsof
ventr
iloquism; i
tisinv ol v
edi nt hesmackwhi chonecl owngi ves
another ,
butwhi chi sreal lyt
hecl appi ngoft hehandsoft he
supposedv ictim; i
tpr oducesar eal isticef f
ectwhenacannoni s
fi
redont hest age, f
ori tisnecessar yonlyt oshowt heflashwhi l
e
thenoi seispr oducedbehi ndt hescenes.Agai n,thestimul ationof
theretinaisor dinarilyduet ot hei mpi nginguponi toflight-wav es
emanat i
ngf rom anext ernalobj ect .Accor dingl y,
whent her etinais
dist
urbedbyanyexcept i
onal cause, suchasabl owont heheador
anel ect ri
cshockt ot heopt icner ve, wehav easensat i
onofl ight
proj ect edout war di ntospace.Theper cept i
onofourownl ocomot i
on,
whi chi slikewi seahi ghl yinf er ent ialprocess, offersi llust rat i
ons
ofcasual i
ll
usi onandofar tifi
ci al decept ion.Whenonat rain, it
i
sbyt hepassi ng- bybef or eourey esi nt heopposi tedi rect ionof
treesandpost sandot herf eat ur esoft hel andscape, thatwer eal i
ze
thatwear emov ingf or war d; accor dingly ,whenat rainal ongsi demov es
outbef oreourownt rainhasst ar ted, wehav eadi st inctr eal izat ion
thatwear emov ingbackwar dssol ongaswel ookatt hef or war d-mov i
ng
train.Ther ei sani l
lusiondev isedf oramusementcal ledt he" Magi c
Swi ng, "inwhi chonei sappar ent lyswungt oandf rowi thwi derand
wi derexcur sionsunt i
l acompl eter evolut i
oni sappar ent lymade
from av ertical toahor izont al, thr ought heant i
podal posi tion,
backt ot hehor i
zont alandt henor mal .Inr eal i
ty,onl yasl ight
mot ioni si mpar tedt ot heswi ng, butt hei ncl osingwal l
s, whi ch
arepai ntedt or epr esentaf or estscene, ar et hemsel v esr ev olved
forwar dandt henbackwar daboutt heaxi sf rom whi cht heswi ngi s
suspended.As, howev er , wehav enoexper iencewi t
hosci llatingt rees,
weunconsci ousl yi nfert heosci llat i
onst obeandf eel them i nour
ownper sons.I nanot herappl icat ionoft hesamei llusi onweseem t o
bel etdowni ntot hebowel soft heear th; butaf terasl i
ghtact ual
descentt hecarr emai nsst at ionar ywhi let hei ll
umi nat edsi desof
theshaf t,whi char esui tabl ypai nt ed, aremov edpanor ama- li
kei n
anupwar ddi rect ion.I nbr i
ef ,wear ecr eat ur esoft heav erage; we
areadj ustedf ort hemostpr obabl eev ent ; ouror gani sm hasacqui red
thehabi tsimpr esseduponi tbyt hemostf r equentexper iences; and
thishasi nducedani nher entl ogi cal necessi tytoi nt erpr etanew
exper iencebyt heol d,anunf ami liarbyt hef ami li
ar.I ndescr i
bing
i
llusi onsoft heabov et ype, Mr .Sul lyapt lysay st hatt hey
"dependont hegener al ment al l
awt hatwhenwehav et odowi tht he
unf requent ,theuni mpor tant ,andt herefor eunat t
endedt o, andt he
except i
onal ,weempl oyt heor dinar y,t
hef ami l
iar,andt hewel lknown
asourst andar d."I l
lusionar iseswhent her ulet husappl iedf ailst o
hol d; andwhet herornotwebecomecogni zantoft hei l
lusi ondepends
upont heeasewi thwhi cht heexcept ional char acteroft hepar ticular
i
nst ancecanber ecogni zed, ort hei nfer encet owhi chi tleadsbe
opposedbypr esumabl ymor er eliableev idence.

I
I

Tomaket hingsseem mor ewonder f

ul thantheyar e,topossess
knowl edgeandexhi bitpowerbey ondt hekenoft hemul tit
ude, has
exer cisedaf ascinationupont hehumanmi ndi nal lit
sst agesof
dev elopment .Thepr imitiv
econj uringoft heanci entpr i
estoroft he
sav agemedi ci
ne- man, t
hel ongtraditionofOr iental legerdemai n,
andt hest ageper f
ormancesoft hemoder nprestidi git
ateurare
allconnect edwi t
hdeep- seatedhumani nsti
ncts.I thasev enbeen
suggest ed[3]thatt hemi micryanddeat h-
fei
gningi nstinctsof
animal s,thoughessent i
allybiol
ogical i
ntype,arey etrelatedto
thepsy chologi calinstinctsofdecept ionwhi chmaket heirfir
stcl ear
appear ancei nt hehigherani malsandassumeadi sti
nct i
veposi t
ion
i
nt hepsy chol ogical equipmentofchi l
dhood.Theconj uri
ngtricksor
paradoxeswhi chappar entlycontradictorr i
sesuper i
ort oordi
nar y
exper ience, furnishthemostv ari
oust ypesofi l
lust rati
onoft he
psy chol ogyofdecept i
on.Whet herpr esentedasmi raclebypr iestor
bythaumat urgi
storbyexpounderoft heblackart,orpresent ed
aspr oofofspi ri
tagencybyt hemoder nspi r
it
uali
sticmedium or
hislesspr etenti
ouspr edecessor s,orbythestageper f
ormerf or
entertainment ,
theanal ysisofwhatwasact uall
ydone, andt he
account sofwhatt hespect ator
ssaworbel i
evedt hatt
heysaw,
i
ll
umi nat ewithstri
kingbr il
li
ancyt he_modusoper andi_ofthe
processeswher ebyappear ancetakesthesembl anceofr ealityand
obser vati
oni sshrewdlyl edastray.Theconjurerthusbecomesa
suggest erandanact or,notamer eexhibi
torofhismani pulative
skil
l.

Asourpr esentpur posei st oinvestigatet henat ureofr eal

decept ion, ofthef ormat i
onoff alsebel iefswhi chmayi nt urnlead
tounwi seact ion,itwi ll
bewel ltonot et hatevensuchel ement ary
formsofsense- decept i
onsast hosej ustnotedmayf allundert his
head.Nooneal l
owedt heuseofhi sey eswi l
lev erbelievet hatthe
peahel dbet weent hecr ossedf inger sisr eal
lydoubl e,butchi ldren
oftent hinkt hataspoonhal fimmer sedi nwat erisreallybent .
Primitivepeopl esbel ievet hatthemoonr eall
ygr owssmal lerasi t
ri
sesabov et hehor izon; andt heanci entscoul dcountsuf fici
ent l
y
upont hei gnoranceoft hepeopl e,tomakeuseofmi rrorsandot her
stagedev i
cesf orrev ealingt hepoweroft hegods.Theabi lit
yt o
correctsucher rorsdependssol elyupont hepossessi onofcer t
ain
knowl edgeorofaconf idencei nitsexi stence.

Cont inuingwi thdecept ionsdependentuponexcept ional ext ernal

arrangement s, wemayf indi nconj uringt rickssi mpl eandcompl ex
i
llustrationsi ngr eatper fect ion.Whenwi nei st urnedi nt owat er,
whent wohal f-dol l
ar sar er ol ledi ntoone, whenaboxi ntowhi chan
arti
clehasj ustbeenpl acedi si mmedi atelyopenedandf oundt obe
empt y,whenahandker chi efi st or nandmadewhol eagai n, whent he
perfor merdr i
vesanai lthroughhi sf i
nger ,whenacoi nsuddenl y
appear soutofspaceatt heendofawand, whenacar dwhi chy ouhav e
j
ustassur edy our sel fist heaceofhear t
sonsecondv iewi st he
kingofspades, whenabowl fi
lledwi thwat erinwhi chgol dfishar e
swi mmi ngi spr oducedf rom underahandker chi ef,whenachi l
dr ests
horizont allyi nmi d-airsuppor tedonl yononeel bow, --youar emi sled
ormy stifi
edordecei v edi nsof arasy ouar eunawar et hatt hewi ne
waspot assi um per manganat eandsul phur icaci d, andwascl arifi
ed
bysodi um hy posul phi te;thatt heonehal f-
dol lari shol lowandt he
solidonef itsint oit; thatt heboxhasadoubl ebot t
om cont rol l
ed
byasecr etspr ing; thatt her eal handker chi efwasnott ornbut
anot hersubst itutedf orit;t hatt henai lhasbeenr epl acedbyone
thatf it
sar oundt hef inger ;thatt hewandi shol l
ow, andaspr ing
cont rolst heappear anceorwi thdr awal ofaspl itcoi nati tsot her
end; thatonehal foft hecar di spr intedonaf lapwhi ch, byf alli
ng
down, showsanot heraspect ; thatt hebowl cov eredwi thar ubbercap
wassecr et edundert hecoatoft heper f
or mer ;thatt hechi ldwear s
ast eel sui tfittedwi thj ointst hatl ockandbecomer igid.Al l
thesear et echni cal dev iceswhi chamuseusbyt hei ngenui tyoft heir
const ruct i
on, and, thought heymaybemostbaf fl
ing, pr ovokeabout
thesamet y peofment alint erestasdoesapuzzl eoranaut omat on.
Ignor anceoft hist echni cal knowl edgeorl ackofconf idencei nits
existencemayconv er tthesedev icesi ntor eal decept ionsbychangi ng
thement al attitudeoft hespect at or.Howev er,thepl ausi bil
ityof
suchper f
or mancesdependssomuchupont hei rgener al present ation
thattheyseldom r
elyforthei
reffect
ivenesssolel
yupont he
objecti
veappearancespresented.Theyar egi
venadr amati
csett
ing,
orputf orwardasexamplesofnewl ydiscover
edforcesorofmagi cal
control
; andthi
smakest hem farmoreef f
ecti
vethant hi
sbare
accountwoul dsuggest.

Aski ngt her eader , then, tobeari nmi ndt hev erygr eatnumber
andi ngenui tyofsuchdev i
ces, andi nsi stingoncemor et hatt he
onlycompl et esaf eguar dagai nstbei ngmi sledbyt hem t ot heext ent
offor mi ngf al seconcept i
onsoft hei r_ modusoper andi _,ist he
acqui sitionoft hepur el ytechni cal knowl edget hatunder l
iest hei r
success, Ishal lcitei ndet ailat rickcombi ningi l
lust rat ions
ofsev eral oft hepr inci plest obedi scussed.Sev eral r i
ngsar e
collectedf r
om t heaudi enceupont heper for mer '
swand; het akest he
ri
ngsbackt ot hest ageandt hr owst hem uponapl at ter; api st ol
i
sneeded, andi shandedt ot heper for merf rom behi ndt hescenes;
withconspi cuousi ndi fferencehehammer st hepr eci oust ri
nket suntil
theyf itint ot hepi st ol.Achesti shangi ngonanai latt hesi de
ofthest age; thepi stol i
sf iredatt hi schest ,whi chi st her eupon
takendownandpl aceduponat abl et owar dst her earoft hest age.
Thechesti sunl ockedandf oundt ocont ainasecondchest ;thi sis
unlockedandcont ainsat hirdt hi saf our th.Ast hechest semer ge
theyar epl acedupont het abl e; andnowf rom t hef our thchestt here
comesaf ifth, whi cht heper for mercar r i
est ot hef rontoft hest age
andshowst ocont ainbonbonsar oundeachofwhi chi st iedoneoft he
ri
ngst akenf r om t heaudi ence.Theef fecti smostst ar tli
ng.Thi sis
theappear anceoft het ri
ckf rom t heaudi ence.Nowl etusconsi der
whatr eal lyt akespl ace.I nt hehandhol dingt hewandar easmany
brassr i
ngsasar et obecol l
ect ed.I nwal kingbackt ot hest aget he
genui ner ingsar eal lowedt osl i
pof ft hewandandt hef alser ings
totaket hei rpl aces.Thi sexci tesnosuspi ci on, ast hewal kingback
tothest agei sobv i
ousl ynecessar y, andnev eri mpr essesoneaspar t
oftheper f
or mance.Thepi stol isnotr eadyupont hest age, butmust
begonef or ;andast heassi st anthandst heper formert hepi st ol,
thel attert ransf erst ot heassi stantt het ruer ings.Thehammer i
ng
ofthef al ser i
ngsi snowdel iber at elyunder taken, thusgi v ingt he
assistantampl et imet ot iet het r uer ingst ot hebonbons; and, whi l
e
allattent ioni sconcent rat edupont hef ir
ingoft hepi st ol,t he
assistantunobt rusi vel ypushesasmal l tabl eont ot her earoft he
stage.Thi st abl ehasasmal lfringehangi ngabouti t, cer tainly
ani nsigni f
icantdet ail
, butnonet hel esswor thnot ing.Thechest s
arenowopened, and, af t
erhav i
ngshownt heaudi encet hatt hesecond
chestcomesoutoft hef irst, thet hirdoutoft hesecond, andsoon,
theper for mercanv er yr eadi lyandqui cklydr awt hel ast ,smal l
est
chestf rom agr oov e_ under _t het abl e, wher ei twasconceal edby
theaf or esai df ringe, andbr ingi tf or war dast houghi t_ hadcome_
outoft henextl ar gerchest ; thissmal lestchesti sopenedandt he
tri
cki saccompl ished.Sot hor oughl yconv incedi st heobser v erbyt he
correct nessofhi sf ir
stt hreei nfer encest hatt hel astboxcameout
oftheonebef orei t,thatIv ent ur et osayt hi sexpl anat iondoesnot
occurt ooneper soni nmanyt housand, andt hatmostoft heaudi ence
woul dhav ebeenwi ll
ingt oaf fir
m onoat ht hatt heysawt hel astbox
soemer ge.Thepsy chol ogyoft hepr ocess, then, consi stsi ni nduci ng
thespect at ort odr awt henat ural infer ence, whi ch, int hiscase, it
hasbeencar ef ullyar rangedshal lbeawr ongone.
Decept ionbecomesr eal accor dingt ot heski llwithwhi cht he
condi tionsofr eal i
tyar eimi tated.Thedext er i
tyandt rainingof
thepr ofessi onal conjurerar emeasur edbyt hef i
del it
ywi thwhi chhe
mimi cst hemov ement swhi char esupposedt obedone.Thel ife-l
ikeness
oft hemov ementwi thwhi cht hel ateHer manncoul dt akeupan
i
magi nar yor angewi thbot hhandsf rom at able(t heor angewasr eall
y
l
etdowni nat rapont het abl east hehandswer epl acedov erit),
andcar ryi tov ertoanot hert abl ewher ei tmy steriouslydi sappear ed
orpassedt hroughahat ,wasqui tei rr
esi stible.Equal lysowashi s
palmi ng, orhi spr oduct ionofobj ect sfrom hi sper son, oroutoft he
air
, ori nout -of-the-waypl aces.Themi met icmov ement saccompany ing
theseact ionswer esov ividlyreal i
stic,themi sdirectionoft he
attent ionwassoper fect ,ast opr oduceacompl et ehal l
uci nationof
theappear anceofobj ectsf rom pl acesf rom whi cht heynev eremer ged.
Whent hiswaspr ecededbyanact ual sleight -of-
handmov ement ,at r
ue
halluci nationr esul t
ed; forexampl e, i
nt het r i
ckoft hef lyi
ng
cardswhi chwer eski l
ful l
yt hrownt oall par tsoft heaudi torium, a
cardwasoccasi onallyt hrownwhi chseemedt odi sappearmy steriously
i
nmi d- air;buti nrealit
ynocar dhadbeent hrownbutonl ythe
mov ement soft hrowingi timi tat
ed.Ar abbi twast ossedupi nt heai r
twoort hreet imes, andt hendi sappear edatt her epor tofapi stol;
i
nr eal ityt her abbi twasnott ossedatal lont helastappar ent
throw, butwassl ippedi ntot hehol lowoft het able. [
4]

Themor ecl oselyt hecondi ti

onst hatleadt ocor r
ectinf erencesi n
ordinar yexper iencesar ei mitat
ed, themor esuccessf ul wil
lbet he
i
llusion; andausef ulpri
ncipleofconj ur
ingi ll
usionsi st o_ f
ir
st
actual l
ydo_t hatwhi chy ou_ afterwar d_wi sht heaudi encet o_ beli
eve
thaty oucont i
nuet odo_ .Thus, whencoi nsar ecaughti nmi d-air
andt hr owni ntoahat ,af ewar er eal
lythr owni n;buttheot hers
arepal medi nt hehandhol dingt hehat ,andal lowedt of al
lwhen
theot herhandmakest heappr opr i
atemov ement s.Someoft herings
tobemy ster i
ouslyl i
nkedt ogetherar egi vent otheaudi encef or
exami nati
onandf oundt ocont ainnoopeni ng,theaudi enceatonce
concl udingt hatt her i
ngswhi chtheper for merr etai
nsar eprecisely
l
iket hem.I ngener al
,togai ntheconf i
denceoft heper sont obe
decei vedi sthef irststepal i
keinsl eight-of-handandi ncr iminal
fraud.

I
II

Aswet urnfrom theobjectivet othesubj ectivecondi t

ionsof
decept ion,weent erthetruedomai nofpsy chol ogy ;f
ort hemost
scientifi
cdecei veri
shewhoempl oy sleastext er nalaids, and
count smostuponhi spowerofcapt i
vatingt hei ntel
lect .Justaswe
i
nt erpr
etappear ancesbyt hef ormst heymostcommonl yassume, soit
i
sourav eragenormal sel
v est hatinterpretthem.Av ariat ioni nour
sense- organsori nourjudgingpower swi l
lleadt oil
lusion.The
effectsofcont rastmayser veasapti l
lustrations.Whenpassi ng
from adar ktoal i
ghtroom t hel i
ghtseemsgl aringlybr i
ght ;ahand
i
mmer sedi nhotwaterandt heni nlukewar m wat erwill feel thelatt
er
ascol d; whenaccust omedt ot hesil
enceoft hecount ryt hebust leof
theci t
yseemsunusual l
ynoi sy.Fatiguepr oducessi mi larr esult
s.
Fat i
guet heey eforred,andi tseeswhi teli
ghtasgr een; thel ast
mi l
eofal ongwal kseemst hel ongest; t
hel asthourofal ongwai t,
themostt edious.Sol ongaswer ecognizeourunusual condi
ti
onand
all
owf oritsef fects,wear enotdecei ved;butundert heinfl
uence
ofemot iont hispoweri sr eadi
lylost,asitmaybeper manent l
ylost
i
nt heinsane.Thedel usionsoft hei nsanear eof teninfl
uencedby
misinterpretati
onsofr eal butabnor mal sensationsundert heguidance
ofadomi nanti dea.Ont hebasi sofananæst het icskinapat i
entmay
comet obelievet hathei smadeofgl assorst one; subjecti
venoises
i
nt heear ,duet odi st
urbancesoft hecir
culation, aretr
ansformed
i
ntot hejeersandt aunt sofani nv i
siblepersecut or.Butforthe
presentwewi llassumet hatthejudgingpower sdonotv ar
ybeyond
theirnormal li
mi ts.

Inev eryper cept iont wof act or scont ri

but et ot her esul t.Theonei s
thenat ureoft heobj ectper cei ved, theot hert hatoft heper cipient .
Theef f
ectoft hef i
rstf act ori sobv iousandwel lrecogni zed; the
i
mpor tanceoft hesecondf act orismor eaptt obeov erlooked.The
sunseti sadi ff erentexper iencet ot hear t i
stf rom whati tist ot he
farmer ;api eceofr ockyscener yisv iewedwi thqui t
eadi ffer ent
i
nt erestbyt hear tistandt hegeol ogi st.Thet hingst hatwer e
attract i
v einchi ldhoodhav el ostt hei rchar m; andwhatwast hen,
i
fnot icedatal l,consi der edst upid, hasbecomeacher ishedhobby .
Ev enf rom dayt oday ,ouri nt erestschangewi t
hourmoods, andour
viewsoft hingsbr ight enwi tht heweat herort hegoodbehav i
orof
ourdi gest iv
eor gans.Notonl ywi llthenat ureoft hei mpr essi on
changewi tht hei nt er est soft heobser v er, butev enmor e,whet heror
notanobj ectwi llbeper cei v edatal l, wi lldependupont hesame
cause.Thenat ur alistseeswhatt hest r ollerent irelyov er l
ooks; t he
sai l
ordet ect sashi pi nt hedi stanthor izonwher et hel andsman
seesnot hing; andt hisi snotbecauset henat ur alistandt he
sai l
orhav ekeenerv ision, butbecauset heyknowwhatt ol ookf or .
Whenev erani mpr essi oni sv ague, oranobser vat ionmadeunderpoor
condi t
ions, thissubj ect iveel ementcomest ot hef ront.Dar kness,
fear ,anyst rongemot ion, anydi ffi
cul tyi nper cept i
onr ev eal the
samei nfluence." Lanui ttousl eschat ssontgr is."Expect at ion, or
expect antat t
ent i
on, isdoubt lesst hemosti nfluent i
alofal lsuch
fact ors.Whenawai tingaf riend, anyi ndi st i
nctnoi sei sr eadi ly
conv ertedi ntot her umbl ingofcar ri
age- wheel s; themot herhear s
i
nev erysoundt hecr yofhersi ckchi ld.Af terv iewi nganobj ect
throughamagni fying- glass, wedet ectdet ail
swi tht henakedey e
whi chescapedourv isionbef ore.Inspi teoft hef actt hatt heanswer
i
nt hebookhappenst obewr ong, aconsi der abl epr opor t
ionoft he
classsucceedsi nr eachi ngi t.Ev ery wher ewear eaptt oper ceive
whatweexpectt oper cei ve, int heper cept i
onofwhi chwehav ean
i
nt erest .Thepr ocesst hatwet erm" sensat ion,"thegat heringof
ev i
dencebyt hesenses, i
sdual inchar act er,anddependsupont he
ey est hatseeaswel lasupont het hi ngst hatar epr esentt obeseen.

Accordingly
,theconjurersucceedsi nhi sdecept ionbycr eat
ingan
i
nterestinsomeuni mpor tantdetail
,whi leheisper f
or mi ngther eal
tr
ickbeforeourey eswithoutournot i
cingit.Hel ooksi ntentl
yat
hi
sext endedrighthand,involunt
ar i
lycar r
yingourey est ot hesame
spotwhi l
ehei sdoingthet r
ickwitht heunobser vedl efthand.The
conjurer
'swandi sextr
emel yserviceabl eindirectingt hespect ator
's
attent
iontotheplacewher etheper for
merdesi rest ohav eit
.[5]
Acal l
upont heattent
ioninonedi rect i
onpr event sitsdi spersion
i
nanot her.Whenengr ossedi nwor k,wear eobl ivioust ot henoi se
oft hest r
eetorev ent otheknockatt hedoor .Anabsent -mi nded
personi sonesoent i
rel
y" present -mi nded"t oonet rai
noft hought
thatot herst imul igounper ceiv ed.Thepi ckpocketi spsy chol ogi st
enought oknowt hatatt her ail
wayst ati
on, thet heat r
e, orwher ever
one' sat tentioni sshar plyfocusedi nonedi rect i
on, isheaptt o
fi
ndt hepsy chol ogi cal momentf ort heexer ci seofhi spur sui t.It
i
si nt henegat ivef ieldofat tent iont hatdecept i
onef fectsi ts
purpose.Houdi n, thef ir
stoft hef amouspr est i
digitateur s( died
1871) ,givesi tasoneofhi sr ul esnev ertoannouncebef orehandt he
natur eoft heef fectwhi chy oui nt endt opr oduce, inor dert hatt he
spect at ormaynotknowwher et of ixhi sat tention.Heal sot ell
sus
thatwhenev ery oucount" _one_ ,_ two_ ,_three_ ,
"aspr elimi nar yt o
thedi sappear anceofanobj ect ,ther eal vani shingmustt akepl ace
befor ey ousay" _ t
hr ee_,"
--fortheaudi encehav et heirat t
ent i
on
fi
xedupon" _three_ ,"andwhat ev eri sdoneat" one"or" two"ent i
rely
escapest heirnot ice.The" patter "orset ti
ngofat rickof ten
const itutest her eal artofi tsexecut ion,becausei tdirectsor
rathermi sdi rectst heat tent i
on.Whenper formi ngbef or et heAr abs,
Houdi npr oducedanast oundi ngef fectbyav erysi mpl et r
ick.Under
ordinar yci rcumst ancest het rickwasannouncedast hechangi ngoft he
wei ghtofachest ,maki ngi theav yorl i
ghtatwi l
l.Themechani sm
wassi mpl yt heat tachmentanddi sconnect ionofanel ectr o-magnet ,in
thoseday saf arl essf ami li
araf fairt hannow.Toi mpr esst heAr abs
heannouncedt hathecoul dspi r
itaman' sst rengt hawayandr est or
e
i
tagai natamoment '
snot ice.Thet ri
cksucceededasusual , butwas
changedf rom amer etri
ckt osor cer y--
theAr absdecl ar i
nghi mi n
l
eaguewi t
ht hedev il.

Thet rick, abov ecited, ofsuppor tingachi ldinmi d-air,was

performedbyHoudi natt hetimewhent hei nhal ationsofet herf or
purposesofi nsensi bi li
tywer ef i
rsti ntr
oduced.Thi sideawas
i
nt hemi ndsoft heaudi ence, andmagi cal effectswer er eadily
attri
but edt oet herizat ion.Accor dingl ythet r
ickwasannouncedas
"suspensi oninequi librium byat mospher icai rthrought heact ionof
concent ratedet her,"andsosuccessf ullywast hisaspectoft het ri
ck
accept edt hatpr otest swer esenti nagai nst"theunnat ur alfather
whosacr ifi
cedt heheal thofhi spoorchi ldt ot hepl easur esoft he
public."I nthesameway ,Kellarint roducesa" thought -reading"
performance, bygoi ngt hr ought hemov ement sofhy pnot i
zingt hel ady
whoassi stsint het rick; thisenabl eshi mt opr esentt hephenomenon
i
namy steriousl i
ght , andi ncident allyhismani pul ati
onsf urnisht he
oppor tuni tytoconnectt heendofaspeaki ng-tubeconceal edi nt he
l
ady '
shai rwi thanot herpor ti
onat tachedt ot hechai r.Inbr ief,the
effectofat ri
ckdependsmor eupont her ecept i
v eatt i
tudeoft he
spect ator sthanuponwhati sr eallydone." Conj ur i
ng,"Mr .Tr i
plett
obser ves, "isthusseent obeaki ndofgameofpr eper cept i
onwher ei
n
theper f ormersopl ay supont hepsy chical processesofhi saudi ence
thatthei ssuesar eashedesi res."

Thereis,t
oo,aclassoft ri
ckswhichillustrateapr ocess,the
rever
seoft hi
s;andwhi chdependf ortheirécl atuponmaki ngthe
i
ssuescoi nci
dewi ththeappar entl
yfreelyexpr essedchoiceoft he
spectator
,whil
er eall
yt heperfor
merasr igidl
ydet erminesthe
resul
tasinallothercases.Oneoft hebestoft hesepr oceeds
bycollect
ingsomeei ghtorninequest ionspr epar edbyasmany
personsintheaudi ence,thenplaci
ngt hem i nahat ,drawingout
oneatr andom, andfindingt heanswert othequest iont hussel ect
ed
writtenont heinsidesur facesofapai rofsl ates.Thedecept ion
begi nsint hesubst i
tutionf orthecollect edsl ipsofpaper ,
oft he
samenumberofsl i
psal lcontaini
ngt hesamecar eful
lypr epar ed
quest i
on; thepr oductionoft hewr i
ti
ngont hebl ankslat eisa
chemi cal technicali
ty.Itisasi mil
arr esul tthatisobt ainedi n
forcingacar d;orwhent heconj ur
eraskst heaudi encet osel ect
oneofagr oupofsi mi larobjects,
andt henhi msel fdeci deswhet her
thesel ectedobj ectshal lbeusedf ort het r
ickordi scar ded;
l
ikewi se, whenamagi cbot tl
eispresent edf rom whi chanydesi red
varietyofl i
quormaybepr oduced,itiseasyt osuggestt hechoi ce
accor dingt otheav ail
abl epossibi
li
ties.Ther eisthusani mitati
on
ofthepsy chological f
act orsaswel lasoft heobj ectiv
ef actors
ofreal exper i
ence; andbot har euti
lizedi nthedecept ionsoft he
professi onalconjurer.

Thear tofmi sleadingt heat tent i

oni sr ecogni zedas_ t
he_poi ntof
goodconj uri
ng, theanal ogyoft hedi plomacyt hatmakest heobj ect
oflanguaget oconceal thought ; andmanyappr opriat
eillust r
ations
oft hispoi ntmaybeder ivedf rom t hi sf i
eld.Thel it
tlefl
our ishes,
tossi nganobj ectupi nt heai r
, r
uf fl
ingorspr i
ngingapackof
cards, al i
ttl
ej oke- -
allthesecr eat eaf av orabl
eoppor t
uni ty
, a
_temp_whent heat t
ent ionisdi v ertedandt heot herhandcanr each
behi ndt hetabl eori ntot he" pocket ."Itisnotnecessar yt opur sue
furthert hesedet ail
soft echnique; itwi llsuffi
cet oanal yzet he
point sofi nteresti nthechest -and- ringt ri
ckdescr i
bedabov e.Her e
themomentf ort heexchangeoft her ingsi stheonewhi chisl east
suggest i
veofi tsbeingapar toft heper formance, andther efore
l
eastat tendedt o.Thepr epar ati
onsf ort heshoot ingabsor bthe
attent i
onandal lowt hei ntr
oduct ionoft hesmal ltableatt her ear
topassunnot iced;whi letheser iesofdr awingsoft hechest sso
entirelyprepar et hespect atorf ort heappear anceoft hel astchest
from t heonepr eceding, thatheact ual lyseest hechestemer gef rom
wher eitnev erhadbeen.

Itisnecessar y,howev er,notonl yt opr ov i

deanoppor tunityf or
non- at
tentionormi sdirectedat t
ention, buttobeabl etot ake
adv antageofi twhent hepr opermomentar rives.Her eent er sthe
dext er
ityalikeofpi ckpocketandofconj urer.Thet rainingi n
quicknessandaccur acyofmot i
on, i
ndel i
cacyoft ouch, i
nt he
simul t
aneousper cepti
onofawi derangeofsense- i
mpr essions,are
amongt hepsy chological requisitesofasuccessf ul conj urer.Hemust
dissociatet henat uralfactor sofhi shabi ts,act ual
lydoi ngone
thingwhi l
eseemi nglyattendi ngt oanot her ;
att hesamet imehi seyes
andhi sgest ur
esandhi s" pat t
er"mi sdirecttheat t
ent i
ont owhat
i
sappar entlytheessent i
al fieldofoper ati
on, butreal l
yonl ya
bli
ndt odi stractat t
entionawayf rom thet ruesceneofact ion.The
conj ur
erdi r
ect syourat tent i
ont owhathedoesnotdo; hedoesnot
dowhathepr etendst odo; andt owhatheact uall
ydoeshei scaref
ul
neithertoappeart odirecthi sownat tent i
onnort oar ousey ours.

I
V

Therei
s,however
,oneimpor
tantfact
orlacki
ngintheconj
urer
's
perf
ormancetoil
l
ustr
atecomplet
elythepsychol
ogyofdecept
ion;
i
ti st hatt hement al atti
tudeoft heobser v eristoodef i
nit
e.He
knowst hathei sbei ngdecei v
edbyski llandadr oit
ness, andr ather
enjoy si tthemor e, t
hemor ehei sdecei ved.Hehasnot hingatst ake;
hismi ndr est seasywi thoutanydet ai
ledorcompl eteexpl anation
ofhowi twasdone.Qui tedi ff
erentmusthav ebeent hef eelingof
thespect atorbefor et henecr omancerofol d, i
nwhoseper f
ormance
wasseent heevidenceofsecr etpower st hatcoul datamoment 's
not i
cebet urnedagai nstanyonet otakeawaygoodl uck, t
obr ingon
disease, orev ent ot ransf orm oneintoabeast .Whenmagi cspells
andwonder -
workingpot ionswer ebel ievedi n,whatwewoul dnowspeak
ofasat rickwassur roundedwi thahal oofaweandmy sterybyt he
sy mpat het i
catti
tudeoft hespect ators.Themostcompl etepar all
el
tot hisinmoder nt imesi spr esentedbyt hephy sicalphenomena
ofSpi ri
tual i
sm; andsomanyoft hemani festationspr esent edby
perf ormi ngmedi umsi nev i
denceofSpi ritual
ism hav ebeenexposedand
prov ent obeconj uringt r
icks,thatitisnol ongeranassumpt iont o
consi dert hem int hisconnect i
on.Spir i
tual i
sti
cphenomenapr esent
aper fectmi nefori l
lustrat i
onsoft hepsy chologyofdecept i
on, and
i
ti st heset hatIshal lconsi derast hef i
nal t
opici nthiscur sory
view.

Thef i
r stgener alpr i
nci pl
et obebor nei nmi ndi sthatt hemedi um
perfor mst ospect ators_ i
ndoubt _ast ot hei nterpr et at i
ont obe
placeduponwhatt heysee, ormor eorlesspr epar edordet ermined
toseei nev er yt
hingt heev idenceoft hesuper nat ural .Thi sment al
atti
tudeont hepar toft hespect at orsiswor thmor et ot hemedi um
thananysi nglef actori ntheper for mance.Thedi fferencebet ween
suchapr esent ationandoneaddr essedt oper sonscogni zantoft he
conj uringel ementi nt heper formanceandi nter est edi ni t
sdet ect i
on,
cannotbeexagger at ed.Itisthist hatmakesal l t
hedi fference
betweent heséanceswar mingwi thmi racles, anyoneofwhi ch
compl et elyr evolutionizest hepr inci pl
esofsci ence, andt het edi
ous
drear i
nessofabl anksi t
ti
ngv ari
edonl ybychi ldishut terancesand
amat eur ishsl eight -
of -
hand.Car eful obser versof tenr epor tthatt he
verysamephenomenat hatwer eut terl
ybey ondsuspi ci onint heey esof
believ ersar etounpr ej
udicedey essoappar ent" thatt her ewasr eally
noneedofanyel abor atemet hodofi nvestigat ion" ;closeobser vation
wasal l thatwasr equi red,andMr .Dav ey,whoconduct edanadmi rabl
e
i
nv est igat i
onoft her eli
abili
tyofaccount sofsl eight -of -hand
perfor mances, hasexper iment all
yshownt hatofequal l
ygood
obser v ers, theonewhoi si nformedoft hegener al _modusoper andi _by
whi chsuchaphenomenonas" slat e-writ
ing"i spr oducedwi l
lmakemuch
l
essofamar v
el ofi tthanonewhoi sleftindoubti nt hisr egard.

Witht heseal l
-power ful magi cians--anexpect edr esultandt he
will
ingnesst ocr editamar vel --
clearlyinmi nd, letuspr oceedf r
om
thosei nstancesi nwhi cht heyhav el easteffectupt ot hepoi ntwher e
theyfor mt hechi effact or.Fir stcomeahostofconj uri
ngt ri
cks
performedont hestagei nsl ightlymodi fi
edf or ms, butwhi char e
present edas" spiri
tualistic."Sosi mpl eat r
ickasscr atchi
nganame
onone' shandwi thacl eanpendi ppedi nwat er ,thenwr it
ingt he
nameonasl ipofpaper ,bur ningt hesl ipandr ubbi ngt hepar twith
theashes, t
huscausi ngt heashest ocl i
ngt ot hel ett
ersfor medon
thehandandr eveal thename, hasbeenof feredasapr oofofspi ri
t
agency .Whenev eranar ti
cl edi sappear sorr api dlychangesi tsplace,
thespi ri
tuali
stisaptt oseet hewor kingsofhi ddenspi ri
ts;and
ov erandov eragai nhav etheper for mancesofpr of essi onal conjurers
beendecl aredt obespi rit
ual inor igini nspi teofal lpr otestfrom
theconj urer sthemsel ves.Her eev ery thingdependsupont hepossessi on
ofcer taint echni cal knowl edge; j
udgi ngwi thoutsuchknowl edgei sapt
tobemer epr ejudi ce.Anot herv eryl argecl assofphenomenaconsi sts
oft hosei nwhi cht heper f
or meri spl acedi naposi tionappar ent l
y
i
nconsi stentwi thhi st akinganyact i
v epar tint hei rpr oduction;
rope- t
y i
ngt ests, cabi netséances, theappear anceofa" spirit-hand"
from behi ndascr een, lockingt heper formeri nacage, sewi nghi m
i
nabag, andsoon.Thepsy chol ogisthasv eryl ittlei nterestin
these; thei rsol utiondependsupont heski ll withwhi chknot smaybe
picked, locksunf ast ened, andt heot herdev i
cesbywhi chsecur i
ty
maybesi mul at ed.Thechi efi nteresti nsuchper for mancesi st he
historical one, fort hesehav edoneper hapsmor et hanany thingel se
toconv incebel iev ersoft het rut hofSpi r
itual i
sm.Her e,wher e
ev eryt
hi ngdependsupont hesecur ityoft hef ast eni ngs( foronce
free, t
hemedi um canpr oducemessagesf rom t hespi r
it-
landl i
mited
onl ybyhi si ngenui tyandbol dness) ,upont hepar ticul armoment
whent heexami nat ionwasper mi ttedort hel i
ghtt urneddown, upon
thesuccesswi thwhi chanappear anceofsecur ityandi ntact ness
ofseal sandknot smaybesi mul ated, itmi ghtbesupposedt hat
allpossi blepr ecaut i
onshadbeent akent ocont rol andel i
mi nate
thesepossi bili
ties; whi l
e,asamat teroff act ,thel axi tyofmost
i
nv estigat orsi nt hisr egardi swel lknown.Theseper f ormances
decei vebecausepeopl eov erlookt het echni cal acqui si
tionsneeded
topr onounceupont hepossi bilit
yori mpossi bili
tyofaf asteni ng
hav ingbeent amper edwi thandappar entlyr est or edwi thoutdet ecti
on.
Ifmanuf act urer sofsaf eswer eequal l
ycr edul ous, andgav eequal l
y
l
ittletimet ot hest udyoft hesecur ityofl ocks, "saf e"woul dbean
i
r onical expr essi oni ndeed.

Passi ngnextt ot hemosti nt erest ingofspi rituali

stic
mani festat i
ons, thosei nwhi chsel f-decept ioncomest othe
foreground, Ineedhar dlydwel l atlengt hupont het il
tingof
tables,thepr oduct i
onofr apsbymov ement sofwhi cht hesi ttersar e
unconsci ous; forthesehav ebeensoof tenandsoabl ypr esent edt hat
theymustnowbewel lunder st ood.Suf ficei ttosayt hatithasbeen
object i
velypr ov ent hatiti sal mosti mpossi bl enott ogi vesome
i
ndi cati
onofone' st hought s, whenputupont hest rain;andt hat
underexci tement ,thesei ndi cat ionsmaybecomepal pabl ypl ainandy et
remai nunper ceivedbyt hei ndi vidual whogi vesthem.Theext reme
subt l
etyoft hesei ndicat ionsi smetbyt heunusual skilloft he
professional mi nd-reader ,whot akeshi scl uef rom i ndicationswhi ch
hissubj ecti s"absol utelyconf identhedi dnotgi ve."Theassur ances
ofsi t
terst hat_ theyknow_t heydi dnotmov et het abl eareequal l
y
valueless; andnot hingbutobj ect i
v et est swi llsuffi
ce.Themost
whol esomel essont obeder ivedf rom t hest udyoft hesephenomena
i
st hepr ooft hatnotal louri nt ent i
onsandact ionsar eunder
thecont rol ofconsci ousness, andt hat ,underemot ional orot her
excitement ,thev alueoft het est imonyofconsci ousnessi sv erymuch
weakened.Agai n,itisal mosti mpossi blet or eali
zet hedi fficulty
ofaccur at elydescr ibingaphenomenonl y
ingout sidet hecommonr ange
ofobser v ation.Notal onet hatt heknowl edgenecessar yt opr onounce
suchandsuchaphenomenoni mpossi bleofper formancebyconj uri
ng
met hodsi sabsent ,butwi thduemodest yandmostsi ncer eint enti
ons
ther eadinesswi t
hwhi cht heobser v i
ngpower sandt hememor yplay
onef al seisov erl
ooked.I nt heinvest igat i
onofMr .Dav ey,above
referredt o,thesitterspr epar edaccount soft he" slate-wri
ting"
mani fest ati
onst heyhadwi tnessed, anddescr ibedmar velsthathad
notoccur red,butwhi cht heywer econv incedt heyhadseen- -messages
writtenonsl atesut terlyi
naccessi blet oMr .Dav ey,anduponsl at es
whi cht heyhadnot icedamomentbef orewer ecl ean.Thewi tnessesare
honest ;howdot hesemi st akesar ise?Si mpl yadet ailomittedher e,
an
eventoutofpl acet her e,
anunconsci ousi nsertioninonepl ace, an
unduei mpor tancegi vent oacer tainpoi ntinanot herpl ace--nothing
ofwhi chanyoneneedsf eel ashamed, somet hingwhi chitrequi res
unusual t
rai
ningandnat ural gif
tst oav oid.Themi stakeliesi nnot
recogni zi
ngourl iabili
tytosucher ror.

If,howev er, thespect at ori sonceconv incedt hathehasev idence

oft hesuper nat ur al, hesoonseesi tinev er yacci dentandi nci dent
oft heper for mance.Notonl yt hatheov er looksnat ural phy sical
expl anat i
ons, buthei sl edt ocr eat emar v elsbyt hev er yar dorof
hissi ncer it
y .Atamat erial i
zingséancet hebel iev err ecogni zes
adearf ri
endi nacar el essl yar rangeddr aper yseeni nadi m
l
ight .Concl usi veev idenceoft hesubj ect ivechar act erofsuch
per cept i
onsi sf ur nishedbyt hef actt hatt hesameappear ance
i
sf requent lyr ecogni zedbydi ffer entsi tter sast hespi r i
tual
count er partofent i
r elydi fferentandt otallydi ssimi larper sons.A
"spir i
t-phot ogr aph"i sdecl ar edt obet hepr eci sei mageofent irely
unlikei ndi vi
dual s.I nt he" Rev el at ionsofaSpi ritMedi um, "we
readt hatawi regauzemaskpl acedi nf rontofahandker chi ef ,
madel umi nousbyphosphor us, andpr oj ect edt hrought heopeni ng
oft hecabi net , was" recogni zedbydozensofper sonsasf at her s,
mot her s, sister s, brot her s, cousi ns, sweet hear t
s, wi ves, husbands,
andv ar i
ousot herr elat ivesandf riends. "Eachoneseeswhathe
expect st osee, whatappeal st ohi si nter est st hemosti ntensel y.
Whatt heunpr ejudi cedobser v err ecogni zesast hef limsi lydi sgui sed
form oft hemedi um, thebel iev ert ransf or msi ntot heobj ectofhi s
thought sandl ongi ngs.Onl yl ett hef or m bev agueenough, thel ight
dim enough, theemot ionsuponasuf fi
ci entst r
ai n,andt hatpar tof
per cept i
oni nwhi cht heext ernal imagei sdef icientwi llber eadi ly
suppl iedbyt hesubj ect i
v et endenci esofeachi ndi vidual .I nt he
presenceofsuchament al at ti
t udet hepossi bili
tiesofdecept ion
areendl ess; theper for mergr owsbol derashi sv ictim passesf rom
awat chf ul,cr i
t i
cal at ti
tudet ooneofeasyconv iction, andwe
getsci entificpr oof soft hef our thdi mensi onofspace, oft he
possi bilit
yofmat terpassi ngt hr oughmat ter ,oft hel ev i
tat ionor
elongat i
onoft hemedi um' sbody , oft het ranscendenceoft hel awsof
grav ity .Andt hesameper for mancet hatconv incedPr ofessorZoel lner
oft her eal i
tyoft hef our thdi mensi onofspacewoul dpr ov et ot he
spiritual istt hei nt er cour sewi thdeceasedf riends, woul dconv ince
thet heosophi stoft hef lightoft heper for mer '
sast ral body ;and,
i
tmaynotbei rrelev antt oadd, itwast hesamet ypeofper formance
thatser vedandy etser v est ot er rifyt hemi ndsofuncul tivat edand
super st i
tioussav ages.Al ldependsnotuponwhati sdone, butupon
thement al disposi tionoft hespect at or.Li ttlebyl itt
le, thr ough
negl ect ,t
hr oughmal -obser vat ionandl apsesofmemor y ,thr oughan
unwi ll
ingnesst omi strustt her epor tsofanexci tedconsci ousness,
caut ioni sabandonedandcr edul ityent ers.Medi umsar eact ual lyseen
flyi
ngoutofonewi ndowandi nt hr oughanot her .Thewi ldestand
mostf ar -f
et chedf ant ast i
cexpl anat i
oni spr ef erredabov easi mpl e
one; theboundsoft henor mal ar epassed; real hall
ucinati
onsset
i
n; conductbecomesi rrat i
onal,andast atehar dlydisti
nguishable
from insani t
yensues.I ft hisseemsi mpr obable, t
urnt otherecor ds
ofwi tchcraftper secut ionsandr eaduponwhatt r
ifl
ingandwhol l
y
i
magi naryev idencet housandsofi nnocentl i
veswer esacr i
fi
ced; and
thisnotbyi gnor ant,bloodt hir
stymen, butbyear nest,eminent,and
reli
giousl eader s.Achi l
di stakensi ck,isremember edtohav ebeen
fondledbyanol dwoman; thereforethewomanhasputt hechi l
dunder
aspel landmustbebur ned.Amanseesanol dwomani nthewoods,
and, ont urningabout ,theol dwomani sgoneandahar efli
esacr oss
hist r
ack; heconcl udest hatshet urnedher selfintoahar e,andt he
wi t
cht estisappl i
ed.Whent heper sonal devilwasbel i
evedin,he
wasseendai l
ycl othedi nt hegar ment sthatimagi nationhadgi ven
him, andengagedi nmi schi efandv il
lai
nyofal l ki
nds.Whenwi tchery
wast hedomi nantsuper stiti
on,allthingsgav eev idenceoft hat.So
l
ongasSpi rituali
sm f ormsapr omi nentcul twi t
har ealhol
dupont he
beliefsofi t
sadher ent s, thenumberofmedi umsandmani f
estations
wi l
lbecor respondi nglyabundant .Createabel i
efint hetheory,and
thef actswi llcreatet hemsel ves.

Inthepr oduct ionoft hisst ateofmi ndaf act orasy etunment ioned
playsal eadi ngr ôl e, thepowerofment al cont agion.Er ror,like
truth, f
lour ishesi ncr owds.Att hehear t
hofsy mpat hyeachf inds
ahome.Thef anat ical l
ead, thesanerf ollow.Whenaper sonof
nerv oust emper ament , notst ronglyi ndependenti nthoughtandact i
on,
enter saspi ri
tual isticci rcle, wher ehei sconst antlysur rounded
byconf i
dentbel iev ers, al leagert ohav ehi m shar et heirsacr ed
visi
onsandpr of oundr ev elations, wher et heat mospher ei sr eplete
wi t
hmi racles, andev erychai randt ablemayatanyi nstantbe
transf ormedi ntoapr oofoft hesuper natur al,i
sitst ranget hat
hesoonbecomesaf fect edbyt hecont agi onofbel i
eft hatsur r
ounds
him?Hesuccumbst oi tsi nf l
uencei mper cept i
blyandhesi tat i
nglyat
fi
rst, andper hapsy etr est orabl etohi sfor mermodesoft houghtby
thef reshai rofanot herandmor est eadf astment al i
nt ercour se, but
mor eandmor ecer tainl yandar dent l
yconv incedt hel ongerhebr eathes
theséanceat mospher e.Nof orm ofcont agioni ssoi nsidiousi nits
onset ,sodi f fi
cul ttochecki ni tsadv ance, socer taint ol eav e
germst hatmayatanymomentr ev ealthei rperniciouspower ,asa
ment al cont agi on- -thecont agi onoff ear, ofpani c,off anat icism, of
l
awl essness, ofsuper stition, ofer ror.Thest oryoft hewi t
chcr aft
persecut i
ons, wer et her enosi milarr ecor dst odef acet hepagesof
histor y,woul dsuf ficeasast andi ngi ll
ust rationoft heov erwhel mi ng
powerofpsy chi ccont agi on.Toi llust r
atewi thanycompl etenessi ts
i
mpor tancei nt hepr oduct ionofdecept i
onori nt hedi ssemi nat i
on
ofer ror ,woul dcar ryusbey ondt hepr operl imi t
soft hepr esent
discussi on.I tent er satev eryst ageoft hepr ocessandi nev er y
typeofi llusion.Al thoughi thasl eastef fectwhendecept i
oni s
carriedonbyext ernal ar rangement s, byski lfulcount erfeitsof
l
ogi cal infer ences, yetev ent heni tent ersi ntot hedi stinction
betweenacr iti
cal ,skept ical,andi rresponsi v ebodyofspect at ors,
andonet hati ssy mpat het ic, acquiescent ,andcor dial;itrender sit
easi ert oef fectbol dandst rikingi mpr essi onswi thal argeraudi ence
thanwi t
hasmal l
erone; itspoweri sgr eat est ,
howev er, wher et he
subj
ect
ivef
act
orindecept
ioni
sgr
eatest
,mor epar
ti
cul
arl
yinsuch
for
msofdecept
ionashavebeenl
astdescr
ibed.

Inbr i
ef,wemustaddt othemanyf actorswhichcont ri
buteto
decept iont her ecognizedloweringofcr i
ti
calabil
i
t y
,ofthepower
ofaccur at
eobser vation,i
ndeedofr ati
onali
ty,whichmer elybeing
oneofacr owdi nduces.Theconj urerfi
ndsiteasiertoper f
ormt o
l
argeaudi encesbecause, amongot herreasons,i
tiseasi ertoarouse
theiradmi rationandsy mpat hy,easiertomaket hem f orgetthemselves
andent erintot heuncr i
ti
calspiritofwonder l
and.Itwoul dseem
thatinsomer espect sthecriti
cal toneofanassembl y,l
ikethe
strengthofachai n, i
sthatofitsweakestmember ."Thement al
qualityoft hei ndivi
dualsinacr owd, "saysM.LeBon, "
iswithout
i
mpor tance.Fr om t hemomentt hatt heyareinthecr owdt heignorant
andt hel earnedar eequallyi
ncapabl eofobservati
on."

VI

Inthisr ev iewoft het y

pesofdecept ionIhav emadenoment ionof
suchdev i
cesast hegai ningofone' sconf i
dencef orsel f
ishends,
preyinguponi gnor anceorf ear,actingt hef ri
endwhi leathear t
theenemy ,pl
annedconni vanceandski lf
ul plotting,toget herwi th
thewhol eout fitofi nsincerity,vi
ll
ainy ,andcr ime.I tisnot
thatthesear ewi thouti nter
estorar eunr elatedt othesev eral
typesofdecept ionabov econsi dered, butthatt heyar etoocompl ex
andt oohet erogeneoust obecapabl eofr eadyorr i
gidanal ysis.
Whendecept ionbecomesanar tofl i
fe,consci ouslypl annedand
craft
ilyexecut ed,ther emustbeact i
ngandsubt erfugeandev asi
on
tomai nt aintheappear anceofsi ncerity.Thepsy chologyoft he
processest her ei
nconcer nedi salmostcoi nci dentwi t
ht her angeof
social,int ell
ect ual,andemot ionalinfluences.Compl exast hese
operat ionsmaybe, theyhav e,i
ncommonwi tht helessi ntricatefor
ms
ofdecept i
on, theat temptt opar all
el thecondi ti
onsunder lyi
ngt he
l
ogical inferenceswhi chi tisdesi r
edt oi nduce.I fweaddt his
greatcl assofdecept i
onst ot hoseal readyenumer ated,wemayper haps
reali
zehowv asti si tsdomai n,andhowl ongandsadmustbet he
chapt ert hatr ecor dst hehi storyofhumaner ror .

Ethicsissocl oselyr elatedt opsy chol ogy-

-ri
ghtknowi ngtor i
ght
doing--
thatabr ief_ hæcf abul adocet _bywayofsummar ymaynotbe
outofpl ace.Wef i
nd, fi
rst,acl assofsense- decept i
onswhi chare
duet othenat ureofoursense- endowment ,anddecei veonlysol ongas
theirt
ruechar acterr emai nsunknown.Thesear eneit herperni
cious
nordiffi
cul ttocor rect .Nextcomesacl assofdecept ionsthat
deceivebecausewear eignor antoft hepossi bil
it
iesoft echnical
dev i
ces,suchast hoseusedi nleger demai n,andpr onounceupont he
possibil
ityori mpossi bili
tyofacer tainexplanat i
oni nadv ance
ofcompl eteknowl edge.Butst il
l anotherclass, andt hatthemost
dangerousandi nsidi ous, arethedecept i
onsi nwhi chsel f-
deception
playsthel eadingr ôl e.Theonl ysaf eguardher eisapr eventi
ve;the
thoroughi nfusionofsoundhabi tsoft hought, afullrecogniti
onof
thecondi tionsunderwhi chthet est i
monyofconsci ousnessbecomes
dubious, anappr eciationoft het ruev alueofobj ectivescientif
ic
evidence, andani nocul at i
onagai nstt heev i
l
sofcont agi
onbyan
i
ndependent ,unpr ejudi ced,logi cal schooli
ng.Whenoncet heev i
l
spiri
tofsel f
-decept i
on, fedbyt hef ireofcont agionandemot ional
excitement ,begi nst ospr ead, reasonhasl i
ttl
econt rol.AsTy ndall
tel
lsus, such" v i
ct i
msl i
ket obel i
ev e,andt heydonotl i
ket o
beundecei v
ed.Sci encei sper fectlypower lessi nt hepr esence
ofthisframeofmi nd...
.I t[science]keepsdownt heweedof
super st
iti
on, notbyl ogic, butbysl owl yrender ingt hement al soil
unfitforculti
v ation."Wi tht hespr eadofaneducat i
ont hatf ost er
s
i
ndependenceandsel f-
r eliance, witht hegr owt hoft hecapaci tyto
profitbytheexper i
encesofot her s, withther ecogni t
ionoft he
technicalrequi sitesthatal onequal ifyonef oraj udgmenti nt his
orthatf i
eld,wi thaknowl edgeoft hepossi bil
iti
esofdecept ion
andoft hepsy chol ogical pr ocessesbywhi cher rori spr opagat ed,t
he
soiluponwhi chsuper stitions, psy chicdel usions, ment al epidemi cs,
orsensel essf adsar eli
kel yt of l
our ishwi l
l gradual lyber ender ed
unfit.

FOOTNOTES:

[3]ByNor manTr ipl

ett,"
ThePsy chologyofConj uri
ngDecept ions,
"
_Amer i
canJour nalofPsy chol
ogy _,
x i
.4,July
,1900.Thi smostr ecent
andext ensiv
etreatmentoft hi
st opi
cf ur
nishesawel l-
selected
storehouseoff act,t
ogetherwit
hsuggest i
veandabl einterpret
ati
ons
ofthemat er
ial
ofconj uri
ngdecept i
ons.Ishalldrawfrom this
mat eri
alinseveralporti
onsofthisessay ,wit
houtfurtherdetail
ed
acknowl edgment .

[4]Mr .Triplettwentt hroughasi mi larperformancewi t

habal l i
n
thepr esenceofschool children;andof165chi ldren,78descr ibed
howt heysawt heballgoupanddi sappear ;oft hosewhower et hus
hallucinated40percent .wereboy sand60percent .weregi r
ls.
Hal l
ucinationsofper fumesi nchildrenwer eobt ainedbyanot her
exper i
ment erwhenwat erwasspr ay edfrom bot tl
eslabeledasper fumes;
76percent .of381pupi l
ssawat oycamel mov ewhenacr ankat tached
tot hecamel byast r
ingwast urned, alt
hought hecamel remained
qui t
emot i
onl ess.Theexper i
ment al t
ests,thoughr athercoldand
l
ifelesswhencompar edwi tht hedramat icst agedecept i
ons,ill
ust rat
e
thesamepr ocess,andmakepossi bleacompar ati
vestudyoft he
degr eeofdecept ionindi f
ferentindiv i
dualsandunderdi f
ferent
circumst ances.

[5]"
Agai
n,ameretapwiththewandonanyspot ,
att
hesameti
me
l
ookingati
tatt
enti
vel
y,wil
linf
all
i
blydrawtheey
esofawhol
e
companyinthesamedirect
ion.
"-
-_Houdi
n._

RobertHoudin,
oftentermed" t
heki ngoftheconjurer
s,"wasaman
ofremarkabl
eingenuityandinsight.Hi
sautobiographyisthr
oughout
i
nterest
ingandpsy chol
ogical
lyvaluabl
e,andhisconjuringpr
ecepts
aboundinpoint
sofi mportancet othepsychol
ogist.

THEPSYCHOLOGYOFSPI
RITUALI
SM

I
In1848, from t het ownofHy dev i
ll
e, NewYor k, camet hesomewhat
startlingannouncementt hatcer t
ai nknocki ngs, thesour ceofwhi ch
hadmy st ifi
edt hehousehol dofoneofi t sr esi dent s, seemedt obe
i
nt elli
gent l
ygui dedandr eadyt oappearatcal l.Somewhatl ater ,
communi cat ionwasest abl ishedbyagr eei ngt hatoner apshoul dmean
_no_ ,andt hreer aps_ y es_ ; towhi chwasaf terwar dsaddedt hedev i
ce
ofcal lingof ft heal phabetandnot i
ngatwhi chl ett erst her aps
occur r ed.I nt hi sway ,t
her apperr ev eal edhi msel fast hespi ritof
amur der edpeddl er .Wi t hinashor tper iodt henewsoft hissi mpl e
andchi ldishi nv ent ionhadcal l
edi nt oexi st encet housandsof
spi r
it-circl es; haddev elopedwonder f ul"medi ums"t owhosespeci al
giftst hemani fest ationswer eascr ibed; hadamassedav astst or e
ofst ranget est imony ;hadaddedt ot her appi ngssuchper formances
asmov ingt abl es, causi ngobj ectst obemy st eriousl ythrownabout ,
play i
ngoni nst rument sbyunseenhands, mat er i
al i
zingspi ritf lower s,
produci ngspi r i
tf or msandf aces, gat her ingmessagesf r
om spi ritson
seal edsl at es, andsoon.I nbr ief,themov ementbecameanepi demi c;
andt hatdespi t ethef actt hatf rom t hebegi nni ngandcont inuousl y
sat i
sfact or yandr at ional expl anat ionswer eof feredofwhatr eal l
y
occur r ed, andt hatmedi umswer econst ant lydet ect edi nt hegr ossest
fraud.Soear l
yas1851t hepecul iarr appi ngsoccur ringi nt he
presenceoft heFoxsi st ers, t
heor iginat or soft hemov ement ,wer e
concl usi velyt r acedt ot hepar ti
aldi slocat ionandr eset ti
ngofa
j
oi ntoft hekneeorf oot ;andt her apsf ai ledt ooccurwhent he
girlswer epl acedi naposi tioni nwhi cht hel ev eragenecessar yf or
thisact ionwasdeni edt hem.Manyy ear st her eaf ter ,in1888, Mar gar et
Fox( Mr s.Kane)andKat ieFox( Mr s.Jencken)publ iclyconf essed
thatt her apst owhi cht heyaschi ldr engav er isewer epr oducedby
dislocat ionoft het oes; andoneoft hem addedt ot heirconf essi on
ademonst rationofhowt hi swasdone.I ti sunf or tunat eal iket hat
thechar act eroft heconf esser sleav esmucht obedesi red, thatt he
conf essi onwasbot hbel at edandmadeundersensat i
onal sur roundi ngs,
andt hatt hesi nner shav enobet t
erexcuset oof ferf orthei rlong
silencet hant hatt hemov ementwasst ar tedwhent heywer et ooy oung
toappr eci at ewhatwasbei ngdone, andt hatwhent heyr eal izedt he
fraudwhi cht heywer ef ost er i
ngandt hesuccesswi thwhi cht hey
wer emeet i
ng, itwast ool at eort oodi f
f i
cul tt or etract .Nonet he
l
ess, theseci rcumst ancesdonotdest royt hei nter esti nt raci ngt he
ev i
denceofdecept ionandt hepr esenceofamor al tainttot hev er y
starting- poi ntofoneoft hemostwi despr eaddel usi onsofmoder n
ti
mes.

Thepsy chologi calaspectoft hephenomenaofSpi ri

tuali
sm maybe
presentedinaconsi derationoft hesequest ions: Howi sitthat
themani festati
onspr oducedi nev i
denceofspi rit-cont r
ol carr
y
convict
ion?Whati stheor igi
noft hismassoft estimonyi nf avor
ofspiri
tuali
sticmar vels?Whencet hisgener altendencyt obelieve
i
nt herealit
yofspi ri
t-i
nfluenceast husmani fested?Fort he
purposesoft hesei nquiriesitwillbepr ofit
ablet oconsi deraf ew
typi
calmani fest at
ionsandt oobser vetheirtruei nwar dness.Among
themosti nfluent i
al medi umswasHenr ySlade; thr oughhi m manywer e
convertedtoSpi ri
tuali
sm, incl
udingt hef amousZöl lnercot eri
e,for
whom hegav easpi r
it
ual demonst rati
onoft her eal ityoft hefourth
dimensionofspace.Af t
eral lthepr ominencewhi chhasbeengi vento
theZöllnersitti
ngsandt hei mpor t
anceat t
achedt ot hem byr eason
oft heemi nenceoft hepar ticipant s, itissomewhatunexpect edt o
readi nt her epor tofar eliabl eobser v erwhoi nt er viewedZöl lner 's
associ at es, that" oft hef ouremi nentmenwhosenameshav emade
famoust hei nv est igat ion, ther ei sr easont obel iev eone, _Zöl lner _ ,
wasofunsoundmi ndatt het i
me, andanxi ousf oranexper iment al
demonst rat ionofanal readyaccept edhy pot hesi s( thef our thdi mensi on
ofspace) ;anot her , _Fechner _,waspar tlybl ind, andbel iev edbecause
ofZöl l
ner '
sobser v ations; at hi rd, _Schei bner _,wasal soaf fl
ict ed
withdef ect iv ev i
si on, andnotent i
relysat isfiedi nhi sownmi ndas
tot hephenomena; andaf our th, _Weber _, wasadv ancedi nage, anddi d
notev enr ecogni zet hedi sabi l
itiesofhi sassoci at es. "Noneknew
any thingaboutconj ur ing, and, deser vedl yhonor edast hesemenwer e
i
nt hei rownspeci al ties, t heywer ecer tainlynotf i
tt edt ocompet e
withapr of essi onal likeSl ade.OneofSl ade' sst andar dper for mances
wast hepr oduct ionofcommuni cat i
onsonasl atehel dbeneat ha
table, i
nanswert oquest ionsaskedbyhi ssi tter sv er ballyori n
writing, thewr iti
ngi nsomecasesbei ngconceal edi nf oldedsl ips
ofpaper .I nhi sper for mancesbef or et heSey ber tCommi ssi oni twas
soondi scov eredt hatt hechar act eroft hewr it
ingont hesl ateswas
oft woki nds.Thel ongmessageswer eneat l
ywr itten, witht hei '
s
dot tedandt het '
scr ossed, andof tenpr oducedunasked, ornoti n
directanswert oaquest i
on; whi let heshor tonesi npr omptanswer
todi rectquest i
onswer escr awl ed, har dl yl egi ble, andev ident ly
writtenwi thoutt heai doft heey e.Themanymet hodsofpr oduci ng
theshor twr itingswer er epeat edbyapr ofessi onal prest idigi tat eur
muchmor eski ll
ful lyt hanbySl ade.Thecommi ssi ondi st inct lysaw
ever yst epi nSl ade' smet hodononeoccasi onoranot her ,butwer e
utter l
ybaf fledbyt heconj urer( Mr .Har ryKel lar) ,whosubsequent ly
reveal edhi smet hodst ooneoft hei rnumber .Thel ongmessageswer e
writtenbef or ehand, onsl atest obesubst itut edataf av orabl e
oppor tuni tyf ortheonessuppl iedt ot hemedi um.Att hel astséance
withDr .Sl ade, twopr epar edsl at eswer er est ingagai nstat abl e
behi ndhi m, andoneoft hei nv est igat or skeptashar pwat chupon
thesesl at es." Unf or tunat ely, itwast ooshar p; foronesecondt he
medi um sawmel ooki ngatt hem.I twasenough.Thatdet ect edl ook
prev ent edt her ev elat ionoft hoseel abor at espi ritmessages.But
whent heséancewasov er ,andhewassi gni ngt her ecei ptf orhi s
money ,Ipassedr oundbehi ndhi schai randpushedt hesesl at eswi th
myf oot , soast omaket hem f all ov er, wher eupont hewr i
tingonone
oft hem wasdi stinct lyr ev eal ed. "Themedi um atoncepushedback
hischai r, snat chedt hesl ates, hur riedl ywashedt hem, andcoul d
withdi f ficul tyr egai nsuf ficientcomposur et osi gnt her ecei ptf or
theexor bit antpay mentofhi sser vices.Anot herobser versay swi th
regar dt oSl ade: "Themet hodsoft hi smedi um' soper at i
onsappear
tomet obeper fect l
yt ranspar ent ,andIwi sht osayemphat ical ly
thatIam ast oni shedbey ondexpr essi onatt heconf i
denceoft hi s
mani nhi sabi li
tyt odecei v e, andatt her eckl essnessoft her isks
whi chheassumesi nt hemostbar efacedmanner .Theonl yr easonof
ourhav inganyso- cal led' mani fest at i
ons, 'undert heci rcumst ances,
wasbecauseoft hef actt hatt hecommi tteehadagr eedi nadv ancet o
beent irel ypassi v e, andt oacqui escei nev erycondi tioni mposed. "
Mr s.Si dgwi ck, anabl eEngl ishobser v er ,det ect edt hef raudul ent
char act erofSl ade' sper for mancesf rom t hebegi nni ng.Shepoi ntsout
fi
vei mpor t antgr oundsofsuspi cion: "Hi sconj ur er -likewayoft rying
todi stractone' sat tent ion, hi sal way ssi ttingsoast ohav et he
ri
ghthandt omani pul atet hesl ate, thev agueandgener al char act er
oft
hecommuni cat
ions,hi
scompel l
ingonetosi
twit
hone'shandsi
n
aposi
ti
onthatmakesi tdi
ff
icultt
olookundert
hetabl
e,andhis
onl
yal
lowi
ngt wositt
ersatat i
me."

TheSey ber tCommi ssi on, itshoul dbeexpl ained, owesi tsor igin
tot hebequestofanar dentbel i
ev eri nSpi ri
tual ism, Mr.Henr y
Sey bert, t
ot heUni v er sityofPennsy lvani a;whi chwascoupl edwi th
thecondi tiont hatt hi suni v ersityshoul dappoi ntacommi ssi on
toi nv est i
gat emoder nSpi r
itual i
sm.I tisf rom t hei rr epor t[6]
thatsev eral ofmyi l
lust r
at ionsar et aken.Themember soft his
commi ssi onbegant hei rinv est i
gat ionswi thanent irewi l
li
ngness
toacceptanyconcl usi onwar rant edbyf act s; andt heirchai r man,
Dr .Hor aceHowar dFur ness, conf essed" toal eani ngi nf av oroft he
subst ant i
al truthofspi ri
tual i
sm. "Theyexami nedmanyoft hemost
famousmedi umsandt hemani fest ationst hatcont ri
but edmostt o
thei rfame.Thei rver di ct, i
ndi vidual lyandcol lect i
v ely,ist he
samer egar dingev er ymedi um wi t hwhom t heysawany thingnot ewort
hy:
gross, intent ional fraudt hroughout .Themedi umswer et r
eat edwi th
theut mostf airnessandcour t
esy ; theircondi tionswer eagr eedt o
anduphel d; everyone, i
neachki ndofmani fest ation, wascaughti n
theactoft ricker y
, orel set het ri
ckwasr epeat edandexpl ai ned
byoneoft hecommi ssi on.Thi st est imonygoesf art oj ust ify
thesubst itut i
onof" t ri
ck"f or" mani fest ation,"of" sensel ess
cant "for" spi r
itualisticexpl anat i
on, "of" adr oitconj urer"f or
"medi um. "Whi let heaccumul ati
v ef or ceoft hi sconcl usi oncanonl y
beappr eci atedbyar eadi ngoft her epor ti tsel f,af ewf ur ther
i
llust rationswi llcont ribut et oar eal izationoft henat ureoft he
"mani festat ions"andt hei rt ypical _mi lieu_ .Mr s.Pat terson, medi um,
giv esaper for mancesi mi lart ot hatofSl ade.Dr .Kner rhadasi tti
ng
wit hher ,andadj ust edami rrorabouthi sper sonsoast or ef l
ect
what ev erwasgoi ngonbeneat ht het able." Int hemi rr
orIbehel da
hand. .
.st eal t
hilyinser ti tsf i
nger sbet weent hel eav esoft he
slat e,takeoutt hel ittlesl ip(cont ainingt hequest ion) ,unf old
andagai nf oldit,gr aspt hel i
t t
lepenci l..
.andwi t
hr apidbut
noi selessmot i
on. .
.wr i
teacr osst hesl atef rom l ef ttor ightaf ew
l
ines; thent hel eav esoft hesl atewer ecl osed, thel i
ttl
epenci l
l
ai dont het op, "andt hespi ritswer egr aciousl yi nv okedt osenda
message.

Themonot onyoft henar rati

veofsomewhatv ulgardecept i
oni s
agreeablyr elievedbyt heent ertainingaccountgi venbyDr .Fur ness
ofhisexper i
enceswi thmedi ums.Hesentoutseal edl etters, the
contentsofwhi chcer t
ai nmedi umscl ai
medt obeabl et or eadandt o
answerbyt heai dofspi ri
ts,andf oundt heseal st amper edwi th,
andmuci lageandski llusedt oconceal thecr ime; heaskedt hesame
questi
onofv ar i
ousmedi umsandr eceivedhopel essl ycont radi ctor
y
answer s; hedet ect edthef or
m oft hemedi um inherassumed
mat er
ializations,andf oundt hespi r
itreadyt oanswert oanyand
everynamei nf i
ctionorr eali
ty,fr
om " Olivia"of" TheTal kingOak"
toShakespear e.Oneoft hequest ionsaskedbyMr .Fur nessr elated
totheowner shipi nlif
eofaskul li
nhi spossessi on, usedf ora
l
ongt i
meast he" Yor i
ck'sskul l
"ataPhi ladelphiat heat re.Hewas
tol
dbyonemedi um t hati twas" Mar ieSt .Clai
r,"byanot hert hat
i
twas" SisterBel le."Hencet heser emar ks: "Mar ieSt .Cl air,who,
onspiritual author i
t yasIhav eshownabov e,shar est heowner shi
p
withSisterBel l
eof' Yorick's'
skull i
nmypossessi on, hasnev er
fai
ledt oassentwhenev erIaskaSpi ri
tifitbeshe.Tobesur e,
shev arieswi thev er ydi f
fer entmedi um, butt hati sonl yoneof
herpi quantl ittleway s,whi chIear l
yl earnedt oov erlookandat
l
astgr ewt ol ike.Shei sbot hshor tandt all,leanandpl ump, with
straighthai randwi thcur l
s, y oungandmi ddl e-aged, sot hatnowi t
affordsmer eal pleasur et omeetwi thanewv arietyofher .
"Equal ly
amusi ngi st heconv ersat ionwi t haSpi ri
twhowasl edt oassentt o
thesuggest iont hatshewas" Ol ive,"andatl engt hwasaddr essed
thus: "'
Oh, Ol ive, ther e'sonet hi ngIwantsomucht oasky ou
about ...
.Whatwast hemat terwi thy out hataf ter noon, onesummer ,
wheny ourf at herr odehi shunt ert ot het own, andAl ber tf oll
owed
afteruponhi s; andt heny ourmot hert rundl edt ot hegat ebehi nd
thedappl edgr ay s?Doy our ememberi t,dear ? ''
Per fect l
y.''Wel l
,
don'ty our emember ,not hingseemedt opl easey out hataf ternoon,
youl eftt henov el al luncutupont her osewoodshel f, youl efty our
newpi anoshut ,somet hingseemedt owor r
yy ou?Doy our ememberi t,
dearone? ''Al l ofi t;yes, yes. ''Theny oucamesi ngi ngdownt o
thatol doak, andki ssedt hepl acewher eIhadcar vedournameswi t
h
manyv ows.Tel l me, youl ittlewi tch, whower ey out hinki ngofal l
thet i
me? ' '
Al l thewhi leofy ou, 'shesi ghed.' Anddoy ou, oh, do
your emembert haty ouf ell asl eepundert heoak, andt hatal i
ttl
e
acor nf ellint oy ourbosom andy out ossedi touti napet ?Ah, Olive
dear ,Ifoundt hatacor n, andki ssedi tt wiceandki ssedi tthrice
forthee!Anddoy ouknowt hati thasgr owni nt oaf iney oungoak? '
'
Iknowi t,
' sheanswer edsof tlyandsadl y,'Iof tengot oi t
.'Thi s
wasal mostt oomuchf orme, andasmymemor y ,ont hespuroft he
moment ,ofTenny son' s'Tal ki ngOak' wasgr owi ngmi sty ,Iwasaf rai
d
theint erviewmi ghtbecomeembar rassingf orl ackofr emi niscences;"
sot hemat er ial i
zat ionofav er yhumanf or m wasbr oughtt oacl ose.
Tot hismaybeadded- -toi llust rat ethebar ef acednessoft hemedi um's
business- -thef act ,communi cat edt omebyDr .Fur ness, thatanot ed
medi um hadv isitedapr of essi onal juggler ,and, "maki ngnosecr etto
him ofhi st ricker yasamedi um f orindependentsl at e-wr iti
ng, had
purchasedf rom t hej uggl ersev eralot hert ri
ckswi t
hwhi cht ocar r
y
onhi sspi ritual istict rade. "

Thereisbot hent ertainmentandi nst r

uctioninDr .Kner r
'saccount
ofaséancei nwhi cht hespi r i
tofanI ndianandt hemy sterious
useofadr um wer et of orm par tsoft heper formance.Het ellsof
hissuccessi nget ti
ngsomepr i
nter'sinkont hedr um- sti
cksj ust
beforet hel i
ght swer el ower ed,andoft hebewi l
der edast onishment
(whent hel ight swer et urnedupaf tertheI ndianhadmani fest ed)at
thecondi ti
onoft hemedi um' shands." Howi nt hewor l
dpr inter'
s
i
nkcoul dhav egot t
ensmear edov erthem whi l
eundert hecont rolof
'
Deerfoot ,t
heI ndi an,'noone, notev enthemedi um, couldf athom. "
Wemayr eadhowamedi um whopr ofessedt omat eri
ali
zea" spir
it"
ri
ght-
handwhi leappar entlyhol di
nghi ssitt
er'shandorar m wi th
bothhisown, wasshownt oi mi t
atet hisdoubl egr i
pwi t
honehand
andtodot hehocus- pocuswi tht heot her.Wemayv ar
ythenat ureof
thefraudal mosti ndef i
nitelyandobser vehowuni versal,
howcoar se,
howdegr adingi tis,andhowr eadilyitmaybei nducedt ol eav eits
hidi
ng-pl acet osnat chatacunni ngl yofferedbai t,-
-untili
nt he
end,i
fi twer enotsosad, itwoul dbeonl yr i
diculous.

I
ntherepor
tsofthei
nvest
igat
ionsofmedi
ums,publ
ishedbythe
Soci
etyf
orPsychi
cal
Research(vol
.i
v.
),wefi
ndaccountsoft
he
per formancesofoneEngl inton, alsowi thsl ate- wr iti
ng, andwhose
success, asdescr i
bedbyent husi ast i
csi tt
ers, doesnotf all shor t
oft hemi racul ous.Yett hedescr iptionoft hiswonder -wor ker 's
doingsbyacompet entobser v er, ProfessorCar villLewi s, r
ender s
themani fest ationsabsol ut elyt ranspar ent .Hesati nt ent lywat chi ng
Engl int onf oranhour ,andnot hinghappened; fear i
ngabl ankséance,
hepur posel ydi ver tedhi sat tent ion.Themomenthel ookedawayt he
mani fest at ionsbegan, andhecoul dsee" themedi um l ookdowni ntent
ly
towar dhi skneesandi nt hedi rect ionoft hesl ate.Inowqui ckly
turnedbackmyhead, whent hesl atewasbr oughtupagai nstt het able
wi t
hashar pr ap. "Themanœuv rewasr epeat edwi tht hesamer esul t;
andwhi let hewr itingwasgoi ngon, Pr ofessorLewi sdi stinct lysaw
"themov ementoft hecent ral tendoni nhi swr istcor respondi ngt o
thatmadebyhi smi ddl ef i
ngeri nt heactofwr iting.Eachmov ement
oft het endonwassi mul taneousl yaccompani edbyt hesoundofa
scrat chont hesl ate. "Agai n,fort heanswert ot her equestt odef ine
"I
docr ase, "Engl i
nt onr equi redt heuseofadi ct i
onar y ,andl ef tt he
room f orami nut e; theanswerwast henwr i
ttenj ustasi tisgi v en
i
nWebst er '
sdi ct ionar y; but ,unf or tunat ely,_albumi na_wasr ead
for_ al umi na_ .Whent hesl ate, whi chact swi thaspr ing, wast obe
closed, Engl intonsuddenl ysneezed; whent hewr it
ingwassmal l and
faint, heshi ft
edhi sposi ti
onunt i
l hecamewi thi naf ewi nches
ofi t
; apost agest ampsecr et l
ygl uedacr osst het wol eav esoft he
doubl esl at epr ev ent edal l mani fest ati
ons; adoubl ef eei mmedi atel y
causedf ur thermani f est ations, when, owi ngt ot heexhaust ionof
power ,suchhadj ustbeendecl aredt obei mpossi ble; andt hewr iting
ont hesl ateswasi dent ifi
edbyanexper tast hatofEngl inton.I t
wast hesameEngl i
nt onwhowasconv ictedofconni vancewi t hMme.
Blav at skyi nt hepr oduct ionofaspur ioust heosophi cmar vel;and
i
ti st ohi mt hatt hef ol lowi ngst ory ,suppl iedbyMr .Padshahand
i
ndor sedbyMr .Hodgson( theexposerofMme.Bl av atsky ),relat es:
Mr .Padshahandaf riendhadaskedf orGuj erat i wr i
t i
ngataséance,
butwi t houtsuccess.Mr .Padshah( withouti nfor mi nghi sf r i
end)sent
anony mousl ytoEngl int onapoem i nGuj erati;andt hef riendr ecei ved
from t hemedi um ami nut elyf aithf ulcopyoft hesameonasl at e, as
thedi rectr evel ationoft hespi rits!

I
I

Butallt
hi saccount sf oronlypar tofthepr oblem.Toconv i
ctevery
medium off r
audi snotacompl eteexplanationoft heappearancewhich
thi
sbeliefpr esentedi nitsmostchar acteristi
cf or m somedecades
ago,andst i
l
l presents.Itremai nst oaccountf ort hegreatsuccess
ofthemov ement ;
forthef actt hatsomanyhav ebeendecei vedandso
fewhav er eallyunderstood; toshowwhywear et obeli
evetheSeyber
t
Commi ssion, andnotcr editthecount lessmi racl e-mongers.Thisi
s
psychologicallythemosti nterest i
ngpor t
ionoft hepr obl
em, andhas
beenver ysuccessf ullytreatedbyMr s.Sidgwi ck, Mr .Hodgson,andMr.
Davey,oft heSoci etyforPsy chi calResearch.

Thereisav erybroadspr
eadnoti
onthatany bodycangot oa
spi
rit
ualist
icséanceandgiveareli
ableopinionastowhether
whatheorshemaychancet oseeisexpli
cableasconjuri
ngor
not.Especial
lywheretheri
ghttoone'
sopinionisregardedasa
corol
larytotheri
ghtofli
bert
y,doesthisnotionpr
evail
.Iti
s
probabl ynotanexagger at i
ont omai ntaint hatmostsuchcl ai mant sar e
aboutascompet entt of or m at rust wor thyopi ni ononsuchasubj ectas
theyar et opr onounceupont hegenui nenessofaSy riacmanuscr i
pt.
Themat teri si nsomeaspect sasmuchat echni cal acqui sitionasi s
thedi agnost icat i
ngofadi sease.I tisnotatal lt ot hedi scr edi t
ofanyone' spower sofobser v ationori ntellect ual acument obe
decei vedbyt heper for mancesofaconj urer; andt hesamehol dst rue
oft hepr ofessi onal par tofmedi umi sticphenomena.Unt i
l thishomel y
butsal ut aryt ruthi si mpr essedwi thal li
tsi mpor tanceuponal l
i
ntendi ngi nvest igat ors, ther ei sl i
t tl
ehopeofbr ingi ngabouta
properat t
itudet owar dst heseandki ndr edphenomena.Webel i
ev ethat
ther ewi llbeanecl ipseoft hemoonwhent heast ronomersopr edicts,
notbecausewecancal cul atet het imeorev enunder standhowt he
astr onomerdoesi t,butbecauset hati sat echni cal acqui sitionwhi ch
hehasl earnedandwehav enot ;andsowi that housandot herandmor e
humbl ef act sofdai lyl ife.Spi ritual ism, t oal argeext ent ,comes
undert hesamecat egor y ;andobser v erswhohav eacquai nt edt hemsel ves
witht hepossi biliti
esofconj ur i
ngandt henat ur al hi stor yof
decept ion, whobyt hei rt rai ningandendowmenthav ef ittedt hemsel ves
tobecompet entj udgesofsuchal legedul tra- phy sical fact s--these
per sonshav et hesamer ightt oourconf idenceandr espectasabody
ofchemi stsorphy si ciansonaquest i
onwi thi nt hei rpr ov ince.I tby
nomeansf ollowst hatal l sci ent istsar ef i
ttedf orani nv est igat ion
oft hi ski nd, nort hatal l l
ay menar enot ;itdoesf ollowt hatabody
oft rainedandabl eobser ver s, whoar eawar eoft hepossi bilitiesof
faultyobser vationandoft het endencyt osubst itut ehast yi nf erence
forf act , whoknowsomet hingaboutdecept ionasapsy chol ogi cal
char act er i
st i
c, whohav eacqui redorcal ltot hei rai dt het echni cal
requi sitesf orsuchani nv est igat ion, arebet terf ittedt ocar ryi t
toal ogi cal out comet hanar eot her s, equal lydi stingui shedi not her
direct ionsandequal l
yabl e, i
fy ouwi ll,butwhohav enott hese
speci al qual i
ficat ions.I tf ol l
owst hati tisnotf airf ory out o
setupwhaty out hi nky ouhav eseenasov er thr owi ngt hei raut hor i
ty;
eveni fy ouhappent obeanunpr ejudi cedandaccur at eobser verand
hav ewei ghedt hepr obabi li
tyofy ourobser vat ionsbei ngv itiatedby
oneorot heroft hemanysour cesofer rori nsuchobser v ation, i
tis
onlyasmal lfact , thoughofcour seonewor thyofnot ice.Ther ei sno
goodr easonwhyt heav er agemanshoul dsetsomuchst or ebyhi sown
i
mpr essi onsofsense, whent hef alli
bi l
ityofot herwi tnessesi sso
readi lydemonst r abl e.

What everofseemi ngdogmat i

sm t herei sinthisv i
ewi sr emov edbyt he
experiment al demonst rationf urnishedbyMessr s.HodgsonandDav ey,
thatthekindandamountofmal -obser v ationandf aultydescr ipti
on
whichanav er ageobser v erwill i
ntroducei ntot heaccountofa
performancesuchast hemedi um giv es, isampl ysuf fi
cientt oaccount
forthedi v
er gencebet weenhi sr epor toft heper f
or manceandwhat
real
lyoccur red.Thesuccessofal ar
gecl assoft r
icksdepends
upondi verti
ngt heobser ver'sat t
ent i
onf rom t hepointsofr eal
i
mpor t
ance, andi nleadinghi mt odr awi nf er
encesper fectlyvalid
underor dinar ycircumst ancesbutent irelywr ongint hepar ti
cular
case.Itmustbeconst ant l
yremember edt hatt hejudgingpower sare
atagr eatdi sadv antagei nobser vingsuchper for
mances, andt hat
i
tisaki ndofj udgmenti nwhi cht heyhav el i
tt
lepractice.In
theintercour seofdai lylif
eacer tainamountofgoodf ait
hand
ofconf i
dencei nt hestraightforwar dnessoft hedoi ngsofot hers
prev ent susf rom exer ci
singt hatcl osescr ut inyandsuspi cionher e
necessar y .Weknowt hatmostofournei ghbor shav enei thert he
i
ntent i
onnort heshar pnesst odecei veus, anddonotl iveont he
principl eoft hedet ective, whor egar dsev er yoneasdi shonest
unt i
lpr ov ent obeot her wise.Thi satti
tudeofext remesuspi cioni s
i
ndi spensabl eindeal i
ngwi ththephenomenanowunderdi scussi on.
Itfollows, therefore, thatt helay mancannotser veasapi l
otf or
himsel forf orot her sinsucht roubl edwat er s.Thi s,howev er,ifduly
recogni zed, neednotbeamat terofconcer n."Thi sunpr eparedness
andi nobser vancyofmi ndi nthepr esenceofaconj urer,"saysMr .
Hodgson, i
snot" at hingofwhi chanyonewhoi snotf ami l
iarwi th
thet ricksal r
eadyneedbeashamed. "Ev enapr ofessional maybe
nonpl ussedbyamedi um'sper for mance, ifhehav enoexper iencei nthe
speci al kindofsl eight-of-handr equiredf ort het r
ick.Thi sist he
exper ienceofMr .Har ryKel lar;heatf irstdecl aredhi msel funabl e
toexpl ainsl ate-
wr iti
ngasat r
ick, butnowcanr epeatt hepr ocess
i
nav arietyofway s,andwi t
hf argr eaterski llthani sshownbyt he
medi ums.Wemayt her eforeappr oachMr .Dav ey'sinvestigat i
onwi th
theassur ancet hat ,inal lprobabi li
ty,wet ooshoul dhav efailed
todet ectwhatwasr eallydone, andshoul dhav er enderedqui teas
erroneousaccountofwhatwesawasdi dhi sact ual si
tters;and
accor dingt oourt r
ai ningandt emper amentweshoul dhav edr awnour
sev eral concl usions, andal loft hem v ari
ousl ywi deoft hemar k.

Mr .Dav ey( who, byt heway ,wasatonet imedecei vedal mosti nto
conv er sionbyspi ritualisticphenomena, andwho, bef or ehet ookup
themat terser i
ousl y, r
ecor dedhi sconv i
ctiont hat" thei deaof
tri
cker yorj uggl eryi nsl ate- writi
ngcommuni cationsi squi t
eout
oft hequest ion" )wasanexper tamat eurconj urer ,
andr epeatedt he
slate- wr iti
ngper formancesofsuchasEngl i
nt onwi t
hatl eastequal
skill
.Hear rangedwi thMr .Hodgsont ogi vesi tt
ingst osev eral
l
adi esandgent lemen, ont hecondi ti
ont hatt heysendhi m detailed
wr i
ttenaccount sofwhatt heyhadseen.Hedi dnotposeasamedi um
noracceptaf ee, butsi mpl ysai dt hathehadsomet hingt oshow
whi chhi ssi tt
er swer et oexpl ainasbestt heycoul d, andwi thdue
consi der ationoft ri
cker yasapossi blemodeofexpl anat i
on.The
"medi um"hasher eadeci dedadv antageov erMr .Dav ey,becausehi s
sitt
er scomet ohi m wi thament alatti
tudet hatent ertains,howev er
remot el y,thepossi bi l
it
yofwi tnessingsomet hingsuper natural;
andt hi sdi fferencei ssuf ficienttocr eateanadj ustmentoft he
power sofobser vat i
onl essf itt
edt odet ectt ri
cker yt hani fthe
perf or merr ef rainsf rom announci nghi msel fast hego- betweenoft he
super nat ur al.Thi si swel l i
llustratedint her epor tsofMr .Dav ey '
s
sitt
er s; f
oraf ewf r
iendswhower etoldbef orehandt hatt heywer e
towi tnessasl ei ght -
of -
handper for mance, orwer est rongl yledt o
believ ei tsuch, mademuchl essofamar veloft heper formancet han
thosewhohadnotbeent husenl i
ghtened." Nev er t
hel ess"( Iam ci ti
ng
from Mr .Podmor e'sr ésumé) ,"t
heef fectpr oducedwassucht hata
wel l
-knownpr of essi onal conj urerexpr essedhi scompl eteinabi l
ity
toexpl aint her esul tsbyt ricker y;t
hatnooneofhi ssi ttersev er
detect edhi s_ modusoper andi _;thatmostwer ecompl etel
ybaf f
led,
ort ookr efugei nt hesupposi t
ionofanewf or m ofel ect ri
city
,
or'apower ful magnet icf or ceusedi ndoubl emanner :(1)af or ce
ofat tr act i
on, and( 2)thatofr epulsion';andt hatmor et han
onespi ritualistascr ibedt hephenomenat ooccul tagency ,and
regar ded- -per hapsst i
llregar d--Mr.Dav eyasar enegademedi um. "
Mr .Dav ey 'sperformances, _asdescr i
bed_bymanyofhi ssi tter s,
l
iket hedescr ipti
onsoft heper f
ormancesofmanyamedi um, ar e
mar v elousenought odemandt hehy pot hesisofoccul tagency :" Wr i
ti
ng
betweenaconj urer'sownsl at esinawayqui tei nexplicabl et o
theconj urer;writi
nguponsl atesl ockedandcar ef
ullyguar dedby
wi t
nesses; writi
nguponsl at eshel dbyt hewi tnessesf irml yagai nst
theunder -surfaceoft het abl e; writinguponsl atesheldbyt he
wi t
nessesabov et het abl e; answer st oquest ionswr it
tensecr etlyi n
l
ockedsl ates;cor r
ectquot at ionsappear ingonguar dedsl atesf rom
bookschosenbyt hewi tnessesatr andom, andsomet i
mesment ally,
thebooksnott ouchedbyt he' medi um' ;writ
ingi ndi f
fer entcol or s
ment allychosenbyt hewi tnesses, coveringt hewhol esi deofone
oft hei rownsl ates; messagesi nl anguagesunknownt ot hemedi um,
i
ncl udi ngamessagei nGer man, f
orwhi chonl yament alrequesthad
beenmade, andal etterinJapanesei nadoubl eslatel ockedand
seal edbyt hewi tness; thedat eofacoi nplacedbyt hewi tnessi na
seal edenv el
opecor rectlywr itteni nal ockedsl ateupont het abl e,
theenv eloper emai ningi nt act ; awor dwr i
tt
enbet weensl at esscr ewed
toget herandal socor dedandseal edt ogether ,thewor dbei ngchosen
byt hewi tnessaf terthesl at eswer ef astenedbyhi msel f,etc. ,
etc.Andy et,t
hough' aut ogr aphi c'fragment sofpenci lwer e' hear d'
weav ingmy st
er i
ousmessagesbet weenandunderandov ersl at es,and
fragment sofchal kwer eseenmov i
ngaboutunderat umbl erpl aced
abov et het ableinf ullview, noneoft hesi tt
erswi tnessedt hatbest
phenomenon, _Mr .Dav eywr iting_ ."

Itmustnotbesupposedt hatt heer ror sofmal -descr i

pt i
onand
l
apseofmemor yt huscommi t
tedar eatal l ser iousi nt hemsel ves;on
thecont rary,theyar emost lysuchaswoul dbeent ir
el ypar donable
i
nor dinarymat ters.Mr .Hodgsonpl acest hem i nf ourcl asses.In
thefir
st ,
theobser ver_ interpolat es_af actwhi chr eallydi dnot
happen, butwhi chhewasl edt obel ievehadoccur red; her ecordsthat
heexami nedt hesl at e,whenher eal lydi dnot .Secondl y,forsimil
ar
causes, he_ subst itutes_onest atementf oranot hercl osel yli
keit;
hesay sheexami nedt hesl atemi nut ely,whenher eal l
yonl ydidso
hasti
ly.Thirdly ,
he_ transposes_t heor deri nwhi cht heev ents
happened, maki ngt heexami nat i
onoft hesl ateoccuratal aterperiod
thanwheni treal l
yt ookpl ace.Last l
y ,he_ omi ts_cer taindet ail
s
whichhewascar ef ullyledt oconsi dert rivial,butwhi chr eall
y
weremosti mpor tant .Suchsl i
ghtl apsesast hesear esuf fi
cient
tomakeamar v
el ofacl ev erpi eceofconj uring; addt ot histhe
i
ncreasedt empt at i
onsf ormal -obser vat i
onaf f
or dedbyt hedi mlight
andmy sterioussur roundi ngsoft hemedi um, aswel l asbyt he
sympat heticat ti
tudeoft hesi tters, andt hewi dedi ver gencebet ween
themi raculousnar rat i
vesofspi ri
t ual i
stsandt hehomel ydecept i
ons
whicht heyar eint endedt odescr i
be, isnol ongeramy ster y
.

Itcannotbet oostrongl
yinsist
eduponhowsl i
ghtmaybet heclue
thatholdst hekeyt otheexplanation,howeasyi tistooverl
ook
i
t ,
howmy st eri
oustheperformancebecomeswi thouti
t.I
tmaybet he
diff
erencebet weenplaci
ngt heslateinagivenposi t
ionandst ar
ti
ng
todosowhent hehandoft hemedi um natur
allycomesf orwardto
receiveit
;itmaydependuponwhet herthesl
ateswer eexami nedjust
beforeorjustaf teracert
aindet ai
l i
ntheperformancewhi chwas
carefull
ynotmadepr omi
nent ;
itmaydependupont hediff
icul
tyof
reall
yseei ngaqui ckandunex pect edsl eight -of-handmov ementont he
partofaski ll
edper former ;itmaydependuponwhet hert hequest ion
askedwasr eal l
yofy ourownchoosi ng, orwasdef t l
yl edupt o; it
maydependuponascor eofot herequal l
yi nsigni ficantdet ailsupon
whicht heassur anceoft heav erageper son, thatsuchmal -
obser v ati
on
ormi sdescr iptiondi dnotoccur , i
sal mostwor thless.Thesear e
someoft hesl ight erf act or si nt hecase; t heremaybemuchmor e
seriousoneswhi chl eadnotmer elyt oexagger ationbutt oel abor at e
fal
sificat ionanddi stor t
ionoft r
uth, andt ot heemphat icasser tion
ofthemostext rav agantmi racl es, coupl edusual l
ywi tht heassur ance
thatt her ewasnopossi bil
ityorr oom f ordecept i
on.Mr .Dav ey '
s
perfor mancewasr elat i
v elyamat ter-of -
factt estwi thcr i
tical and
i
ntelligentsi tter s; henceweshoul dexpectt hedi v er gencebet ween
repor tandr ealityt obef arl essser ioust hanwhent hequest ion
atissuei sthedemonst rationoft hesuper natural byanappeal
tother eligiousf er vorandt ot heemot ional suscept ibili
tiesof
woul d- bebel iev er sandsy mpat het icpr opagandi st s.Ishal l
r eturn
tothisdi fferenceofat t
itudei ndi scussi ngt hepr epossessi on
i
nf av oroft hebel i
efi nSpi ritualism; fort hepr esent ,iti s
sufficientt onot icet hatundert hemostf av orablecombi nationof
cir
cumst ances- -t hati s,anabl e, educat ed, andexper i
encedobser v er
witnessi ngadef initeper for mancei nacal m, criti
cal mood, and
caref ullypr epar ingawr i
t t
enaccountofhi sobser vat ions- -t
he
diff
er encebet weenact ual f actandt het est imonyoft hewi tnessi s
sti
llconsi der abl e, andt hedi v ergenceof t enuponessent ial poi nts.
Wear eaccor dingl yj ust i
fiedi nmaki ngal l
owancef ordoubl eort r
ebl e
orahundr edf oldmor eser i
ousdi ver gencebet weenf actandr epor t,
whenwepasst odeci dedl yl essf av or abl econdi ti
ons, suchast hoseof
theor dinar yspi r itualistict estorséance; fort hesesur elypr esent
condi tionsl eastconduci vet oaccur acyofobser vat ionorofr ecor d.

Itisseldom t hatsodi rectandf orcibleanappl i

cat i
onof
exper i
ment al r
esul tst oact ualment al exper i
encesoccur ri
ngunder
fami li
arci r
cumst ancescanbemade, asi st hecasei nregar dt o
thisnot ewor thyi nv est igat ionofMessr s.HodgsonandDav ey .This
i
nv estigation, almostatonest roke, t
hr owsabl indingl ightupon
theent irefieldoft hephenomena; account ingi nl argepar tfort he
vastaggr egat eoft est i
monyi nf avorofmi raclesbyact ual witnesses,
demonst rat i
ngt her eadi nesswi thwhi chwemayunwi tti
nglydecei v
e
our selvesbyf alseobser v ati
onandot hersbyl apsesofmemor y ,
as
towhatweact uallywi tnessed; andagai npr esent ingt henat ur eof
thesef alli
blechar act er ist i
csofsense- percept ionandmemor y,of
i
nf erenceandj udgment , sost r
ikinglyandt angi blyast oser v eas
acl assici l
lustrationf ort hepsy chologi st.Thepr actical impor t
oft heseconsi der ationshasbeenqui tegener all
ydi sregar dedby
uphol dersoft hespi ritual isti
chy pothesi s,andhasbynomeansbeen
full
yappr eciatedbyt hosewhol ayclaimt oanopi nionupont he
signifi
canceofspi rit
ual i
st icmani festat i
ons, andwhodi scusst he
psy chological quest ionswhi cht heyi nv olve.

Iti
spertinentt
oaddt hataf terMr.Davey'
sdeath,Mr.Hodgson
fel
tfreetopublishapr eciseaccountofwhatMr .Daveyact
uall
y
didduri
ngt heslate-
writi
ngséances.[7]Thedescri
pti
onfrom bef
or e
thefootl
ightsmayt husbecompar edwiththeaccountfr
om behindthe
scenes;andalthoughv erbalaccountsmustalwaysbeweakandl ack
thereali
sti
ctouchoft he_ miseenscène_ ,
yetthi
saccountmakes
possibleaki net oscopi crepr oduct ion, asi twer e,oft heor iginal
sit
ti
ng; wemayobser v ethepoi ntatwhi cht hesev eralsit
ter s
commi t
tedt hei rfaultsofdef ect i
v eobser vat i
onorr eport;wemay
exami neatl ei sur ethesev er al stepsi ntheper formancewhi chthe
eyesov erlookedi nt hehast ysi ngl egl i
mpseaf for dedbyt hesi tt
ing
i
tself;
wemayat tendt odet ailswhi chi nt heor iginal sit
ti
ng
reachedonl yt heout lyingandev anescentphasesofconsci ousness.
But,ont hewhol e,thepsy chol ogi cal compr ehensi onoft he" séance"
wassuf f
icient lymani festwi thoutt hisdi sclosur eoft he_modus
operandi _;thedi sclosur ehasi t sv alue, howev er,inr emov ingt he
possibil
ityofcer tainf ormsofcr i
ticism oft her esul t
s, i
n
presentingdat abywhi cht hespeci fi
cnat ureofmal -obser vati
onmay
bemor econcr etelyst udied, andi nconv incingt hemor eobst i
nateand
skepticalofhownat uraliti st oer ri nmat tersbey ondt her angeof
one'sintimat eexper ience.

Acor roborat i
veill
ustrat
ionoft hesubjecti
vecont ri
butiont o
decept i
onsoft histype-
-thepartthat"al
way scomesoutofour
head,"inPr ofessorJames' sphrase-
-i
sf ur
nishedbyM.Bi net'
sseries
ofphot ographs, takenatt herateoftenort welvepersecond, ofthe
handsoft heper formerdur i
ngasl ei
ght-of
-handper formance; forthe
photogr aphsdonotshowt heessenti
al i
ll
usionwhi cht heeyesseem t o
see,butwhi chisr eal
lysuppliedbythefixedinterpretativ
ehabi t
s
ofthespect ators.

Theconcl usiont husexper iment allyarr

iv edatbyMessr s.Hodgson
andDav eyisr ei
nf orcedbyot heri nvest
igat ors.Afterwi tnessinga
séancet hatwasmer el yaser iesoft hesi mpl estandmostgl aringly
evidentt r i
cks, Mr s.Si dgwi ckwasexpect edt ohav ehadal lherdoubt s
entirelyr emov ed, andwasassur edthatwhatshehadseenwasbet t
er
thant hemat er i
alizationsatPar i
s."Exper iencesliket hismakeone
feel howmi sleadi ngt heaccount sofsomecompl et el
yhonestwi tnesses
maybe; fort hemat eriali
zationsi nPar i
swer ethosewhi chtheComt e
deBul lethadwi t
hFi r
man, wher enearr elativesoft heCountwer e
believ edconst ant lytoappear , andwhi char eamongt hemostwonder f
ul
recor dedi nspi r
itualisticli
terat ure.And, afterall,i
tappear s
thatt hesemar v
elousséanceswer enobet terthant hismi serable
personat ionbyHaxby ."

TheSey ber tCommi ssionf i

ndst hat" wit
hev er ypossi bl
edesi reont
he
partofspi rituali
st stot ellthet ruth, thewhol et ruth, andnot hing
butt het ruth, concer ningmar velousphenomena, itisextremel y
diff
iculttodoso.Bei tdi stinctl
yunder stoodt hatwedonotf oran
i
nstanti mput ewi ll
ful perv ersi
onoft het ruth.Al lthatwemeani s
that,fort wor easons, itisl i
kelythatt hemar vel sofspi rit
ualism
willbe, bybel i
ev ersint hem, incor rectlyandi nsuf fi
ciently
repor t
ed.Thef i
rstreasoni stobef oundi nt hement alcondi ti
onof
theobser v er;ifhebeexci tedordeepl ymov ed, hisaccountcannot
butbeaf fect ed, andessent ialdet ailswi l
l surelybedi stort
ed.
Forasecondr eason, notehowhar di tist ogi veat r
uthfulaccount
ofanycommon, everydayoccur rence.Thedi fficultyisincreaseda
hundr edfol dwhenwhatwewoul dt ellpartakesoft hewonder ful
.Who
cant ruthf ullydescr ibeaj uggler'st rick?Whowoul dhesi t
atet o
affi
rmt hatawat ch, whi chnev erlef ttheey esightf orani nstant ,
wasbr okenbyt hej uggl eronananv il
;ort hatahandker chiefwas
burnedbef oreourey es?Weal lknowt hej uggl erdoesnotbr eakthe
watch,anddoesnotbur nthehandkerchi
ef.Wewat chedmostclosel
y
thejuggl
er'sr
ighthand,whil
ethetr
ickwasdonewi thhislef
t.The
onemi nuteci
rcumstancehasbeenomi t
tedthatwouldhaveconvert
ed
thetri
ckintono-t
ri
ck.Iti
sli
kelyt
obet hesamei ntheaccounts
ofthemostwonder fulphenomenaofspi r
it
uali
sm."

Ifwedesi reaconcr etei nstanceoft hisomi ssi onofani mpor t

ant
detail
,wemayt ur noncemor et oDr .Fur ness' snar r
ati
v e.Cer tain
highlyintelli
gentobser ver shaddescr i
bedt ohi mt hemar vel
ous
accompl i
shment sofaBost onmedi um; andt hi si shisownaccount :
"Therear et wot ablesi nt her oom ofséance, atoneofwhi chsi tsthe
medi um, att heot her , thev i
sitor.Thev isitorathi stablewr it
es
hisquest ioni npenci latt het opofal ongsl ipofpaper ,and,
afterfoldingov ersev eral timest hepor ti
onoft hesl i
ponwhi ch
hisquest ioni swr itten, gumsi tdownwi thmuci lageandhandsi tto
themedi um, whot hereuponpl acesont hef ol dedandgummedpor t
ion
hislefthand, andi naf ewmi nut eswi t
hhi sr ighthandwr it
esdown
answer st ot heconceal edquest ions; theseanswer saremar velsof
perti
nency ,andpr ov ebey ondacav i
lthecl airv oy antorspi rit
ual
power soft hemedi um. "Dr .Fur nesswentt ot hemedi um, prepar edhis
sli
pofpaperaboutasdescr ibed, andt huscont inues:"Assoonashe
tookhi sseat , andl aidt hest riponhi stabl ebef orehim, Iroseand
approachedt het abl esoast okeepmypaperst il
linsight ;_therow
ofbooksent irel
yi ntercept edmyv i
ewofi t_ .Themedi um i nst antl
y
mot i
onedt omet or et urnt omyseat ,and, It hink, t
oldmet odoso.
Iobey ed, andasIdi dsocoul dnotr epressapr of oundsi gh.Whyhad
nooneev ertol dmeoft hatr owofbooks? "

I
II

Ihavet huspassedi nr ev i
ewaser iesoff act sandconsi der ations
i
npur suanceoft hegener al i
nqui ryast owhyt hemani fest at i
ons
producedi nev idenceofspi ri
tagencydecei ve,andast ot heor igi
n
ofthev astt est i
monyi nf av orofspi ri
tualisticmar vels.I tis
notnecessar yf ort hepur posesoft hepsy chologi cal di scussi onto
demonst ratet hatal l suchmani fest at i
onsar ef raudul ent ;itisnot
evennecessar y--
al thoughwi thlimi tlesst imeandener gyi tmi ghtbe
desirabl e--toexami neal loft hev ariouski ndsofmani fest ations
whicht hei ngenui tyofmedi umshasdev i
sed, orwhi chhav ebeen
present edt hroughmedi umi sticagency .
[8]Al lt hati snecessar yis
toexami neasuf f i
cientnumberofmani fest ati
onsofacknowl edged
standingandr eput eamongspi ritual i
sts,--
mani f estations, bei t
clearl
yunder stood, whi chhav eact ual l
ybr oughthundr edsand
thousandsofconv ertst oi tsranks, whi chhav ebeenper sistent l
y
broughtf orwar dasi ndi sput abl eev idenceofsuper nat ural agency -
-and
toshowt hati nr ef erencet othese, actual andext ensi vedecept i
on
hast akenpl ace.I twoul dnotbepr opert odecl ar ethatatt hispoi nt
thepsy chol ogi st'si nter estends; fort hecent reofi nt eresti nsuch
problemsmayshi ftfr om onepoi ntt oanot her.Thecent ral poi nti
n
thepr esentdi scussi on, howev er, isnotwhati st heev idencei n
favoroft hespi ri
tual i
st ichy pothesi slogical lywor th,--although
theconsi derat i
onsher epr esent edhav eobv iousandr adi cal bearings
upont hatquest ion.I ft hatwer eourquest , weshoul dputt he
spiri
tual istsupont hedef ensi ve;f ort hebur denr est supont hem
toshowt hei nadequacyoft henat ural expl anat ionoft hephenomena,
andt opresentt hespeci alfact st hatpoi ntt ot hecor rect ness
oft hespi ri
tualisticasopposedt oot herexpl anat ions.Wemay
recogni ze,inpassi ng, towhatsor ryexcusest heyar edr iveni ni t
s
defense: writi
ng, theyar edr i
vent oexpl ain, isbestpr oducedi nthe
dark, becausedar ki s" negat i
v e,"andl ighti s" posi tive";ift he
spiritthatappear sr esembl est hemedi um, thati sanef fectoft he
mat er i
ali
zingpr ocess; ifapi eceofmusl ini sf oundi nthemedi um's
cabi net(andobv i
ousl yusedasdr aper yi nt hemat erial
izat ions) ,
i
ti ssupposedt ohav ebeenbr oughtbyt hespi ri
t st ocl othet heir
nakedness, ort hatt hespi ri
twhi chhadbr oughtt hemusl in" hadt o
vani shsoqui cklyt hati thadnot imet odemat er ializethemusl i
n;"
i
fwr it
ingdoesnotappearwhent hesl at esar el ookedat , thati s
becauset he" magnet ism"oft heey ei nter fereswi tht hisspi ri
tual
processofwr i
ti
ng; anddi dnotSl ader ecei veanexpr esscommand
from t hespi ri
tsf orbi ddinghi m, onpenal t
yofcut tingof fal l
communi cation, toat t
emptt owr iteonseal edsl at es?Someev enclai
m
thatf raudandgenui nemani fest ationsgohandi nhand, ort hat
thef ormerar et hewor kofev ilspi ri
tscount erf eitingconj ur ing
tri
cks.Apr omi nentspi rituali
stopenl yannouncest hatSl ade" now
oftencheat swi thanal mosti nfant i
leaudaci tyandnaï vet é,whi leat
thesameort henextséance, wi tht hesamei nv est igator s,"genui ne
spirituali
sti
cphenomenaoccur ;whi l
eanot herdi sci plehol dst hatthe
truespi ri
tinwhi cht oappr oacht hest udyi san" ent ir
ewi ll
ingness
tobedecei v ed."Sur elyt hereisnodut yr est inguponsci ent ifi
c
ment oconsi dert hecl aimsofasy stem t hatr esor tst osuchi dleand
extrav aganthy pot heses, andt hatf ost ersandpr osper si nsuchamor al
atmospher e.

Wemayt her
ef or
epr ofi
tablyconfi
neourat tenti
ont othe
psychol ogicallessonst obedr awnf r
om t her ecordoffraudand
deceptionwhi cht heexploit
ati
onofSpi r
ituali
sm haspr oduced.[9]
Whent hedaycomeswhent hemani festati
onsabov econsideredshal
lbe
defi
nitelyconcededt ohav eanat uralexplanat i
onalongt hegeneral
l
inesher epresent ed,andthespirit
ualist
sshal lhavetakenrefuge
i
not heranddi stincti
velydif
fer
entmani f
est at
ions,thenitmay
becomeadv isabletopr eparearevisedaccountoft hepsy chologyof
Spir
itualism.

Therer emai nsani mpor tantser iesofconsi derat i

onst hatfor m an
essent i
al f
actori nthepsy chol ogi calcompr ehensi onoft hephenomena
ofSpi r
ituali
sm; thisi stheef f ectofbi asandpr epossessi on.
Whenbyonemeansoranot herast r
ongf aithint her eal i
tyof
spir
itualisti
cmani f
est ati
onshasbeeni nduced; whent hecr i
tical
atti
tudegi vespl acet oast ateofext remeemot ional tension; when,
perhaps, special griefsandt rialsgiveunduef erv ort othedesi r
e
foramat erial
pr oofofl ifeaf terdeat h,ofcommuni onwi t
ht he
deardepar t
ed; whent heconv ertbecomesadef endantoft hef aith,
anxioust ost r
engt hent hepr oof sofhi sownconv i
ct i
on,--
thenwehav e
nolongermer euni ntentional l
apsesofobser vationandmemor yt o
deal with,butact ual ment al blindnesst oobv iousf raudandnat ural
explanat i
ons;thencaut ioni st hrownt othewi ndsandmar velsar e
reportedt hataret her esul tofexpect antattentionandi magi nation,
orofr eal i
ll
usionandhal luci nat i
on.Thebl amel essnesst hatmaybe
concededf orone' smy stificat ionbyconj uringper formancescannot
beext endedt ot hepr esentcl assofexper iences; herei ti
snot
unusual nessofext ernal ar rangement sthatfor mst hemai nfact orin
thedecept ion, butt heabnor mal condi ti
onoft heobser ver '
smi nd.
Themat er ializat ionséancesof ferasuf ficientexampl eoft hisf or m
ofmani fest ation.Tor ecogni zeadepar tedf riendi nt het hinly
disgui sedf or m oft hemedi um i smostnat urallyi nt er pret edasamar k
ofweaki nsi ghtorofst rongpr ejudi ce."Agai nandagai n,
"wr itesDr .
Fur ness, "menhav el edr oundt heci rclest hemat er i
al izedspi ri
tsof
theirwi vesandi ntroducedt hem t oeachv isitori nt ur n; f
at her shav e
takenr oundt hei rdaught ers,andIhav eseenwi dowssobi nt hear ms
oft hei rdeadhusbands.Test imonysuchast hisst agger sme.Hav eI
beensmi t tenwi thcol or-blindness?Bef or eme, asf arasIcandet ect,
standst hev erymedi um her sel f,inshape, size, for m, andf eature
truet oal ine, andy et,oneaf teranot her,honestmenandwomenat
mysi de, wi thi nt enmi nut esofeachot her ,asser tthatshei st he
absol utecount er partoft heirnear estanddear estf r iend; nay ,that
shei st hatf riend.I ti sasi ncompr ehensi bl et omeast heasser tion
thatt heheav ensar egr een, andt hel eav esoft het reesdeepbl ue.
Cani tbet hatt hef acul tyofobser v ationandcompar isoni sr are, and
thatourf eat uresar er eal lyvagueandmi styt oourbestf riends?I s
i
tt hatt hemedi um exer cisessomemesmer ici nf l
uenceonherv isitors,
whoar et husmadet oacceptt hef aceswhi chshewi l
lst hem t osee?
Ori si t,af teral l
, onlyt hedi ml ightandaf reshi llust r at i
on
of_ lanui tt ousl eschat ssontgr is_ ? "Int heconf essi onsofan
exposedmedi um wer ead: "Thef i
rstséanceIhel d, af teri tbecame
knownt ot heRochest erpeopl et hatIwasamedi um, agent l
emanf rom
Chi cagor ecogni zedhi sdaught erLi zziei nmeaf terIhadcov eredmy
smal lmust achewi thapi eceoff lesh- col oredcl ot h, andr educedt he
sizeofmyf acewi thashawl Ihadpur posel yhungupi nt hebackof
thecabi net ."Wi thsuchpower ful magi ciansasanexpect anti nter est
andast rongpr epossessi on,ther eal m oft hemar vel ousi seasi l
y
enter ed; butt heev idencet husaccumul at edmaybesai dt ohav eabout
thesamesci ent ificv alueast hef armor ei nterest ingent er tainment s
oft he" ThousandandOneNi ght s. "" SergeantCox, "Mr .Podmor et el
ls
us, "adducedt hehal luci natoryf eel i
ngofami ssi ngl imbi npr oof
ofaspi ritual body ;andawr i
teri nt he' Spi r
itualist ,
' '
noty et
conv i
ncedoft hespi ritual i
sti
ct heor y,'coul dev enpr onouncet he
after -
imagespr oducedbygazi ngatast rawhatt obe' independent
ofanyknownhumanagency .'Fr om al lofwhi chi tmaybegat her ed
thatt heconsci ent i
ousspi rit
ual ist, whenonmar v elsbent , didnot
displ ayaf rugal mi nd. "Suchopi nionscer tainlyj ust ifyMr .Podmor e's
remar kt hatt her ear espi ri
tualist s, "notaf ew, whowoul dbecapabl e
oft est ifying, i
ft heirpr epossessi onshappenedt opoi ntt hatway ,
thatt heyhadseent hecowj umpov ert hemoon; andwoul dr eferf or
cor robor ativ eev idencet ot hear chi v esoft henur ser y ."

Iti
snat uraltosupposet hatpr epossessi onofsuchi ntensi t
ycoul d
occuronl yamongstt helessi ntell
i
gentandl essdi scerningpor t
ions
ofmanki nd; butt oaconsi derabl eextent ,andcer tai
nlyi nspor adic
i
nstances, thisisnott hecase.Thedi st i
ngui shednat ural i
stwho
shareswi thDar winthehonorofcont ribut ingtomoder nt houghtt he
concept i
onsofev ol
ution, i
nhi sar dentadv ocacyofSpi r i
tualism,
hasr ecordedhi sassentt ot hebel iefthatpr ofessional conjur ers,
performingatt heCr ystalPal acei nLondon, couldnotaccompl i
sh
thei
rt r
ickswi thoutsuper natur alaid.Wi thpecul i
arobliviousness
tothedoubl e- edgednessofhi sr emar k, hewr ites:"I
fyout hink
i
tall j
uggling, pointoutwher et hedi ff
er encel iesbetweeni t
andmedi umi sti
cphenomena. "Thesamepr epossessionr ender shi m so
i
mper v i
oust ot heact ual stat usoft heev idencef orSpi ritualism as
toper mi thi mt or ecor dsopr epost erousast atementast hef oll
owi ng:
Thephy si cal phenomenaofSpi r
itual i
sm " hav eall, ornear lyall,been
befor ethewor ldf ortwent yy ears; t
het heor i
esandexpl anat i
ons
ofr eviewer sandcr it
icsdonott oucht hem, orinanywaysat isfy
anysanemanwhohasr epeat edlywi tnessedt hem; theyhav ebeen
testedandexami nedbyskept icsofev erygr adeofi ncr edul it
y ,men
i
nev erywayqual ifi
edt odet ectimpost ureort odi scov ernat ural
causes, --trainedphy sicists, medi cal men, lawy ers, andmenof
busi ness, -
-buti nev erycaset hei nvest igatorshav eei therr etir
ed
baff l
ed, orbecomeconv erts."Andi nt hel atestut terancesoft he
sameaut hor itythef ailuret ocr editt hemar vel
sofSpi ri
tual ism is
putdownal ongwi tht heequal neglectofphr enol ogy ,asamongt he
signal failuresofour" wonder f
ul cent ury."Ifanyf urtheri nst ances
ber equi redoft heast oundi ngef fect sofbi asandpr epossessi oni n
mat tersspi ri
tualisti
c, thev astl it
erat ureoft hesubj ectmaybe
referredt oasasadbuti nst ructi
v emonumentofi tsinf luence.

I
V

Theconsi der at i
onoft heef fect sofapr epossessi oni nf av orofa
beliefi nspi ri
t-agencyl eadsnat ur allyt oaconsi der at ionoft he
originoft hebel ief.Thi st endencyt obel iev eint her etur nt o
eart hoft hespi ri
tsoft hedepar ted, ispr obabl yt obev iewedasa
form ofexpr essi onoft hepr imi t i
veani mi sm t hatdomi nat essav age
philosophy ,thatper vadest hehi st or ical dev elopmentofr el i
gion
andofsci ence, andt hatcr opsouti nv ar iousway st hr oughoutal l
gradesofci vilizat i
onandal l l
ev elsofsoci ety.Combi nedwi t
h
i
tisanequal lyf undament al lov ef ort hemar velous, andamor e
orlesssuppr essedbel iefi nt hesi gni ficanceoft heobscur e,the
my st erious, theoccul t.Thesebel ief -tendenci es, accor di ngl y,hav e
anant hr opol ogi cal signi ficanceandanhi st orical cont inui tywhi ch
Mr .Langt huspr esent s: "
Thesei nst ancespr ov et hat ,f rom t he
Aust ral i
anbl acksi nt heBush, whohearr apswhent hespi r
it
scome,
toanci entEgy pt ,andt hencet oGr eece, andl ast ,inourownt i
me,
andi naLondonsubur b, simi larexper iencesr eal ori magi nar yar e
expl ainedbyt hesamehy pot hesi s.No' sur vival'canbemor eoddand
stri
ki ng, nonemor ei l
lust rativeoft heper manence, inhumannat ure,
ofcer tainel ement s.Toexami net hesepsy chol ogi cal cur iositiesmay ,
ormaynot ,be' usef ul,
' but ,att hel owest ,thest udymayr ankas
abr anchofmy thol ogyorf olk- lore. "Mr .Ty l
orf ullyconcor dswi t
h
thisv iew: "Ther ecei vedspi rit
ual i
st ict heor y,
"hesay s, "bel ongs
tot hephi losophyofsav ages. ...Supposeawi ldNor thAmer ican
Indianl ooki ngonataspi rit-séancei nLondon.Ast ot hepr esence
ofdi sembodi edspi rit
s, mani fest ingt hemsel vesbyr aps, noises,
voices, andot herphy si cal act ions, t hesav agewoul dbeper fect ly
athomei nt hepr oceedi ngs; f
orsucht hingsar epar tandpar cel
ofhi sr ecogni zedsy stem ofnat ur e."Mr .Podmor e' scommentupon
thespi ritualist i
chy pot hesi sexpr essesaki ndr edt hought ."Ast he
peasantr ef erredt hemov ementoft hest eam- engi net ot heonl ymot ive
forcewi thwhi chhewasacquai nted, andsupposedt hatt herewer e
hor sesi nside, sot hespi ritual i
st s, recogni zing, ast heyt hought ,
i
nt hephenomenat hemani fest ationsofwi l
landi nt elligencenot
appar ent lythoseofanyper sonv isi blypr esent ,inv okedt heagencyof
thespi ritsoft hedead.Wecanhar dlycal lthisbel iefanhy pot hesi s
oranexpl
anati
on;
itseemsindeedatit
soutsettohav
ebeenl
i
ttl
e
morethanthei
nst
incti
veut
teranceofpri
mit
iveani
mism.
"

Thest rongl yr ooted, anti-l

ogi cal tendenci esofournat ur e, t
hus
i
ndi cat ed, comet ot hesur facei nv ar i
ousandunexpect edway s,
andgi ver i
set ov iewsandcul t
st hathav emuchi ncommonwi th
themani fest at i
onsandbel i
ef sofSpi ritual ism.I ti sthisv ery
communi tyt hatf ormsoneoft her ecogni zabl est i
gmat aofsuch
mov ement s; ever ywher et hereisanappeal tothey earningf ort he
my st erious, forspeci al signsandomenst hatmayr einfor cet he
personal inter pretat i
onoft heev ent soft heuni v erse,andr ev eal t
he
transcendenceoft hel imitationsofnat ur al l
aw.Thesemov ement s,
too, seem atdi ff
er entepochst of l
ar eupandspr eadintot r
ue
epidemi cs, utterlyconsumi ngal l inher entf oundat i
onsofl ogi cand
commonsense, i
nt hewhi teheatoft heemot i
onal i
nter estwi thwhich
theyadv ance.I tseemst omat t
erl ittlehowt r
ivial,howabsur d,
howv ulgar ,howi gnor ant ,orhowi mpr obabl et hemani fest ationsmay
be, thepassi onf orbel iefi nthei rmy ster iousor iginset sal l
aside.Whyr eturni ngspi r
itsshoul ddev otet heirener giest opl aying
tambour ines, andconj uri
ngwi thsl at es, toI ndiandances, andv apid,
bombast ic, andungr ammat i
cal "inspi rat i
onal "speeches, seemsnotev en
tobeconsi der ed.I tr equiresasl i
t tl
eev idenceandasr idiculous
ev i
dencet opr ov easpi r
itt oaspi ritual istasi tdi dt oprov ea
wi t
cht oawi tch-f i
nder .Thosewhosef eel ingsar enotappeal edt oby
thedoct ri
nesofSpi ri
tualism wi ll assur edl ynev erbeat tract edby
i
tsl ogi c.

Thepsy chol ogi stwhoobser vest henat ural hi stor yoft hebel iefi n
Spiritualism, -
-itsor igin, andmodeofpr opagat ion, itsbl ossomi ng
andf ruitage, i
snat ural lyl edt oconsi dert henat ureofi t
sdecl i
ne.
Thati tdecl inesr apidl yi nt hepr esenceofnewerr i
v alsf orpopul ar
favor ,appeal ingt omucht hesamement al andemot i
onal traits,and
ther eforef i
ndi ngasi mi larconst i
tuency ,hasbeenmadeev ident
i
nt hev icissi tudesofi tscar eer .Itsuf feredconsi der abl yatt he
per i
odwhent hemet eor icshower sofTheosophypassedov erourplanet
;
i
tissubj ectt ot hewani ngofi nterestt hatal way saccompani es
fami li
ar i
ty ,andt hatmakesev ent hemostexci ti
ngexper i
encespal e
witht ime.Suchf ami liar i
t yal sogi vesoppor t uni tyf ort her et urn
ofacal m andcr iti
cal inv est i
gat i
v eat tit
ude, suchast hel astt wo
decades, inpar ti
cul ar ,hav ebr oughtabout .Thatsuchi nvest igat i
on
i
sdest i
nedser i
ousl yt oi nfluenceopi nion, andev ent uallyt ot riumph
overer rorandsuper st iti
on, noonewi thconf idencei nt heul timat e
rational i
tyofmanki ndwi llbei ncl i
nedt odoubt .Int hecaseof
Spiritualism, logicwi ll findawor thyal lyint hemor edi scer ning
dev elopmentoft hemor al sensi bi l
it
ieswhi cht ruecul tureal way s
bringswi thit.Wheni ti sr eal i
zedt hatasy st em t hatai mst o
i
nst ructmeni nregar dt obel i
efsappeal i
ngmostear nest lyanddeepl y
tot hehumanhear tappear sint hel i
ghtofexacti nv est i
gat ionas
atot t
eringf ramewor k, hel dt oget herbygr ossf raud, cov er edov er
withi nnocentsel f-
decept ion, butal sowi thv ulgarsham; wheni tis
realizedt hatundert heshel terofsuchasy st em menandwomenal l
overourl andar edai lyandhour lypr ey i
ngupont hecr edul ityof
simpl e-mi ndedf olk, andobt ainingal iveli
hoodbymeansf orwhi ch
thel awpr ovidespuni shment ,--
themor alindi gnat ionf oll
owi ngupon
thi
sr ealizat i
onwi l
limpar tvigort ot hepr otestagai nstsuch
pract ices, whi chamer esenseoft hei rirr
at ional itywoul df ail t
o
i
ncit
e.Themor alandæstheticaversi
onwhi chmanyofthepracti
ces
andtenetsofSpir
it
uali
sm arousesinthosewhosei deal
saresound
andsteadfastmayprovetobeamor eseriousmenacetothespreadof
thebel
ief,amorepotentsourceofitsdecay,thaneveni
tsi
nherent
i
nconsist
enciesandimprobabil
it
ies.

FOOTNOTES:

[
6]_Prel
iminaryReportoftheCommi ssi
onappoi nt
edbyt heUniver
sit
y
ofPennsyl
v ani
atoinvest
igateModer nSpir
it
ualism_,Phi l
adel
phi
a,
1887,Li
ppincott
,p.159.Themember softhecommi ssionwere:Dr
.
Wil
li
am Pepper ,
Dr.JosephLeidy,Dr.G.S.Koenig,Prof.R.E.
Thompson, Prof
.G.S.Full
erton,
Dr .H.H.Furness,Mr .Coleman
Sel
ler
s,Dr.J.W.Whi t
e,Dr.C.B.Kner r,
andDr.S.Wei rMi t
chel
l.

[
7]_Proceedi
ngsoft
heSoci
etyf
orPsy
chi
cal
Resear
ch_
,vol
.vi
i
i.
253.

[8]Idesi renott oseem t oov er lookt hef actt hatt here

aremani festat i
onspr esent edbySpi ri
tualism ofadi f
f erent
charact erfrom t hoseabov econsi der ed.Ther ear e,forexampl e,
theinspi rati
onal messagesr ev eal edt hrought hemedi um wheni na
trance- l
i
kecondi ti
on, andwhi char esupposedt or estf ort hei
r
proofofsuper naturalor i
ginont het est i
monyoft hemedi um or
upont heirinternalcont ent.Thepsy chologi cal statusoft heseand
similarmedi umi st
icphenomenamustbei nt erpretedi nt hel i
ghtofour
knowl edgeofhy pnoticandal liedcondi t
ions, ofaut omat icwr i
ting,
ofmodi fi
cat i
onsofconsci ousandsubconsci ousper sonal ity
.Ido
notconsi dert hattheev idencewhi cht hesephenomenacont ri
but e
towar dst heest ablishmentoft hepr obabi lityoft het rut hoft he
spiri
tualisti
chy pothesisatal l af fectst heest imat earr i
v edati n
themai ndiscussi on.Thatt her ear eot hert hant hephy sicalphenomena
ofSpi rit
ualism shoul d,howev er ,notbeov er looked.

[9]Ther ei sami norpr oblem ofpsy chol ogi cal i

nt eresti nregar d
tothef raudappar entint hesemani fest at i
ons, thati swor thyof
consi deration: namel y,themot i
vesf orsuchf raud.Thatgr eedf or
gainandnot or i
etyconst itutet wooft hemai ni nducement si sobv ious
enough; thatt helat t
erisaf armor ewi despr eadandv ariablement al
i
nducementt hanweor dinar i
lyrealize, hasbeenshownbyt hecases
i
nwhi chf raudhasbeendet ected.I naddi ti
onwemustr ecogni zet he
existenceofdecept i
onast heexpr essi onofadeep- seat edi nst i
nct
abnor mal lypresenti nnotaf ewper sons.I tisdecept i
onf ort he
l
ov eofi mposi nguponhumani ty,mi ngl edsomewhatwi thal ov eoft he
conspi cuousnessandi nt erestwhi cht hedecei v er'
sposi t
ionbr ings
withi t;
andt hisof t
enexi stswher et hemot ivesf ori tcannotbe
accur atelydet ermi ned.Casesofdecept ionont hepar tofchi ldren,
ont hepar toft hosewhopr esentsuspi cionsoft hehy sterical
temper ament , andcasesofso- call
eddi sinterest eddecept ion, hav e
beencol l
ect edi nsuf f
icientnumbert omaket hecr i
ticismswhi char e
adv ancedagai nstprofessi onal medi umsqui t
eascogenti nt hecase
ofunpai dandpr i
vatemedi ums.Imayr ef ertot hedi scussionoft he
subj ectbyMr .Podmor e._ StudiesinPsy chical Resear ch_,p.185, sqq.
HYPNOTI
SM ANDI
TSANTECEDENTS

Impor tantper iodsi nt hehi storyofsci encear easl i

kel yt obe
char act erizedbychangesi nat titudet owar dst heaccept edbodyof
knowl edge, asbyt heext ensi onofi tsr ealmt hr oughnewdi scov er
ies.
Thecont rastbet weent heundev elopedandt headv ancedst agesofa
sciencei saswel lrealizedbynot ingt het otallydi fferentmode
i
nwhi chf act sar ev i
ewed, asbyobser v i
ngt hev asti ncr easei n
ther angeofr ecor dedf act .Theal chemi standt hechemi sthav ef ar
mor ei ncommoni nt hewayofoper ationsandmat er ial thani nt heir
concept i
onsoft hepur posesandt hemet hodoft heirpur sui ts.The
ast rol ogerandt heast ronomerar eagai nmostchar act er istical ly
differ ent iatedbyt heirmot ivesandpoi ntofv i
ew; bot hobser v e
theposi tionsofpl anetandst ar, andcal cul ateor bi tsandphases
andopposi tions; butnot hingi smor eabsur dlyi r relev antt ot he
ast ronomer '
spur poset hant hehopeofpr edict ingt hef or tunesof
men.Amor emoder nexampl eofasi mi larr elat ioni st hatbet ween
phr enol ogyandt hephy siologi cal doct ri
neoft hel ocal izat ionof
funct ionsi nt hebr ain.Andal chemi st,ast rologer , andphr enol ogi st
hav et hisi ncommon: thatt heyai medati mmedi at elypr act ical ends.
Theonehopedt ocr eat eweal th, theot hert of or etell andcont rol
fate, andt het hir
dt oi nsur esuccessbydi scov er ingt heear mar ks
ofnat ural gifts.Theydi st or t
edt hef actsofnat ur e, andi nt he
nar rowpur sui tofapr act ical goal ,subst i
tutedf orr eal iti
est hei r
ownf anci fultheor ies, ort heel abor ationsoft hei rdef ect ivel ogi c.
Sci enceadv ancesmostf av orabl ywhent hebestener giesar edev otedto
acompr ehensi onoff undament al pr i
nciplesandt ot heaccumul ati
onof
dat aundert hegui danceoft hei nter est stowhi cht hesepr inci ples
giver ise; andwhent hewor kpr oceedswi tht heconf idencet hat ,mor e
i
ndi r ect l
ybutmor esur el y, willther ichestpr act ical benef itst hus
accr ue.Themar kedcont rastexempl ifi
edi nt hehi stor yofchemi stry
andast ronomy ,andi namor el i
mi tedwayofbr ainphy siol ogy ,make
i
tpr opert ospeakoft hev er ydi ffer entpur suitswi thwhi cht hey
wer eassoci at edast hei rant ecedent sandnotasear l
yst agesoft heir
owndev elopment .Intimat easmaybet her elationsbet weent het wo
hist or ically,theoner epr esent sbutt hef or erunneroft heot her ;
i
ti ndi cat esi nwhatdi rect i
oni nter estgui dedt houghtbef or et hat
changedi nterestappear ed, whi chmadepossi bl et heger mi nat ionand
growt hoft het r
uesci ence.Onl ywhent heweedshadbeenr oot edout
didt hef l
ower sbegi nt ot hr ive.

Thehist oryofhy pnotism f urni

shesanot herandav ar
iedi
llustrat
ion
ofasimi larr el
ation.Ifweacceptast heessent ial f
actofmoder n
hypnot i
sm t hedemonst rationofanal t
eredner vousandment alstate,
i
nwhi chsuggest ibi
l
ityisi ncreasedtoaqui t
eabnor maldegr ee;
i
nwhi ch, accor dingl
y, funct i
onsnotor di
nar i
lyundert hecont rol
ofvolunt aryeffortbecomesocont r
ollable,andt hereareinduced
simpleandcompl exmodi ficat
ionsofphy siologicalandpsy chological
acti
vi
ties, -
-t
hent hecondi tionofopini
ont hatprev ai
ledpri
or
tother ecogni t
ionoft het r
uesi gni
fi
canceoft hephenomenai n
question, t
hef alseandunf oundedandmy sti
cal concepti
onsconcer ni
ng
them, mayproper
lybegroupedtogetherast
heant ecedent
sof
hypnotism.Theenti
reaspectoftheprobl
em undertheonerégi
me
i
sst r
ikingl
ydif
fer
entfr
om it
sappearanceunderther ei
gnofthe
successor.

Int hepr esent ation, fr

om t hepoi ntofv iewofmoder nhy pnot ism, of
themor ei mpor tantst epsi nthet or tuousandl abor ioust ransi ti
on
from unbr i
dledspecul ationandf ant asti
cpr act icest oar ational
andconsi stentbodyoft ruth,at wof ol
di nterestmaybemai ntained;
theone, inthef luctuat i
onofopi nionant ecedentt ot hesci ent if
ic
recogni ti
onofhy pnotism, andt heot heri nthe_ dramat isper sonæ_
concer nedi nt hishist oryandt heircont ri
but ions, greatandsmal l,
forgoodorf orill,t
ot hatgr adual andi r
regul archangeofat titude
thet est edr esidueofwhi chmoder nhy pnot ism embodi es.Thel at ter
i
nt er estwi l
l f
or m ahel pful guidef orsel ectionamongt hecompl ex
sequenceofev entswi thwhi chweshal lhav et odeal .Account soft he
wel l-est ablishedphenomenaofhy pnotism ar esor eadi l
yaccessi ble,
thati tseemssuf fi
cientt oemphasi zetheset wof undament al
poi nts- -theul t
imat er ecogni t
ionofanal teredpsy cho- phy siological
stat e, andoft hedomi nantpar twhi chsuggest i
onpl ay sint he
dev el opmentofhy pnot i
cphenomena- -
andt oacceptt hem asf ur nishi
ng
thepr inci plesaccor di ngt owhi cht hesur veyoft heant ecedent sof
hy pnot i
sm i stobeconduct ed.

Itwi llappeart hatmuchoft heconf li

ctwhi cht hepr esentt ale
unf oldsi stheconf li
ctbet weent her ati
onal inv estigat ionof
i
nt el l
i
giblef act sandt heunwar rant edat tempt satanexpl anat ion
ofal l
egedmi racles, --
aphaseoft heconf l
ictbet weensci enceand
my stici
sm.Thei mper fectlyunder st oodi saptt obeexpl ainedbyt he
stillmor eobscur e; t
otallyimagi nar yfor msofener gyar ecal led
upont oaccountf orpoor lyobser vedef fect s;andsot hemy stery
deepens, super stiti
onspr eads, andchar latani sm f indsaf er ti
le
fieldf oritsdi spl ay .Thisconf l
i
cti nt hepr esenti nst ancei sby
nomeansconf i
nedt ot hepast ;themy sti
cal andt hemi racul ous,or
atl eastt heuni nt elli
giblesideofhy pnot i
cphenomenast illfinds
i
t sexponent s.Account sofobser vat i
onsandexper iment spur porting
todemonst ratet hathy pnot ism notonl ypr esent shy peræst hesi aand
exagger atedf or msofment alact i
v i
ty,butt ranscendsal lnor mal
psy chol ogical processesandr eveal sahi ddenwor ldi nwhi chot her
forcesandot hermodesofment al communi cat ionf r eelyappear ,
ar ewi delyci rcul atedandsomet i
meswi tht heaut hor ityofnames
ofr eput e.Butt hemor edi scerning, themor eexact , andt hemor e
l
ogi calstudent sofhy pnot i
sm, cannotacceptsuchobser v ations,and
hav eof t
enbeenabl et opoi ntoutt heunmi stakabl esour cesofer ror
whi chgav er iset ot hem.Theshr ewdnessofhy pnot izedsubj ects,the
unconsci oussuggest i
onoft heoper ator, l
oosenessofobser vati
onand
theor eticalbi as, exer ciset hesamei nfluencef orer rort o-dayas
theypr esent edi nt heant ecedent sofhy pnot ism.

Inr eadingt hest oryofformeropinion,iti

sofadv antagetokeepi n
mi ndt hewel l
-establi
shedfactsregardinghypnot ism,notalonefor
thesakeofr ecogni zi
ngwhati simportantandwhatunessent i
al,
what
aret hei nstructi
veandwhatt heirr
elevantfactsanddet ail
s,but
alsof ort heequal advant
ageofsecur ingdataf ort hei
nter
pretati
on
ofphenomena, whi chint
heabsenceofpr esent -
dayknowl edge,andi
n
themi sl
eadi ngaccount scurrentatthet i
me, naturall
ygaver i
se
toext rav agantf or msofexpl anat ion.Ourknowl edgeofi nsani ty ,
hyst eria,andt rance- condi t
ions, oft hei nfluenceoft hemi nd
overt hebody ,oft henat ureofi llusi onandhal luci nat i
on, of
prepossessi onandsuggest i
on, shedast r
ongl ightuponr eli
gi ous
ecst asy ,upondemon- possessi on, uponcur esbyshr i
nesandr eli
cs,
orbyt heki ng' st ouch, upont hecont agi onofpsy chi cepi demi cs,
upont heact ionofmagnet izedt reeor" mesmer ized"wat er,upont he
perfor mancesof" sensi ti
ves"andsomnambul ists, andt hesensat i
onal
scenesenact edaboutt he" baquet ."Ourhi st
or i
cal sur v
eymi ght
accor di nglyincl udeanaccountoft hest at esofi nsensi bili
tyandof
thepot entpowerofsuggest ion, whi choccur redi nconnect i
onwi t
h
ther eligiousobser vancesi nt hepr act icesofanci entci vil
izations,
andhav eal way sf ormed, ast heyst i
llf or m, achar act eri
st i
ccul t
amongpr i
mi tivepeopl es.Thatsuchst at es,closel ycor respondi ng
tothehy pnot ict rance, ar einducedf ormagi cal pur posesamong
sav agesi smor et hanpr obabl e; equal lycl earisi tt hatint ersper sed
throught hev ener abler ecor dofmagi candwi tchcr aftandecst asy
andexor cism andmi r
acul ouscur es, ar eaccount sofst at es,induced
usual lybyr eli
giousf ervor,whi char est ronglysuggest i
veof
someoft hechar act eri
sticsoft hehy pnot i
ccondi ti
on.Buti nt he
i
nter est sofuni tyandbr ev it
yi twi llbebestt ol i
mi tat t
ent i
on
tothoseancest or sofhy pnot ism, ofwhosemet hodsandpr act iceswe
hav ef airl
ydef i
ni tei nformat ion.Mor eespeci all
ydoest hecar eerof
Mesmersuppl yt hemostf av or abl est ar ti
ng-poi ntoft hesur vey ;yet
somenot i
ceshoul dbet akenoft hosewhopr ecededhi mi nachi evi
ng
reput ationasheal ersofdi sease.

I
I

Oneoft hebestknownoft heseheal erswasVal entineGr eaterick

(orGr eatrakes) ,whowasbor ni nI rel
andi n1628, andwhocamet o
Engl and(about1665)byi nv itationofLor dConway ,uponami ssion
thusquai nt lyexpr essed: t
ocur e"thatexcel l
entl adyofhi s,the
painsofwhose_ head_ ,asgr eatandasunpar al
leledast heyar e,
hav enotmadehermor eknownandadmi r edathomeandabr oad, t
han
hav eherot herendowment s."LadyConwayseemst ohav ebeeni nt
ensel
y
dev otedtomy stical pursuits, andassembl edatRagl eyCast lesuchmen
asGr eatr
akes, Rev .JosephGl anvill
,F.R. S.,aut horof_ Sadduci smus
Triumphat us_ ,Dr .Henr yMoor e,theCambr idgePl atoni st,andot her
s
ofwhom Mr .Langspeaksas" anunof ficial butact i
vesoci etyf or
psy chicalresear ch, ast hatst udyexi stedi nt hesev ent eent h
cent ury.
"Theyt ol dt alesof" lev i
tation"andwi tchcraf tandt he
mov ement sofbodi esbyunseenagenci es, atal lofwhi choneort he
otherhadbeenaney ewitness; andGr eat r
akesseemst ohav etakenas
promi nentapar tint heseasi nt heheal ingpr oceedi ngs.Gr eatrakes
wascal l
edt ohi scar eerbyaspeci al i
ndi cat i
onofpr ov idence- -
"he
hear dav oy cewi thi
nhi m( audi blet ononeel se)encour agingt ot he
try
al s;andaf terwar dst ocor recthi sunbel i
eft hev oiceaf oresaid
addedt hi
ssi gne, _thathi srighthandshoul dbedead, andt hatt he
stroakingofhi sl eftar meshoul dr ecov eri tagai n_ ,t
heev ents
wher eofwer ef ullyv erif
iedbyhi mt hreeni ght stoget herbya
successi vei nf i
r mi t
yandcur eofhi sar me. "Whi l
ehef ailedt ocur e
LadyConway 'sheadaches" hewr oughtaf ewmi raclesofheal ingamong
rural i
nvalids,"andseemst ohav ebeenpar ticularlysuccessf ul
withner vouscompl aints."Isawhi m,"wr itesacont empor ary,"
put
hi
sFingeri
ntotheEar
esofamanwhowasv er
ythi
ckofHeari
ng,
andimmediat
elyhehear
dmewhenIaskedhimver
ysoft
lysever
all
quest
ions.
"

Thest at usoft hemedi cal sci enceoft hedayi swel lref lectedi n
thecommentofHenr ySt ubbe, phy sicianatSt rat for duponAv on, from
whosecont empor ar yaccountourknowl edgeofGr eat rakesi sobt ained.
Forexpl anat ionoft hecur es, hesuggest s" t
hatGodhadbest owedupon
Mr ._Gr eat ar i
ck_apecul iarTemper ament ,orcomposedhi sBodyof
somepar ticul arFer ment s, the_ Ef fl
uv i
a_wher eof , bei ngi nt roduced
somet imesbyal ight ,somet imesbyav iolentFr i
ct ion, shoul dr est ore
theTemper amentoft heDebi li
tat edpar ts,reinv igor at et heBl ood,
anddi ssi pat eal lhet erogeneousFer ment soutoft heBodi esoft he
Diseased, byt heEy es, Nose, Mout h, HandandFeet ."Howev ercr udemay
seem t hiscur ebyt he" Pr eci pitat i
onoft heMor bifiqueFer ment ,"the
theor etical posi ti
onofMesmeri snotl esshy pot het ical ,dogmat ic,
andgr at uitous.I ndeed, toGr eat r akes' sandhi sbi ogr apher '
scr edit,
i
tshoul dbenot edt hatt heyr ecogni zedt hedi st i
nct ionbet ween
funct i
onal andor gani ccompl aint s; thatMr .Gr eat arick" meddl es"
onlywi thsuchdi seasesas" hav et hei rEssenceei theri nt hemasse
ofBl oodandSpi rit(orner vousl iquor s)ori nt hepar ti
cul ar
Temper amentoft hepar tsoft heBody ,
"t hathecur esnodi sease
"wher eint her ei sadecayofNat ur e."" Thisi saconf essedt rut hby
him, her ef usingst i
ll t
ot oucht heEy esofsuchast hei rsi ghthas
quiteper ished. "Nonet hel esshi scur eswer er egar dedasmi racul ous,
andDr .St ubbet el lsust hat" ast her ei sbutoneMr .Gr eatar ick,
sot her ei sbutoneSunne" ; andt odi spel incredul ityi nr egar dt o
thesewonder s, headds: " Wear eal l I
ndi ansandSal vagesi nwhatwe
hav enotaccust omedoursenses: Whatwasconj ur ingi nt hel astagei s
Mat hemat iquesi nt his.Andi fwedobutconsi dert hesol eef fectsof
Gun- powder ,asi ti ssev er allyt obeused, andr ev olv ewi thour selves
whatwewoul dhav et houghti fwehadbeent ol dt hosePr odi gies, and
notseent hem; wi l
l wet hinki tst rangei fment hi nkt heact i
ons
ofext raor dinar yFer ment si mpossi ble? "Butt ol eav et he" Fer ment s"
forther ecor dedaccountofwhatwasdone, wecanonl ynot et hat
Great rakes' smet hodsconsi st edmai nlyofst r
oki ngsandpassesand
i
ndr iv i
ngt hepai nsf rom onepoi ntt oanot herunt il theywentout
atthef inger sort oes.Ther ei snot hingr ecor dedt hatdef i
nitely
suggest st hepr oduct ionoft hehy pnot i
cst ate; butdi rectsuggest i
on,
rei
nf orcedbymani pul ations, obv iousl yhadmucht odowi t
ht hecur es.
Theycl ear lyappr oxi mat emor ecl osel ytot hef ai th- cur emet hodsof
to-dayt hant ot hephenomenaofhy pnot i
sm.

Thel at
terhal foft heei ghteenthcent uryseemst ohav eof f ered
social,
intell
ect ual,andpol iti
calcondi t
ionspecul i
ar l
yf av orabl e
tothesuccessoff antasticschemer s,ofpropagandi st sof
str
angephi l
osophi es,andadv er t
isersofsuper natural procedur es
forshort-cir
cui t
ingt her oadtoheal th,weal t
h,knowl edge, and
i
mmor tal
ity.Int hi
sper i
odt hereappear edSwedenbor g'sinspi r
ed
revelat
ionsandphi losophiccult;Cagl i
ostro'sextravagantcl aimsof
personal powerandbol d-f
acedi mpost ures;Schrepf er, whocombi ned
withMasoni cmy steriesast ri
kingant i
cipationoft hemat er i
ali
zing
séancesofmoder nspi rit
uali
sm; Gassner , t
hepriest, exor cist,
andheal er;andf i
nal l
yMesmer ,thef ounderofani mal magnet i
sm,
andt hr
oughi tthepar entofanendl esspr ogenyofunpr ov edand
unprovabl esy stems, andofequal lyirr
ationalpractices.
Itiswor thwhi let oconsi derforamomentt hecar eerofGassner ,i
f
fornoot herr easont hant hatMesmerwi t nessedGassner 'spr ocedur es,
andt hatt heirmet hodshav esomepoi ntsi ncommon, -
-inpar ti
cul arthe
callingoutofacut esy mpt oms, or"acr isis, "asameansofcur e.
JohannJosephGassner ,aSuabi anpr i
est , appear edasacur erof
diseaseabout1773; her egardedmostmal adi esasofSat anicor igi
n,
andat tempt edcur esbydr i
vi
ngoutt hedemonofdi seasebyappeal to
divineagency .Af teri nqui r
yregar dingt henat ureoft hecompl aint
andi tssy mpt oms, hewoul dur get hepat ientt ohav ef aith, and
per hapswoul dof ferapr ayerforhi sr ecov er y;hewoul dt hencal lout
thev arioussy mpt omsofpai n,stiffness, weakness, andt hel i
ke, and
att hewor d"_ Cesset _"thesesy mpt omswoul ddi sappear ."_Cesseti sta
Debi lit
as_ ,"
--thepat ientbecomesasst rongandasact iveast hough
hehadnev erbeensi ck."_Modoadsi tFebr ist ant um i nManuetBr achio
dext ro_ ,
"--
ther ighthandbecomescol dandnumb, andt rembl es,
thepul sei nt hisar mi srapid, f
ev erish,andst rong, butsl owand
nor mal inthel eft."_ Cesseti nist aManuetadeatsi nistr
am_ ,
"--the
l
ef tar m nowbecomesast her i
ghthadbeen, andt hepul seoft he
righti snownor mal ;andsot het r
eat mentpr oceeds, accompani edby
thei nv ocat i
on, "_Pr æci piohoci nnomi neJesu_ ."Thi spr ocessof
alternat ionofpai nandi tsremi ssioni scont inued, unt i
latl engt h
thepat ientisdi smi ssedascur ed.Thest at usofGassner 'scur es,
exceptf orthei rmor epr onouncedr el
igiouschar act er,ismucht he
sameast hoseofGr eat r
akes; bot hexhi bitt heef fect sofsuggest ion,
butnei therr ecogni zedt hepr ocessofsuggest i
on, norgi v esev idence
ofhav ingpr oducedanabnor mal condition.Thi s,howev er, i
sbyno
meansexcl uded; andGr eatrakes' saccountoft hei nsensi bili
tyofhi s
ownar m, aswel last hesi milarst ateinducedi nhispat i
ent sby
Gassner ,i
ndi cat eahi ghdegr eeofsuggest ibilit
y.

I
II

Friedr ichAnt onMesmerwasbor ninI znang, ont heLakeofConst ance,

May23, 1734; dest i
nedbyhi spar ent sf orthechur ch, het ur nedf r
om
thest udyoft heol ogyt ot hatofl aw, andagai nchangedt omedi ci
ne.
Hegr aduat edasaphy sicianf r
om t heUni versit
yofVi ennai n1776,
andi nhi sdoct or'
st hesisupon" TheI nfluenceoft hePl anet son
theHumanBody ,
"heat t
empt edt or evivet heunder lyi
ngdoct rinesof
astr ologyf rom amedi cal poi ntofv i
ew.Hedef i
nedt he" qual i
tyof
animal bodi es, r
ender i
ngt hem suscept ibletot heinfluenceofheav en
andear th,"as" animal magnet i
sm; "andr egardedt heact i
oni nv ol
ved
asanal ogoust ot hatoft hemoonupont heebbandf lowoft het i
de.
Thef luct uationsandper iodi cit
iesofdi seasehesoughtt opr oduce
artificiall
y ,andt her eforecal ledhi stheor ythe" i
mi t
ativet heor y ,
"
theobj ectbei ngt oi mitatet heupsanddownsofnat ur e.Her ecor ds
hisf irstpr act i
cal testont he28t hofJul y,1774, whenhepl aced
magnet supont hechestandf eetofhi spat i
ent,ay oungl ady ,who
wassuf f
er i
ngf rom av ar i
et yofmor bi dsy mpt oms.Shor tlyt hereafter
"shef eltinternal l
yapai nf ulst r
eami ngofav eryf i
nesubst ance
goingnowher eandnowt her e,butf inallysettli
ngi nthel ower
par tofherbody ,andf reeingherf rom al l f
urtherat t
acksf orsi x
hour s. "Somewhatl ater ,
whent hesamepat i
entchancedt obesuf feri
ng
from oneofherat tacks, andwasl yi
ngunconsci ous, sher esponded
byv i
ol entmov ement stot hesl i
ghtestt ouchofMesmer ,butr emai ned
entir
elyunr
esponsivetothemani pulati
onsofaby stander.Oneof
si
xcupswast henchosenbyMesmer '
sv i
sit
ort obei mpressedwi th
magnet i
cproperti
es.Contactwit
ht hiscup,whi chMesmerhadt ouched,
producedinthepatientmov ementsofherhandsandexpr essionsof
pain.Mesmer '
sinfl
uencemadei tselffel
tatadi stanceofei ght
steps,andevenwhenat hirdpersonst oodbet weent hetwo.These
si
mpl eobservati
onsweret hehumbl ebeginningsoft hepr acti
cesof
animal magneti
sm.

Thedet ail
sofMesmer '
sear lydoi ngsar eofspeci al value,forin
them wemayexpectt odi scov erthet ruenat ureoft hemanandhi s
system; ourknowl edgeoft hem i sder i
v edmai nlyfrom t heaccount ,
wr i
tt
ensomet hir
ty -
fivey earsaf tertheev ent s,byanott oo
discerningey ewi tness.Theygi veasuf fi
ci entlydef initepicture
ofhismannerandmet hods.Magnet sandel ectricmachi nes,passes
andst roki ngs, fantast icdressandequal lyf antasticmani pulati
ons,
heut il
izedev enbef orehebecamewel l known.Themet hodwasal ways
thesame; callingoutpai nsandpar oxy smsandcr i
ses, andi nturn
all
ayingt hesy mpt omst husar ousedunt ilthepat i
entwaspr onounced
cured.Fr om t hef irst,too, hewasanxi oust osecur et her ecogniti
on
ofaut hor i
tat i
vebodi esofsci entifi
cmen.Ear lyin1775, Mesmer
proposedhi st heor yforaccept ancet osev erallearnedsoci eti
es,but
receivednoencour agement .Hi suseofmagnet s( whi chhepr obably
derivedf rom t heast ronomer ,Hel l
)hadar ousedt heopposi ti
onofhi s
fell
ow- pract it
ioner s,andhi spr ofessedcur eofapr ot égéofMar ia
Theresai nv ol
v edhi mi nasomewhatunseeml ydisput e,ulti
mat el
y
necessi tatinghi sdepar t
uref rom Vi enna.I nFebr uar y,1778, hecame
toPar is,wher eheent ereduponar emar kabl ebutbr iefcareer,
terminat i
ngsomewhatabr uptlyin1784.

Mesmerhasl ef tusanar rat i

veofhi sdoi ngsdur i
ngt hef i
rstt hr ee
ofthesey ears- -
ar ecor ddev otedal mostexcl usivelyt oawear i
some
accountofhi scont r oversi eswi ththev ariousl earnedsoci eti
esof
Paris.Heappeal edt ot heFr enchAcademyofSci encesandt ot heRoy al
Medi cal Soci et y,announci ngamostwonder ful phy sical discov ery,to
descr ibewhi chsui t ablewor dswer easy etlacki ng.Mesmerwi shed
thesesoci etiest osanct i
onhi sdiscov ery, nott oactasj udgesof
i
tst r
ut h,ofwhi chhesay st her ecanbenor easonabl edoubt .He
offeredt hem aser iesofdogmat icproposi t
ions, set ti
ngf or t
ht he
natur eofani mal magnet i
sm, andappar ent l
ydesi redt hecur est o
beconsi der edasubor dinat epar toft hei ssue.Hewas, howev er ,
continuousl yengagedi ncur ingdi sease.Hi smostv aluabl econv ert
wasM.Desl on, amemberoft heMedi cal Facul t
yofPar i
s, amanof
consi derabl ei nfluence, whoatonceespousedMesmer '
scausewi t
h
unlimi tedent husi asm.Hei nvitedadozenofhi scol leaguest omeet
Mesmeratdi nner , andhadr eadt othem anexposi tionoft hesy stem
ofani mal magnet ism.Thecompanyseem nott ohav ebeenv erydeepl y
i
mpr essed; fori twaswi thdi fficultythatDesl oni nducedt hree
ofthem t oassoci at et hemsel veswi thhi mi nani nv est igat i
on; and
theysoondeser tedhi m, whent heirrequest sf orsimpl e, unambi guous
testsandt heirexpl anat i
onoft heobser v edef fectasduet oan
overst imul atedi magi nation, wer eali
kedi sregar ded.Thepoi ntat
i
ssuei nt heset est sseemst ohav ebeenwhet herMesmeri nhi sown
personpossessedani nf l
uenceormagnet icr adiation, whi chbr ought
himi nt orappor twi thhi smagnet ical
lysensi ti
v esubj ect s; butMesmer
appar entlyr egar dedanyt estt hatr eflect edt heskept ical at t
itude
oftheinvesti
gatorsasunbecomi nglysuspi cious.Desl
on, howev er,
remainedast aunchbeli
everinthenewsy stem, anddefendedi tscause
beforetheFacultyofMedicine,dwell
ingupont hehonorofhav i
ng
i
tpresentedtot hem,andtheet ernalglorytheywoul dmer itby
accepti
ng" t
hemosti mportantdiscov eryatwhi chthehumanmi ndhad
evermar vel
ed."ButtheFacultyvotedt orejectthepropositions,and
Deslonlosthisseatinthei
rbody .

Thisadv erseaction,toget herwithMesmer '

sthr eattol eav eFrance,
seemst ohav eswel l
edt heent husiasm inhisbehal ftoenor mous
proportions.Het el
lsust hather eceivedalett
erf rom thequeen
urginghi m nott oshirkhi sdut ytomanki ndbyleav i
ngFr anceatthis
j
unct ure, t
hathewasv isi
tedbyahi ghoffi
ci
alinbehal foft he
kingof feri
nghi m anannui tyof20, 000liv
res,withanaddi t
ional
10,000l ivr
esf orther ental ofanest abli
shmentf oroper ati
nghi s
cures.Mesmeri nsistedupont hef ormalandirrevocabl eadmi ssi
onof
theexist enceandut i
lit
yofhi sdi
scov eryasprelimi naryt oall
negot i
at i
ons, anddemanded, inaddi t
iontotheannui t
y, thegiftof
anest ate; butthi
swasast epfartherthanroyal protectionwoul d
venture.

Ouri nf or mat ionr egar di ngt hel atterportionofMesmer 'sPar isian

careeri smeagr e.I n1781Desl onpubl i
shedhi swor kon" Animal
Magnet ism, "inwhi chher epeat swi t
hundi minishedent husiasm hi s
praisesofMesmer ,descr ibest hemar velouscur eshehaswi tnessedand
prophesi est heev ent ual triumphoft hesy stem.Shor tlyt hereaf ter
Mesmerwentt ot heSpa; Desl onr emai nedi nPar isandbegant ot reat
patient sbyani mal magnet ism andwi t
hgr eatsuccess.Hef or meda
speci al pr i
v atecl assofeducat edmenandwomen, from eachofwhom
her ecei v edt enl oui sd' orpermont h.Uponhear i
ngoft hi s,Mesmer
hurriedbackt oPar isandf oundhi sf or
meradher ent sdi videdi nto
Mesmer istsandDesl oni sts.Het hen( October ,1782)denouncedDesl on
asonewhohadbet ray edhi ssecr etsandwasmi srepr esent ingt he
system.Thr ought heef f
or tsoff riends,ani nnerci rcle--thef i
rst
ofthe" Logesd' Har moni e"--wasf ormed, consi stingofonehundr ed
member s, eachofwhom pai donehundr edl ouisd' orf ort hepr i
v i
lege
ofhear ingMesmer '
sexposi tionofhi swhol esecr et.Di ssensi ons
anddi scussi onscont inuedt oar i
se; oneofhi shear erssai d"that
thosewhoknowt hesecr etar ei ngr eaterdoubtt hant hosewhoar e
i
gnor antofi t
;"andM.Ber thel l
ot ,thechemi st,whoi npay inghi s
feer eser vedt her i
ghtofcr i
t i
cism, wassoi rr
it
at edatt hepedant ic
andr idi culoust reat mentt owhi chhewassubj ect ed, t
hatheupset
the" baquet "andl ef tther oom i nav iol
entr age.Mat terswentoni n
thi
sway ,wi thfrequentpr oposi ti
onsofasci entifi
cexami nation, and
asfr equentr efusal sont hepar tofMesmert ohav efur therdeal ings
withsci ent ifi
csoci et ies, unt i
l,i
n1784, thef amouscommi ssionwas
appoi nt edbyt het hr one.

Thiscommi ssi
onwascomposedoff ourmember soft heFacultyof
Medi cine,MM.Bor ie(whoathi sdeathwassucceededbyM.Maj aul
t),
Sall
in,Dar cet,Guill
oti
n,towhom wer eaddedf iv
emember softhe
AcademyofSci ences, MM.Fr ankl
in,Leroy,Bail
ly,
Lav oi
sier,
and
deBor y .Theirreportdescribesinscrupulousandcar ef
uldetai
l
everythingthatt heywitnessedatt hehouseofDesl on,whocar eful
ly
andci rcumst antial
lyassuredthem thatMesmer '
spr oceduresandhi s
ownwer equitethesame; andwhoal lowedt hem thegreatestfreedom
i
nexami nationsandt est s.Theyt ri
edt het reatmentt hemsel ves, but
feltnoef fect s.Theyemphasi zedt hef actthatpubl icper for mances
i
nwhi chexci tementandcont agionhav efull playar emor esuccessf ul
thanpr ivateones, andt hatt hesubj ectsmosteasi l
yi nf l
uenced
aret obef oundamongt hei gnor antr atherthanamongt heeducat ed
classes.Theybl indfoldedoneoft hei rsubject s,andpr etendedt o
per formt heusual passes, whi let heyr eall
ydi dnot hing; yett he
expect edr esul t
sensued.I twasbel ievedt hatwhent hesubj ect
camei ncont actwi that r eet hathadbeenmagnet ized, t
hesy mpt oms
ofanappr oachi ngcr isiswoul dbemani f
ested; accor di ngl ytheyhad
at reei nFr ankl i
n'sgar denmagnet i
zed, butt heirsubj ectwentt o
fourot hert r
eesandateachexhi bitedt heusual phenomena.Fr om
suchexper i
ment s,ingeni ousl ydev isedandv aried,thecommi ssi
oner s
concl udedt hatt heef fect swi tnessedwer eduet oanov er stimul ated
i
magi nat ion, toanant icipat i
onoft her esult,toexci tementand
cont agi on."Letusr epr esentt oour sel ves,
"t heysay ,"thesi tuat i
on
ofaper sonoft hel owercl ass, andi nconsequencei gnor ant ,
attackedwi thadi stemperanddesi rousofacur e,i
nt roducedwi th
somedegr eeofcer emonyt oal argecompanypar t
lycomposedof
phy sicians, wher eanoper ationi sper formeduponhi m, tot allynew,
andf r
om whi chheper suadeshi msel fbefor ehandt hathei saboutt o
exper iencepr odigiousef f ects.Letusaddt ot histhathei spai d
forhi scompl iance, thathet hinksheshal lcont ributemor et oour
satisfact ionbypr ofessi ngt oexper i
encesensat ionsofsomeki nd, and
weshal lhav edef i
nitecausest owhi cht oat tri
but etheseef f
ect s."

Therewaspr esent edatt hesamet i

measecr etr epor tbyt hesame
commi ssion, dwel lingupont hedanger stomor alityinher enti nt hese
practices.Acommi ssi onappoi ntedbyt heRoy alMedi cal Soci ety
repor t
edt ot hesameef f
ect .Theyf oundi nal l
t heirexper i
ment st hat
anexpect ationoft her esul twasnecessar ytoi tsaccompl i
shment ,
andt heydi rect edat tent i
onanewt ot heent i
rel ackofpr oofof
anyofMesmer 'spr oposi ti
onsr egar dingt hemagnet icf luid.Tot his
secondr epor tther ewasonedi ssent ingv oice, thatofJussi eu, the
botani st,who, whi ler ej ecti
ngal lbel i
efi nani mal magnet ism, yet
curi
ousl yr egar dedheat ,asdev elopedbyf ri
ction, asanessent ial
factoroft hephenomena.Fur ther mor e,M.Thour etrepor ted, byr equest
ofthesamesoci ety, upont hel i
teratur eandhi storyoft hedoct r
ine,
andt racedt henot i
onswhi chMesmeradv ancedt ool derwr iters; and
showedt hesi mi l
ar i
tyofhi spr act i
cest othoseoff ormerast rologer s
andmy stics.I nopposi tiont ot heser epor ts,ofwhi chmor et han
twent yt housandcopi eswer eissued, Mesmerdenouncedt hegov er
nment,
thesci ent ifi
csoci eties, t
hemedi cal pr ofession, andal l whohad
opposedhi m.Hi sat titudemaybei nfer redfrom t hecl osi ngwor dsofa
l
ettert oFr anklin."Iam l i
key ou, Sir,oneoft hosewhom onecannot
oppr esswi thoutdanger ,oneoft hosemen, who, becauset heyhav edone
greatt hings, disposeofi nsul tasot hermendi sposeofaut hor i
ty .If
anyonel ikey ou, Si r
,car est ot ryit,Ihav ethewor ldasmyj udge,
andi ft hewor l
dcanf or gett hegoodIhav edone, andpr ev entt he
goodIwi sht odo, Ihav epost erityasmyav enger ."

Theseadv ersereportsweremosti nfl

uentiali
nterminat
ingMesmer '
s
careeri
nPar is;
buti nthi
stheywer eassistedbyotherevents.
Several
deat hsatt he"baquet"al
armedhi sadherent
s,andwer e
promptl
yt urnedtoaccountbyhi sopponents.ThedeathofM.Cour t
deGébelin,anaut horandpr ominentmanoft heday,wast heoccasi
on
ofthecharacter
isti
ccomment softheper
iod;andespeci
all
ysoas
hehadr ecent
lyandpublicl
yannouncedhi
si ndebt
ednessforrenewed
healt
htoMesmer .Oneofthejour
nalsnot
edhi sdeat
hthus:"M.
CourtdeGébel i
nv i
entdemourir
,guéri
parleMagnetismeanimale;"
anothersuggestedforhi
sepit
aph:-
-

"
Ci gî
tcepauvreGébeli
n,
Quisavai
tgrec,hébr
eu,l
ati
n;
Admirezt
oussonhér oï
sme,
I
lfutmarty
rdemagnet i
sme."

Acomedyent i
tl
ed"Doct
eursModernes"broughtthe"baquet"uponthe
stage,r
idi
culedMesmerandhisprocedures,andhintedwithnogreat
deli
cacyattheabusestowhichthepopulari
tyofhistreat
mentmi ght
gi
v eri
se.I
nEngl andt
hesystem wasthussatir
ized:

THEWONDERFULMAGNETI
CALELI
XIR

Takeofthechymical
oilofFear
,Dr
ead,
andTerror
,each 4ounces;
oftherect
if
iedSpir
it
sofImagi
nati
on 2pounds;

Putallthesei
ngr edi
entsint
othebot tl
eoff ancy,
digestforsev
er aldays,
andtakef ort
ydr opsatabout
nineinthemor ning,orafewmi nutesbef or
ey ou
receiv
eapor t
ionoft heMagneticEf f
luvi
a.Theywi l
l
maket heeffl
uviahav easurpr
isingeffect,et
c.,et
c.

In1785t hereappear edamockf uner alorat i

onuponMesmer ,
travestyi
ngwi thendl essext ravagancehi spr etensi onsandmet hods.
Car i
caturewasaf avori
temodeofat tack; andt heexampl est hathave
escapeddest ruct i
onv i
vidlypreservet hespi ritandt helocal col
or
oft hetimes.Yetbot hlearnedandunl earnedopi nionwasdi v i
ded,
andt hepr esswast hemedi um ofeul ogyaswel l asofdenunci ati
on.
Ofst il
lgreaterimpor tancewer ethedi scov eriesoft heMar quisde
Puy ségur,oneofMesmer 'sdisci
ples, whichdi vertedt heinterestin
animal magnet ism intoanewchannel ;and, finall
y ,theturmoi lof
theFr enchRev olutiondr oveMesmer i
sm i ntoobscur i
ty,andMesmert o
ar etr
eati nthet ownofFr auenfeld,neart hel akeofConst ance.
Ourl astpictureofMesmershowshi ml ivingi nsi mpl eseclusion,
compl ainingoft hewor ld'streatmentofhi m, per formi ngcur esamong
thoseabouthi m, andcher i
shingtot heendhi sbel i
efinani mal
magnet i
sm.Hedi edMar ch5, 1815, atMeer sbur g, wherehel i
esbur i
ed.

I
V

Thesy stem ofani mal magnet i

sm Mesmersummedupi naseriesof
twenty-sev enpropositi
onspr esentedentir
elywi thoutproof ,
assert
ing
theexistenceofan" universallydif
fusedsubt leflui
d, appeari
ng
i
nal lportionsoft hecelestialsystem, andaf f
ectingt heanimal
economybyi nsi
nuatingitselfintothener ves;ithaspr operti
es
analogoust othatofthemagnet ,mayber eflectedlikelight,
propagatedl ikesound, andmaybei ncreased, opposed, accumulat
ed,
transmittedt oanotherobj ect,andt r
anspor t
ed; f
urthermor ethi
s
princi
ple,whi chis,i
naway ,asixthsensear ti
fici
all
yacqui red,
willcur ener vousdi seasedi rect ly, andot hersi ndi rect l
yby
prov oki ngsal ut ar ycr i
ses, thusbr i
ngi ngt hear tofheal i
ngt o
perfect ion. "Mesmer '
smet hodsv ariedatdi f fer entst agesofhi s
career .Theuseofmagnet sast hemai norexcl usi v ef actori nhi s
cures, heseemst ohav eabandonedbef oregoi ngt oPar i
s; atf irst
hemadet hepasseswi thhi shands, orwi t
hani ronr od, direct ing
hisf inger st owar dhi spat ient ,andemphasi zingt hesemov ement sby
stroki ngsandr ubbi ngs.Theobj ectoft hesemani pul ationswast o
concent rat eandsendoutt hemagnet ism wi thwhi chhi sbodywas
satur at ed.Thi smagnet ism hecoul dt ransf ert oot her sort oi nani mat e
object s." Ihav emagnet izedpaper ,br ead, wool , silk, leat her ,
stone, gl ass, wat er,differ entmet al s, wood, men, dogs, --inone
wor d, al lthatIhav et ouched, sot hatt hesesubst ancespr oducedt he
sameef fect sont hepat ient sast hemagnet s."Whenhi si ncr easi ng
successnol ongeral lowedhi mt oat tendper sonal lyt oal lhi s
patient s, heempl oy edav alett oucher ,ori mpar tedt hecur at i
v e
proper tiest owat er, t
oat ree, et c.Att hehei ghtofhi scar eerhe
dev i
sedt he" baquet ,"whi chhedescr i
besasa" smal l openv essel
onat hr ee- l
eggedsuppor t ,from whi chemer gedsomebenti ronr ods,
thepoi nt sofwhi chcoul dbeeasi lyappl i
edt ot heout erpar tsof
thebody ,suchast hehead, br east , stomach, etc. "Thebaquetand
otherpar apher nal iaser vedt oconcent rateandi mpar tt hef l
ui dt hat
i
ssuedabundant l
yf rom Mesmer '
sper son.Aney ewi tnesst husdescr i
bes
ther esul tsoft het r
eat ment :"Somepat ientsexper iencedpai nsand
fever ;ot her sf el l i
nt ounusual andsev ereconv ulsi ons, frequent l
y
l
ast i
ngf ort hreehour s;ot her sbecamef aintanddazed, andbut
fewr emai nedunaf fected.Ther ewer emani fest edt hemostv iolent
i
nv olunt ar ydi st or t
ionsoft hel imbs; par tialsuf focat ion, heav ingof
theabdomen, wi ldgl ances, wer eobser ved; onepat ientut terspi ercing
cri
es, anot herhasf itsofl aught er, whi leat hir dbur stsi ntot ear s.
Not hingcanbr eakt hisspel lsav et hecommandoft hemagnet izer ,
andwhet hert hepat i
entsbei nt hewi ldestf renzyori nt hedeepest
stupor ,awor d, look, ornodoft hemast eri ssuf f
ici entt obr i
ng
them t oconsci ousness.Thi sv iolentcondi t
ionwast echni cal lyt ermed
acr isis, anddepr ivedt hepat ient sofal l consci ousnesssot hat
nonecoul datal lrememberwhathadbeenf el t,hear d, ordonewhi l
e
i
nt hi scondi t
ion; andy ett heywer esosensi tiv et hatonecoul dnot
comei ncont actwi tht hem, notev ent oucht hechai ronwhi cht hey
sat,wi thoutcausi ngf ri
ghtandconv ul sionswhi chonl yt hemast er
couldpaci fy .
"Ast hecur espr ogr essed, thepat i
ent sl ostt heir
sensi tiv enesst ot hemagnet i
cf luid.Thescenesaboutt hebaquethav e
comet obet hemostusual associ at i
onwi tht henameofMesmer .The
diml yl itr oom, theodorofi ncense, t hemel lowt onesoft heor gan,
thehushedsi lenceandanxi ousexpect ancy ; theent ranceofMesmer ,
wandi nhand, cl adi nst rikingr obes, toi ni t
iat et hecr isest hat
thenspr eadbyt hecont agi onofner v ousdi sor der ; all theser ef lect
thei nt ellect ual andsoci al condi tionsoft het ime, andar emost
natur al l
yi nt erpr et edast headapt ationofashr ewdadv ent urert ohi s
env i
ronment .

Intheli
ghtofthisaccountitbecomescl earthatwhilean
alt
eredconditi
onofthener voussystem andast ateofincreased
suggesti
bil
it
ywer econstantl
ymani f
estedinMesmer 's_sal
ledes
cri
ses_,yetMesmerdi dnotatallappreciat
et henatureofthe
processbywhi chtheeff
ectswer eproduced, nort
hecondi ti
onwhich
hebroughtaboutinhispat i
ents.I
nbr i
ef,Mesmer i
sm inthehands
ofMesmerwascl ear l
yonl yanant ecedentofhy pnot ism.Yetcer tain
oft hemor edet aileddescr i
pti
onsoft hescenesaboutt hebaquet
unmi stakabl yindi catet hatsomeofMesmer '
ssubj ect swenti nt oat r
ue
hy pnot i
ccondi tion; thatasmanyormor ewer et hev i
ctimsofmor eor
l
esscompl exhy sterical attacksi sequal lycl ear.Butt ot hi
saspect
oft hephenomena, Mesmerwasent irelyinat t
ent i
ve.Hi sattentionwas
dev otedt ot heel abor ati
onoft hephy sical agenci eswhi chinhi s
viewwer et hecauseoft hephenomena, andt ot hepr oductionoft he
ratherv i
olentsy mpt omsoft hecr isiswhi chheal way sr egardedasan
essent i
al par toft hecur at i
vepr ocedur e.Heel abor atedt hebaquet ,
fi
lledi twi thbot tlesandgl assandi ronf il
ingsandwat erar r
anged
i
nf anciful way s, andi nsomemy st ical sensesuggest iveofmagnet i
c
i
nf luences.Mesmer ism t husconsi st edoft hei nduct i
onofcr isesby
ani mal magnet i
sm, asconcent rat edi nMesmer '
sper sonandassi stedby
thebaquet ,bypassesandphy sical mani pul ati
ons.Far therthant his
Mesmernev erwenti nhiscompr ehensi onoft hephenomenat hatwenow
knowashy pnot i
sm.I ndeed, whenhewasconf rontedwi thPuy ségur '
s
subj ectsi nt hesomnambul icstate, her egar dedt hepr oduct i
onoft his
truehy pnot iccondi t
ionasf oolish, andconsi der edi ttobeonl ya
subor dinatephaseoft hemagnet iccr isi
s.Towar dst hecl oseofhi s
l
ife, andwhent het urmoi l andthegl oryofhi sPar isiancar eer
wer ememor i
esoft hepast ,whenhehadhadabundantoppor t
uni tyfor
reflect i
onandf ort heobser vati
onoft heal teredcondi tionwhi cht he
stat usofMesmer ism hadassumed, Mesmerst il
lmai nt ai
nedunal tered
thedogmasofani mal magnet i
sm.

Incrit
icism oft heat t
itudeoft hecommi ssion, i
tmaycer t
ainl ybe
heldthatt heyunder est i
mat edt hesi gnifi
canceofwhatt heysawand
usedt het er m" imagi nat i
on"i nasensebot hv agueanduncr it
ical;
andy ett het enoroft hei rconcl usionswasaswhol esomeasi twas
j
ustifi
abl e.Theywer epr i
mar il
yconcer nedwi tht hecor rect nessof
theproposedexpl anat i
onoft hephenomena, andwi t
ht hev al
ueoft he
curati
v epr ocedur es; andont hesepoi ntsthei rver dictisl ogi cal l
y
reachedandf or ciblyst at ed.Thepsy chicelementi nthegui dance
ofconductasi nt het reat mentofdi seasest heywer epr epar ed
toacknowl edge, butnotasani ndorsementofani mal magnet ism.
"I
nsear chi ngf orani magi narycausef oranimal magnet i
sm, t
he
actualpowerwhi chmanexer cisesov erhisf ell
ow- beingswi thout
theimmedi ateandev i
denti nter vent i
onofaphy sical agent , is
recognized. "Thei rt est sev i
dencet heirappr eciationoft heef f
icacy
ofsuggest ion, apowerwhi cht heyadmi t"canbeel abor at edt oan
art.
"Whi l
ei tmaypr oper l
ybeur gedt hatther epor tcont ribut edt o
thepost ponementoft hesci ent if
icst udyoft hiscl assofphenomena,
i
tsadmi rabl el ogical qual iti
esent i
tl
ei tsauthor st ot hegr atitude
andhonor abl er emembr anceofmanki nd.Indeed, indef erencet o
theexci tedst ateofpubl icopi ni onoft hetime, theysubj ect ed
themsel v esandot her st omostpai nst aki
ngt est s,assumi ngt hebur den
ofdispr oof , andt reat ingMesmer '
sar bit
raryat t
itudewi thmor e
thansci ent ificf air ness.Thei rv erdictnotonl ydest roy edMesmer '
s
pretensions, buthel doutar at ional,thoughi nourpr esentl ight san
i
nadequat e, inter pr etat ionoft hephenomena, thensosensat i
onal l
y
presentedt oanexci tedanddi st r
act i
on-lovingpubl ic.

V
Beforet hecommi ssi oner shadcompl et edt heirexami nat ion, the
aspectofani mal magnet i
sm was, int hehandsofaFr enchnobl eman,
under goinganent irechange.TheMar quisA.M.J.Chast enetde
Puy ségur,borni n1752, cameofadi stingui shedf ami ly, andhi msel f
tookani mportantpar tint heRev olut ion; hisdeat hwast her esul t
ofar omant i
cbuti mpr udentactofdev oti
ont other oy alistcause,
ont heoccasi onoft hecor onat i
onofChar lesX.i n1825.Hewasone
ofMesmer '
ssel ectpupi ls,andhi msel fagoodsubj ectatt hebaquet ;
andl i
kewi seremai nedaf irm suppor teroft hedoct rinesofani mal
magnet i
sm.Hehadconst ruct edabaquetathi sest ateatBuzancy ,
andwasappl yi
ngt he" Mesmer i
c"pr act icesamonghi sdependent s.It
happenedont hef our thofMay ,1784, thathehadmagnet i
zedhi s
subject,Victor,int heusual way , when( tocont i
nuewi thhi sown
wor ds)"whatwasmysur pri
set oseeatt heendofaquar terofan
hourt hismansl eepi ngpeaceabl yi nmyar mswi thoutconv ulsionor
pain..
..Hespokeandseemedoccupi edwi thhisownt hought s. .
..I
perceivedt hatthesewer eaf fectinghi m unpl easant ly,andIst opped
them andsuggest edpl easant erones, whi chi ndeedwasnotdi fficult.
SoonIsawt hathewashappy ,i
magi ningt hathehaddr awnapr i
zeor
wasdanci ngataf êt e, etc.;thesei deasIf ostered, andt husf or ced
himt omov eaboutonhi schai rasi fdanci ngt oamel ody ,whi chI
madehi mr epeatal oud, byhummi ngi tmy self
."Uponawakeni ng, Victor
remember ednot hingofwhathadhappened.I nt hisobser vati
ont her e
areclear l
yrecogni zabl eanal teredment al condition, asl eep- l
ike
unconsci ousst ate, lossofmemor yuponawakeni ng, andsuggest ibil
i
ty
ofsensat ions,ideas, andmov ement s, --
allimpor tantchar acter i
st i
cs
ofat ruehy pnosi s.Indeed, t
hismaybeconsi deredast hef i
rst
clearl
yr ecordedanduncompl icat edpr oduct i
onoft hecondi ti
onwhi ch
madepossi bl
et hest udyofhy pnot ism.

Thephenomenat huspr esent edmi ghtr eadilyhav ebeent he

starti
ng- poi ntofasci ent if
icinv estigat ionoft hispecul i
ar
state, hadnotasubsequentobser vat i
onunf ortunat elydirectedt he
exper iment si ntoadi fferentchannel .WhenVi ctorwasagai nthrown
i
nt othi s" magnet iccr isis"orsl eep,--asPuy séguratf i
rsttermed
i
t,-
-hebegant ospeak, descr ibinghi sai lment s, direct i
ngwhat
shoul dbedonet oef f
ecthi scur e,andgi vingsi milarpr escripti
ons,
whenquest ionedi nr egar dtot het reat mentofot her s.Thi sstrange
condi tion, whi chbyi tsanal ogyt osl eep- wal kingcamet obet ermed
"art
ificial somnambul ism, "wasdest inedt omar kat urning-pointin
thehi st or yoft het opic.I twasev i
dent , almostf rom t heout set,
thatthebaquetandt heot herpar apher nali
a, thecr ises, pain,
andcont ortionswer er enderedqui teunnecessar y.Thepat i
ent shad
becomet heirownphy sicians, prescr ibingsuchsi mpl eremedi esas
wer ef ami li
art othem byuseorhear say ,andpr edi ctingt het i
meof
appear anceandt henat ureoft hesy mpt oms, suchast heyhadwi tnessed
aboutt hebaquetori nev erydayl i
fe.Wi thint womont hsoft hef i
rst
obser v at i
on, 62cur eshadbeenef fect edunderPuy ségur 'sdirection,
300pat ient swer ei nat tendance, and10somnambul istshadbeen
discov er ed; bef or
et hecl oseoft hey ear( 1784)Puy ségurpubl ished
av olumedet aili
nghi scur es,hiscor respondence, andhi stheor yof
animal magnet ism.

Fr
om thepoi
ntofv i
ewofmodernhypnoti
sm, Puységur'
sposi
ti
onis
amostimportantone,
moreimpor
tant,i
ndeed,thanthatofMesmer.
Hi
sli
terar
yproducti
onsandhi
spersonalact
ivit
yintheformat
ion
oft heLogesd' Har moni e( or gani zat ionsdev otedt ot hest udyof
animal magnet ism)wer et hemosti nf luent ial fact or si nkeepi ngal ive
thest udyoft hesephenomenaaf terMesmer '
sdownf all
,andi nt heir
revivalaft ert hel ongi nter rupt ionoft heRev olut ion.Puy ségur 's
viewswer eatf irsti dent ical wi tht hoseofMesmer ;hebel iev edi n
themagnet icf luidandt hebaquetandt hecr ises; buthi spr act ices
gradual l
ydi spensedwi t hal lthesemani pul at i
onsandr egar ded
theact ionoft hewi l
l upont hesomnambul esast heessent ial and
suf f
ici
entmet hodofef fect ingacur e.Hi sconcept i
onswer eext r
emel y
fanciful,andt hepoi ntofv iewofhi sl aterwr itingsi sconsi der ably
atv ari
ancewi t
ht hatofhi sear liercomposi tions." Someday ,
"he
predicts, "af terf i
veorsi xt housandy ear sofexi stenceuponear t
h,
manki ndwi ll admi tt hatt her ei saf luid, orr at heraconser v i
ng
agentoft hei rexi st enceandt hei rheal th, whi cht heycanut il
ize. .
.
anddi rectf ort hebenef itoft hei rf ellow- menbyt hesi mpl eact ion
oft heirwi ll
s. "Thi suni v er sal magnet ism i sr egar dedasact ing
directl
yt hr ought hehumanwi ll;"cr oy ezetv eui ll
ez"i shi smot to.
Thet reel ikewi seact supont hepat ient sconnect edwi t
hi t,thr ough
themagnet icact ioni mpar tedt oi tbyt hewi lloft hemagnet izer .
Puy ségurr egar dedwhathet er medt hei nst i
nct i
v eel ect ro-magnet i
sm
ofmanasanal ogoust ot hef or cebywhi cht hechi cki mpar tsmov ement
andl if
et ot heger m uponwhi chshebr oods.I twas, howev er ,his
pract i
cal inf l
uence, andnott hatofhi sdeci dedl yf ant asticv iews,
whi chgui dedt hepr ogr essoft heant ecedent sofhy pnot i
sm.The
cont ri
butionsofhi ssuccessor s, asofhi spr edecessor s,cannot
depr i
vehi m oft hecr edi tofdi scov er yoft hehy pnot iccondi tionand
oft hef i
rstcl earappr eci at ionofi tsi mpor tance.Butt hepr ogr ess
whi chPuy ségur 'sdi scov er yhadbr oughtaboutwasal mostatoncel ost
byt heext r av agantcl ai mswhi chwer esoonmadef ort hesomnambul es
i
nt heirpr edi ctionanddi rect i
onoft hecour seofdi sease.They
camet ober egar dedaspossessedofsuper nor mal power sbywhi cht hey
coul dper cei v et heanat omi cal condi tionsoft hei rpat ients; they
predictedt hef ut ur e,orr at hert heywer ei mpr essedi nadv ancewi th
asensat ionofwhatwast ohappen- -"_pr esent iment _"or" _opt ique
preliminai re_ "; theyt rav el edi nspi ritt odi stantt i
mesandpl aces;
theywer e_ enr appor t_wi tht hemagnet izer, hear ingandobey inghi m
alone, andi nt er pret i
nghi sunexpr essedt hought sandwi shes; their
remedi eswer edecl ar edi nf allible, andPuy ségurhi msel f,af tert hirty
year sofexper ience, recor dst hathehadmetwi thnocaseofa
wr ongpr edi ct i
on.Thev al uabl edi scov eryofanar ti
ficiallyinduced
condi t
ion, r ecogni zabl ebydef ini tephy siologi cal andpsy chol ogi cal
changes, wasatonceengul f
edi nasensel esssear chf ort hewonder ful
andt hepur sui toff ant ast ict heor i
es.

Nextinimpor tancet ot hedi scoveriesofPuy ségurwer et hoseof

Dr.Pétet
in, ofLy ons.Hi sgener alposi ti
onismucht hesameas
thatofPuy ségur ;for" animal magnet ism,"hesubst i
tut
edan" animal
elect
ri
cit
y ,
"( suchwast het i
tleofhispost humousv ol
ume, 1808) ;
andhecl ai
medt ohav ef oundt hatthei nterventionofpoorel ect r
ic
conductorsopposedt heappear anceofcer tainoft hephenomenaoft he
somnambul icst ate.Inawor kpublishedi n1787, hedescr i
bedanew
condit
ionchar acter i
zedbyaf i
xedr igidi
tyoft hel i
mbs, t
owhi ch
hegav ethename( sti
llappliedt oit)of" catalepsy,"andwhi ch
conti
nuest obeoneoft hechar acter i
sti
cmodi fi
cat i
onsar t
ifi
ciall
y
producedbyhy pnot i
zation.Dr .Pétet i
ndescr ibeshowhi ssubj ect,
whenmagnet ized, becamei nsensibl etoext ernalstimul
i,howherpul se
slackened, hermuscl esbecamef i
xed, andhowshewoul dmai ntain
anyposi ti
oni nwhi chshewaspl acedwi thst at ue- l
iker igidi ty.
Dr .Pét etinwasal sot hef irstt or ecor dt heaut omat icr epet i
tion
byt hesubj ectoft hemov ement soft heoper at or ;ther ecol lect ion
whenr e-magnet izedofwhathadhappenedi napr ev i
oussomnambul ic
condi tion, buthadbeenf or got teni nt henor mal i
nter v al; andhe
alsor ecor dedt hepr oduct ionofwhati snowknownasanegat i
ve
hal l
uci nat i
on.Whenhehadsuggest edt ohi ssubj ectt hatwhoev er
woul dt ouchacer taincandl est ickwoul ddi sappearf rom hersi ght ,
thesubj ectnol ongersawt hei ndi vidual thusspi rit
edaway .Butas
i
nt hecaseofPuy ségur ,soal soi nt hatofPét et in,hebecameknown
notf orhi smostcar ef ul andsi gni ficantobser v ations, butf ort hose
whi chadmi nist eredt ot hel ov eoft hemar velous, andwhi chwer ein
essencet otallyer roneous.Pét etin'scont r
ibut iont ot heaggr egat e
ofer rori nwhi cht hisst udywast obemer gedwast hememor abl e
"transposi tionoft hesenses. "Thesamesubj ectwhobr oughtt ohi s
not icet hecat alept iccondi tionl edhi mi ntot hi sext rav agance.Thi s
subj ectwhi lemagnet izedbegant osi ngv oci fer ousl y ;whi l
eengagedi n
changi ngherposi tiondur inghercat alepsy , hischai rsl i
pped, andhe
felltowar dher ,excl ai mi ng, "Oh, howunf ortunat et hatIcannotst op
thissi ngi ng. ""Oh, doct or ,"sher eplied, "donotwor ry, Iwon' t
singanymor e;"andshest oppedatonce.Pr esent l
yt hesi ngi ngwas
resumed, andnowor dsoft hedoct orcoul dst opi t, unt ilhespoke
toheri nt heat ti
tudepr ev iousl yassumedbyt heacci dent al fal l
,
wi thhi sheadnearherst omach.I nt hi sposi tionshehear dhi m and
obey ed, butgav enoheedt ohi scommandswhenheshout edt hem into
herear .Andt huswasor i
gi nat edt het ransposi ti
onoft hesenses;
forPét etinatonceconcl uded, inaccor dancewi tht her emar kabl e
sensi biliti
esat t
r i
but edt osomnambul es, t
hathi ssubj ecthear d
throughherst omach.Byf ur therexper iment shebecameconv inced
thatt ast esandodor scoul dbesi mi l
ar lyper cei ved, andt hathi s
subj ectcoul dr eadwhatwaswr ittenonacar dappl i
edt oherst omach.
Heal socr edi tedt hev ar iousot herexal tedandmar v elousment al
facul tiesofhi ssubj ect s, andaddedt ot hepr ev ai l
ingmy st eryand
super nat ur al tendencyoft heper i
od.Hi shi st or ical inf luencewasbut
slight ;hewasr egar dedasamesmer i
st ,andwaschi eflyr emember ed
byhi si nt roduct ionoft het r ansposi tionoft hesensesi nt ot he
tradi ti
onal sy stem ofar t
ificial somnambul i
sm.I tisi nt er est ingt o
not et hatt hedet ect ionofer rori nanot her 'swor kdoesnotpr ot ect
agai nstasi mi larer rori none' sown; Puy ségur ,whi leaccept ingwi t
h
i
mpl icitf ai tht heext rav agancesofhi sownsubj ect s, wasabl et o
recogni zet hatunconsci oussuggest ionl ayatt hebasi sofPét etin'
s
obser v ations.I fatf irst ,her emar ks, Pét etinhadhappenedt o
supposet hathi scat al ept icscoul dspeakonl ydur i
ngt hewaneoft he
mooni nMay ,theywoul dhav ebeendumbf orel evenandahal fmont hs.

VI

Theear lydecadesofthepr esentcentur

ywi t
nessedar eviv
alof
i
nterestinanimal magneti
sm.Thosewhom t heRevolut
ionhadt urned
awayf rom thei
rfavori
testudiesretur
nedtothem; newsoci eti
eswer e
organized;j
ournalsintheinterestoft
hesciencewer efounded; i
t
wasr ecognizedbyv ar
iousgov ernmentsandscienti
ficassociati
ons;
theBer l
inAcademyi n1818of fer
edaprizeof3000mar ksforthebest
memoi ronthesubject;Mesmerwasbr oughtfor
thfrom hisobscur i
ty,
andmanyoft hedisti
ncti
vetr
ait
sofhissy st
em wer erei
ntr
oduced
andampl i
fied.Themov ementwasnol ongerconfinedtoFr ance,
but
spreadalloverEurope,andevenreachedAmer i
ca.Itsmostcont i
nuous
connecti
onwas, however,
sti
l
lwithParis,
andmai nlywiththe
l
earnedsoci et
iestowhichMesmerhadappeal edi nvain.

Incont rastt ot hedomi nantbel i

efi nt hemi racul ousendowmentof
"somnambul ic"subj ect s,therewer eaf ewwhopr esent edt hesubj ecti
ve
natureoft hephenomena.Thecar eerofFar ia, apr iestofPor t
uguese
extraction, whor esidedl ongi nI ndi a, i
sr egar dedbysomeas
occupy i
ngani mpor tantpl acei nt hehi storyofhy pnot i
sm.TheAbbé
Fariacamet oPar isi n1814andgav epubl icexhi bitions, i
nwhi ch
hepr oducedmanyoft het ypical hy pnot i
cphenomena, andexpl ained
them asdependentnotatal lonhi sownpower s,butent irelyupon
thesuscept ibilityandt hef aithofhi ssubj ect s.Her ejectedal ike
anybel iefinaper sonal i
nfluenceori namagnet icorot herf luid.
Hesi mpl yaskedhi ssubj ectstot hi nkdet ermi nedl yofsl eep, ort o
l
ookatt hebackofhi shand; andt heni nanaut hor i
tat i
vev oice
hewoul dcal l out" _dor mez _,
"emphasi zingt hecommandbypr essi ng
hishandont hesubj ect 'sforehead.Bysuchsi mpl emeansheputt o
sleept hreeorf ourofev eryfivesubj ect s,andt hatwi t
hinami nut e
ortwo.Hedemonst r atedt hepr oduct i
onoff or cedmov ement s, the
depr i
vationofcont rol ofsimpl emov ement s, thef alseper cept ionsof
sense, et c.
,all aspr oduct sofsuggest i
on, andi ndeedant i
ci pated
manyoft het ypi cal phenomenaofmoder nhy pnot i
sm.Far i
a'scar eerwas
premat ur elycur tail
edbyanunf ortunat ei ncident ; anact orsucceeded
i
nf eigningsl eepi noneofhi sper for mances, andf orthwi t
hbr anded
him asani mpost or.I fwemaycr edi tcer tainaccount s,hisposi tion
practicallyant icipat edt hatofBr aid; but ,accor di ngt oot hers,
whilei mpr essedwi tht hev alueofv er bal suggest ion, hewasnotf ree
from thepr evai li
ngmy steriesanddogmasofsomnambul ism.I n1819
Bertranddel i
v er edacour seofpubl icl ecturesonani mal magnet i
sm,
notabl efort hei rappr eci ati
onoft her ôl eofsuggest ionint hei r
product ion.Forexampl e,hesentamagnet izedl et tertohi spat ient
which, whenappl i
edt ot hebody ,pr oducedt hedesi redsy mpt oms; but
asecondl etter, notmagnet i
zed, butsupposedt obeso, andat hi r
d
l
et t
er,wr itt
enbyaf ri
endi ni mitationofBer trand' shandwr iti
ng,
wer eequal l
yef ficaci ous.Thesear e, howev er ,someoft heexcept ional
exponent soft hedoct ri
nes, whichi nt hemai nwer econcer nedwi ththe
mi r
acul ousel ementofsomnambul ism i ntroducedbyPuy ségurandhi s
foll
ower s.

Iti
st obenot edthatint her evi
v alofhy pnot i
sm t hesceneof
operat i
onwast ransferredf rom thebaquetand_ sall
edescr ises_t o
thehospi tal;thesubj ect sarenol ongerper sonsoff ashionseeki ng
rel
easef rom ennui ,butpat i
entsoft hepoor erclasses, sufferi
ng
mainl yfrom oneorot heroft hepr oteanf ormsofner vousder angement .
Somev eryremar kabl
esubj ect
swer ediscov er
edatt heSalpêt ri
èreby
Geor getandRost an,andt heformeri nsertedachapt eronsomnambul i
sm
i
nhi st extbookofphy siology.I
n1820Hussonaut horizedmagnet ism at
theHôt elDieu;andwi thinabr iefti
mesomnambul eswer et obef ound
atalmostal lthehospi t
alsofPar i
s.Thephenomenapr esentedwer e
thosei ntroducedbyPuy ségur;patientsbecamesomnambul i
c,prescri
bed
forthemsel vesandot her s,perceivedbyani nt
ernal senset hedet ail
s
ofthei rownanat omy, f
or esawt hef uture,anddev elopedav ariet
yof
abnor mal sensibili
ti
es.Bar onDuPot et,whoexper iment edext ensivel
y
attheHôt elDieu, wasconv i
ncedthathissubj ectscouldperceivehis
sil
entwishandobeyhi sunexpressedcommand.I nGermanyappear ed
eccentri
csy stemsof" Tel
l
urism"and" Si
derism,"andt heoccultwas
rampant .Themy steri
ousandext r
emephenomenawer eaccent uat
ed,and
thevalueandgenui nenessoftheent i
resomnambul i
cconditi
onwer e
madet or estupont hedemonstrabil
i
tyofmi racles.Hereandt herea
fewoft hesimpl erphenomena, suchasi nsensibili
tytopai
n, were
produced, butinthemai nthesewer eneglected.

Oft hist y pewer et heobser vat ionst hat ,t

hrought hezeal ofDr .
Foi ssac, theAcademyofMedi cinewascal ledupont oconsi deri n
1825.Heof fer edt oexhi bithi ssubj ect s,claimi ngf ort hem al l
thesuper nor mal power sabov eindi cat ed--that ,indeed, "theywer e
possessedoft hegeni ust hathadi nspi r
edHi ppocr ates. "Thewor k
oft hiscommi ssionwasnotf reef rom di ssensi ons; andf ivey ear s
elapsedbef or et heywer eabl et osubmi tar epor t.Ther epor twas
ext remel yf av or abl et ot hemagnet ist s,andur gedt hat ,whi lesome
oft heef fect spr oducedwer et oot rivialtoser v easev idenceofa
newsy st em, andwhi leot her scoul dbeexpl ainedasduet ot heact i
on
oft hei magi nat i
on, " somer esul t
sdependsol elyuponmagnet ism and
cannotbepr oducedwi thouti t."Thecommi ssi oncor robor atedt he
phy siologi cal andot heref fect st hathadbeenal readyr ecor ded, --such
asqui ckeni ngofr espi r ationandci rcul ati
on, thei nduct ionof
tremor sandconv ul siv emov ement s, i
nsensi bilityt opai nandt o
ordi naryst imul i,ther appor tbet weensubj ectandoper at or, t
he
cont i
nuityofmemor yi nsuccessi vemagnet i
cst ates; butt hechi ef
stresswasl ai dupont hemor ewonder fuloper at ions.Oft heset hey
cer tif
iedasgenui ne, readi ngwi thcl osedey es, thepr edi ctionof
thecour seofdi sease, cl airvoy ance, andgener al ment al exal tation.
Theyal sot est ifi
edt ot hev alueoft het herapeut icef fect s, and
concl udet hatt he" academyshoul dr ecogni zeandencour ager esear ches
i
nt omagnet ism asani nt erest ingbr anchofpsy chol ogyandnat ur al
hist ory."Ther epor twasr ead, butmetwi thsuchdeci deddi sappr oval
thati twaswi thhel df rom t hepubl ic.I tsfundament al errorwast he
supposi tiont hatt hedemonst r
at i
onofsounaccount abl eaphenomenon
asr eadingwi thoutt heuseoft heey eswasnecessar yt oorcoul d
est ablisht heexi stenceofani mal magnet i
sm; theyal soer redt hr ough
i
gnor anceoft heext remer i
gi dityofcondi ti
onsnecessar yt oexcl ude
theendl esspossi bi l
itiesofdecept ion, consci ousandunconsci ous,
andoft her emar kabl esubt let yandhy peræst hesi aofhy st erical and
hy pnot icsubj ect s.

Thenextsceneupont hest ageoft heAcademyofMedi cinewasenact ed

i
n1837.Att hi
st ime, thepai nlessext racti
onofat oothfrom a
pati
enti nasomnambul iccondi t
ionar ousedconsi derableat t
ention,
especiall
yast heoper at
or ,Dr.Oudet ,
wasamemberoft heAcademy .
Otherpai nlesssur gicaloper ationsuponmagnet i
zedpat i
ent swer e
reported.Ataboutt histime, Dr.Bernadi rectedtheattent i
onof
theAcademyt ohi ssubj ects, f
orwhom hecl aimedsuchpower sas
readingwi thclosedey es.Tot estthesecl aimsacommi ssi onofni ne
wasappoi nted,andr eportedpr ompt l
y,July17, 1837.Thisr epor twas
negat i
veint heext reme.I traisedt heobj ectionthatevery t
hi ng
wasmadet orestupont het estimonyoft hesesomnambul i
sts;it
declaredt hatevent hepr oofsofi nsensi bi
li
tywer edefect i
ve, and
fl
atlydeniedt heexi stenceoft hecondi t
ionofsomnambul ism.The
all
egedi nterpretati
onoft hewi l
loft heoper atorwasr eferredt o
unconsci oussuggest i
on; theat t
emptatr eadi ngwiththeey escl osed
andt her ecognitionofobj ectsappl i
edtot heocci putwasei thera
total fail
ure,ordependedf oritssmal lmeasur eofsuccessupont he
shrewdguessesoft hesubj ect s,whosehonest ywasr egar dedasnot
abov esuspi cion."Wear eatal osswhatt ot hinkofasomnambul i
st
whodescr i
bedt heknav eofcl ubsonabl ankcar d,whot ransf or medthe
ti
cketofanacademi ci
ani ntoagol dwat chwi t
hawhi t
edial pl ate
i
nscr ibedwi thblackf i
gures, andwho, ifshehadbeenpr essed, would
perhapshav egoneont ot ellust hehourmar kedbyt hiswat ch. "The
commi ssionof1837, evenmor especificall
yt hanthatof1825, was
calledupont oconsideral l
egedmar vels;andt hiscir
cumst anceshoul d
bet akeni ntoaccounti nappl y ingtothem, asmaypr operl
ybedone,
thesamecr i
tici
sm aswasdi rect edagainstf ormercommi ssi ons.They,
too, hav emi stakenther eal i
ssue, andtheirjustif
iableskept i
ci sm
regar dingsuchf actsasr eadi ngwi thouttheuseoft heey esundul y
biasedt heirjudgmenti nregar dt othesimpl erandr eadil
yv er i
f i
abl
e
phenomena.

Thenextst epwascer tai

nlyapr acticableone; Burdin,amemberof
theAcademy ,off
eredapr i
zeoft hreet housandf rancst oanyone
whocoul dr eadwithouttheuseoft heey es.Theof f
erwasopenf or
twoy ear
s, andsubsequent l
ythet i
mewasext ended.Consi deri
ngt he
l
argenumberwhohadcl aimedt hispower ,fewof feredthemselves
forexaminat i
on;andt heseei t
herclear l
yf ai
ledt omeett hetest
(bei
ngdet ectedint hemani pulat
ionoft hebandage, andtheli
ke),
orthosewhohadt hesomnambul i
st sinchar ger efusedt oconformto
theconditi
onsr equiredbyt heexami ners;andsot hepr i
zewasnev er
awarded.TheAcademyt henv ot
ed, Oct ober1, 1840, t
orefusefrom t
hat
ti
meont ogi veanyconsi derati
ontoquest i
onsr elatingtoanimal
magnet i
sm.

VI
I

Soonaf tert hest udyofani mal magnet ism wast husdeni edacademi c
recogni tioni nFr ance, itwasi nsomemeasur edivest edofi t s
my stifyingandconf usingaccr etions, byt hei ndependentobser v at
ions
ofanEngl i
shsur geon, JamesBr aid.Br aid'sf i
rstexper iencewi tht he
phenomenaofani mal magnet ism wasatt heséancegi venbyChar les
Lafont aine, at r
av eli
ngmesmer ist, atManchest er,onNov ember13,
1841.Hecamet ot hisexhi bitioni ncl inedt or egardt hephenomena
asduet odecept ion, t
r i
cker y ,andi llusion, andsawnot hingt o
disturbhi sbelief.Atasecondat tendance, hewasi mpr essedwi th
thef actt hatt he" magnet ized"subj ect swer eunabl et oopent hei r
eyes; thisheat tributedt oapar aly sisoft hener vouscent resbya
toopr olongedort ooi ntensesensor yst r
ai n.Br ai
datoncei nitiated
exper i
ment sathi shome.Hebeganbyaski ngaf ri
endt ost are
fi
xedl yatt heneckofabot tle, hel dcl oset oandal it
tleabov e
hisey es; inaf ewmi nut est hesubj ect 'sey elidscl osed, hishead
dropped, andhewentt osl eep; thesamepr ocesswasr epeat edupon
Mr s.Br aid, withanequal lysuccessf ulresul t.Theseexper iment swer e
soonext ended, andBr aidwassuccessf ul insendi ngt osleepnear ly
allwhopr esent edt hemsel v es.Ther egul ar i
tyandsi mpl icityoft he
process, aswel last heunmi stakabl eev i
dencesofanal t
er edment al
condi t
ion, l
eftnodoubtoft hegenui nenessoft heinducedsl eep." I
nowst at edt hatIconsi der edt heexper iment sf ul
lypr ovedmyt heory ,
andexpr essedmyent ireconv ictiont hatt hephenomenaofmesmer i
sm
wer etobeaccount edf oront hepr i
nci pl eofader angementoft he
stateoft hecer ebro-spi nal cent r
es, andoft heci rculator y,and
respirator y ,andmuscul arsy stems, induced, asIhav eexpl ai
ned, bya
fi
xedst ar e, absol uter eposeofbody ,fixedat t ention, andsuppr essed
respirationconcomi tantwi tht hatf ixityofat tent i
on.Thatt he
whol edependedupont hephy sical andpsy chi cal condi tionoft he
patient,ar isi ngf rom t hecausesr efer redt o, andnotatal lont he
voli
tion, orpassesoft heoper ator ,thr owi ngoutamagnet i
cf luid,
orexci ti
ngi ntoact ivi
t ysomemy stical univer sal flui
dormedi um.
Ifurtheraddedt hathav ingt huspr oducedt hepr i
mar yphenomena, I
hadnodoubtt hatt heot her swoul df ol lowasamat terofcour se,
ti
mebei ngal l
owedf ort hei rgr adual andsuccessi vedev elopment .
"
Thepr act ical impor tanceoft hechangeofv iewt husi naugur ated
wasext reme; itcombat edt hepr ev alentnot iont hatt opr ov et he
reali
tyoft hemagnet izedcondi ti
on, i
twasnecessar yt oper f
or m
mi r
acles; itr ecognizeddi fferentdegr eesandst agesoft hei nduced
condi t
ion; itemphasi zedt hedependenceoft hecondi tionupont he
stateoft hener voussy st em, andsuppl i
edt hephy siologi stwi tha
rati
onal int eresti nthephenomena; itdi scardedt hev ainhy pot hesis
ofanuni ver sal fl
uid;itsi mpl i
fiedt hemet hodsofpr oduci ngt he
state,andshowedi tsanal ogyt oor di nar ysleep; itprov edt hat
thephenomenawer ei ndependentoft hewi lloranysubt lepowerof
theoper at or ,butdependedessent i
al l
yupont hecompl ianceand
suggest i
bi lityoft hesubj ect .

Thei mpor tanceofBr aid'sposi tionint hehi st oryofhy pnot i

sm i s
noteasi lyov errated; i
tdependsl argelyupont hef actt hathewas
thef i
rsttor ecogni zet hephy si ological aspectoft hephenomenaand
toabandoncompl et elyanyr el ationwi t
ht hef ant ast i
ct heor iesand
practicest hatgr ewupi nt hewakeofani mal magnet i
sm.I tcannotbe
saidthatBr aid'sdi scov er i
es, howev eror i
gi nal wi thhi m, hadnot
beenant i
cipat edbyot her s;indeed, iti
scl eart hatt heAbbéFar ia's
met hodofi nduci ngt hecondi t i
onandt hephenomenat hatheexhi bit
ed
wer eessent i
allythesameast hoset owhi chBr aiddi r
ect edat tent i
on;
whi l
eBer trand, andev enPuy ségurandot her s, hadr ecogni zedt he
rôleofsuggest i
bilityandi magi nati
oni npr oduci ngmanyoft he
effects.ButBr aid, farmor ecl ear lythananyoneel se,pr esent edt he
phenomenaf rom al egitimat esci entif
icv i
ew, cor relatedt hev arious
phenomenawi t
honeanot her, andl aidt hef oundat ionsofat r
ue
scienceofhy pnot ism.Wi thoutdi sparagi ngt hel abor sofot hersi n
thisfi
eld, andwi thoutf orget tingt heunf ortunat eci rcumst ancesi n
Braid'
scar eerwhi chdet ractedf r
om hi si nfluence, thet i
tlemaybe
j
ust l
ycl aimedf orhi m, oft hef ounderofmoder nhy pnot i
sm, ashewas
alsothei nv entoroft het erm.

Itwoul dtakeust oof arintot hedet ail

soft hehy pnoticcondition
todescr ibeBr aid'
spr acticesandexper iments; att
ent i
onwi ll
be
directedonl yt othosepoi ntswhi chhav eabear ingupont hefurther
historyoft het opic.Attheout set,Brai
dr ecognizedt hathewas
deal i
ngwi t
hanal t
eredner vouscondi ti
on,inwhi chwer epresent
hyper æst hesia,orexaltedsensi bil
it
yofsev eralofthesenses,
togetherwi thacont rolov erfunct i
onsnor mallybey ondt hereach
oft hewill;thatthesepower scoul dbeusedt oneut ral
izepain,
aswel l
asf orcurativ
esuggest i
onsi nthetreatmentofdi sease;
andt hatt hephenomenahadadi sti
nctrelati
ont oor dinarysleep;
thisl astr el at i
onl edhi m atf irstt ospeakoft het opi cas
"Neur ypnol ogy ,
"--thet itl
eofhi sf irstbook, publ ishedi n1843.
Itisqui tei nt elli
gi blet hatt heconf usedandmi sleadi ngf ormi n
whi cht hephenomenawer epr esent eddur ingBr ai d'st i
mepr ev ent edhim
from gr aspi ngatonceorcompl et el yt het ruesubj ect ivenat ur eof
thecondi tion, inspi teoft hecl ear nesswi thwhi chher ecogni zed
themar ksofi t sgenui neness.Thus, her egar dedt hataphy sical
i
nf luencehadmucht odowi tht her esul t, andconf essedt hathewas
ent irelyatal osst ounder standwhyabr eat hofai rupont heski n,
asbybl owi nguponi t, shoul dt er mi nat et hehy pnot iccondi tion; or
makear igi dl imbf lexibl e, orr est or et hesi ghtofoneey e, and
l
eav et heot heri nsensi ble; orchanget hecondi tionf rom t hatof
gener al inact i
v i
tyt ooneofext rememobi lityandexci tabi li
ty .
Lat er ,howev er ,her ecogni zedi nal lthis, theact ionofsuggest i
on
combi nedwi tht hei magi nat ivei ngenui tyoft hesubj ect .Buthi smost
ser i
oushandi capwashi sconnect ionwi tht hedoct rinesofphr enol ogy,
thenoccupy ingav er yconspi cuousposi tioni nt hepubl icey e.I t
wasbr oughti nt oconnect ionwi thmesmer ism orhy pnot i
sm byt he
per for mancesofpr of essi onal exhi bitor s, whocl ai medt hatpr essur e
upondi ff er entpar tsoft heheadoft hemagnet izedsubj ecti nduced
thedi spl ayoft hecor respondi ng" f acul ties. "Itseemsqui tecl ear
thatBr ai dwasent irelymi sledbyt hesecur iousexper iment s; and
i
nspi teoft hef actt hathel aterabandonedal lbel iefi nt hei r
real i
ty ,andexpl ainedt hem asduet osuggest i
onandassoci at ion;
andf ur thert hathepr esent edsomegr oundsf orbel iev ingt hathi s
formerexper i
ment swer ei nt endedt odi spr ov ephr enol ogy ,
--y eti t
i
sper fect lycl earwhyt hemedi cal pr ofessi onandt hei ntelligent
publ icshoul dhav edi scr edi tedBr aid' slabor sbyr easonofhi s
not or i
ousconnect ionwi tht hedoct r i
nesofphr enol ogy .Sur elya
wor kwhi chr ecor dedsuchexper iment sast hef ollowi ngnat ur ally
exci tedaf eel ingofdi strust .Pat i
ent s, onbei ng" pr essedov ert he
phr enol ogi st 'sor ganoft i
me, alway sexpr essedadesi re' towr i
te'--a
l
et ter -
-tohermot herorbr other ;ov ert hei ror ganoft une, '
to
sing' ;bet weent hisandwi t,'tobej udi cious' ;theboundar ybet ween
wi tandcausal ity ,'
tobecl ev er '
; causal ity, '
tohav eknowl edge' ;
i
nt hecent reoft hef or ehead, tohav e' acer tainper cept i
onof
l
ear ning' ;andsoon. "Andagai n" Ipl acedacor kendway sov ert he
organofv ener at ionandboundi tint hatposi ti
onbyabandage
passi ngundert hechi n.Inowhy pnot i
zedt hepat ient , and. ..af ter
ami nut eandahal fanal teredexpr essi onofcount enancet ookpl ace,
andamov ementoft hear msandhands, whi chl at terbecamecl asped
asi nador at ion, andt hepat ientnowar osef rom t heseatandknel t
downasi fengagedi npr ay er.Onmov i
ngt hecor kf or war d, act ive
benev ol encewasmani f
est ed, and, onbei ngpushedback, vener ation
agai nmani fest edi tsel f.
"Wear et henassur edt hatt hesubj ect sknew
not hingofphr enol ogy , wer eper fect lyhonest ,andt hatnoi ndi cat ions
wer egi v enoft heexpect edr esul t s.Br aidf rankl yr ecor dshi sbel ief
i
nt hepossi bi li
tyofcal li
ngoutphr enol ogi cal act ivitiesby
pressur eondef initepoi nt soft hecr anium; andt heonl yl oophol e
ofexpl anat ionwhi chhel ef topenwast heonet owhi chhel at er
resor t
ed, cl aimi ngt hatt hemani f est ati
onsmaybeduet o" asy st em
oft raini ngdur ingt hesl eep, sot hatt heymaycomeoutsubsequent ly
asact sofmemor y, whencor respondi ngpoi nt sar et ouched, wi thwhi ch
par ticulari deashav ebeenassoci at edt hr oughaudi bl esuggest ion. "
Inbr i
ef ,int hisexpl anat i
on, gi veni n1854, Br aiddemonst ratedt he
admi ttedpossi bi l
ityofar ousi ngemot i
onsi nhy pnot i
csubj ect sby
i
nduci ngt heexpressionswi thwhichthoseemot i
onswer eassociat
ed.
Buti n1843hewr ote,
"IfIam tobeli
evetheevidenceofmysenses,
therefore,inanything,IcannotseehowIcandoubtt herelati
on
whi chconsi stsbetweencer tainpoi
ntsofthecrani
um andt hement al
mani festati
onswhi char eexcitedbyacti
ngont hem dur
inghy pnoti
sm.
Ibel i
evether earefewphy siologi
calphenomenawhi chcanbemor e
clearlydemonst rated,especiall
yatsuchanear l
ystageoft hei
r
i
nv estigati
on."

Braid' slat erwor ksdi dnotat tractt heat tent i

onwhi cht hey
deser ved, andper hapsi tispr opert obaseanest imat eofhi s
i
nsi ghti nt ot hephenomenaofhy pnot i
sm uponhi smor emat ur e
butl essi nfluent ial wr i
tings.I nt hese, Br aidr ecogni zedt he
subj ect i
v enat ureoft hephenomenaasf ullyast heyar er ecogni zed
byt heext remer epr esent ativesoft he" suggest ioni st"school of
to-day .Indeed, hespokeoft hest ateas" Monoi dei sm, "t oemphasi ze
thef actt hat ,whi lei nthi scondi tion, thesubj ect'smi ndwas
totallyabsor bedi nonei dea; andt hatt hisnar rowconcent ration
ofconsci ousness, thisi nfluenceoft hedomi nanti dea, compl etely
cont rolledment al andphy sical act ion, andr ender edt hesubj ect
i
nsensi bl et oal lot herst imul i.Br ai dacqui redapr ofoundknowl edge
oft heef fect sofsuggest ion, bot hdi rectly,asv er bal suggest i
on,
andt hei ndi rectsuggest ionofmannerandexpect ation.Het ellsof
aphy siciani nLondonwhoused" mesmer i
sm"wi thhi spat i
ent s, and
whopr oducedcat al epsyoft hehandsandar msandot herwonder f
ul
effect sbyt heappl icat i
onofmagnet s.Br aidr ecogni zedt hatt he
subj ect ,thoughasl eep, wasi nacondi tioni nwhi chshecoul dhear
whatwasgoi ngon.Heassur edt hephy sician( i
nt hesubj ect '
s
hear ing)t hathehadal ittl
ei nst rumenti nhi spocket , whi cht hough
notamagnet ,woul dpr oduceequal lymar kedef fect s.Br aidgav ethe
patientt hel ittl
ei nst rument ,wi tht her emar kt ot hephy sician
thati twoul dpr oducecat al epsyi nbot hhandsandar ms; andsuch
wast her esul t.Next ,Br aiddecl aredt hatnowshewoul dbeunabl e
tohol dit, whi chal sowast hecase, thel ittl
ei nst rumentdr oppi ng
outofherhandswhenev eri twasgi vent oher .Whent hepat ient
wasar oused, Braidnextt oldt hephy siciant hatwhent hel i
t t
le
i
nst rumentwassuspendedont het hirdf ingeroft her i
ghthandof
thepat ient ,itwoul dsendhert osl eep; towhi cht hephy sician
responded, "Itnev erwi ll."ButBr aidi nsistedt hati twoul d;
andt heev entpr ov edt hathewascor rect .Thel ittleinst rument ,
sov ariousl ypot enti ncombi nat i
onwi thapr opersuggest ion, was
nothi ngmor et hanhi spor t
mant eaukeyandr i
ng.I tillust ratest he
rever seofVol tair
e'ssay ing, thati ncant ations, toget herwi t
ha
sufficientamountofar seni c, wi l
l killyournei ghbor '
ssheep.I n
thesamewayBr aidpr ov edt hatt heexper i
ment swhi chseemedt oshow
thatcer tainper sonswer esensi t
iv etomet alswer ei nr eal i
tydue
tounconsci oussuggest ion, andt hatwhen, unknownt ot hesubj ect s,
woodwassubst i
tut edf ormet als, theexpect edr esul t sensued.The
pecul iaref fectsdescr ibedbyRei chenbach' ssensi tiveshenat urally
refer r
edt ot hesamecause; asal sot hedoct ri
ne, thenbr ought
forwar d,thatsuscept i
bl ei ndi vidual scoul dper cei vet heef fect sof
drugsencl osedi nseal edv ials.Al ltheseal legedphenomenawer e
correct lyr ef erredt ounconsci oussuggest i
onandt ohy per æst hesi a.
Homœopat hicr emedi es, hear gued, owedt hei ref f i
ciencyt ot hesame
actionoft heexpect anti magi nat i
on; fortheef fectcoul dhar dl ybe
ascr ibedt oaquant itysomi nut et hatapat ientwoul dhav et ot ake
adoseev er ysecondoft hedayandni ghtf or30, 000y ear st ogeta
singl egr ainoft hesubst ance.Heanal yzedt hepossi bil
itiesofer ror
i
nt hei nterpr etationofclair
v oyance; andshowedt hatper fect ly
nat ural andwel l
-understoodpr ocesseswer esuf fici
entt of urnishan
i
nt elli
giblemodeofaccount ingf orsomuchoft hesuccessascoul d
bev erifi
ed.Her ecognizedt hedanger sofhy pnot i
sm ini nexper ienced
hands; althoughhebel i
evedt hatthemor al sensibi l
i
tyoft hesubj ect
wassuf ficientlyr et
ainedint hehy pnoticcondi ti
ont opr ev entt he
abuseoft hest at eforcri
minal purposes.Heappr eciatedi t sfieldof
appl icabilityint hecur eofdi sease, t
houghhebynomeansr egar ded
i
tasapanacea, andalsoitsspeci alusei nsur gi
cal oper ations.
Inf i
ne, Br aid, i
nspi teofcertainshor tcomi ngs, whi char e
char act eristiconl yofhisear li
erwr it
ings, standsoutpr eëmi nently
ast hef i
rstt oappr eci
ateatt heirtruev aluet heent ir
erangeof
thecompl exf act or
soft hehy pnoticcondi tion; t
odi sti
ngui sht he
genui nephenomenaf r
om thosewhi chowedt heirmar velousaspectt o
unconsci oussuggest i
on;andt oshowt her elati
onoft hewhol et opi
c
tot her ecogni zedbodyofsci enti
fi
cknowl edge.

VI
II

Inspi teoft hesev er ygr eatmer its, Br aid'

si nfluencewasf ora
consi der abl et i
measl ightanduncer tainone; thiswaspr obabl y
duenotal onet ot heopposi tionwhi chhi smet hodsandt eachi ngs
arousedi nt hemedi cal pr of
essi on, butf armor etot henat ural
distrustofat opi cwhi chwasexpl oi tedi nthef orm ofpopul arand
vulgarexhi bi ti
ons.Themai nassoci ationofhy pnot i
sm wasst ill
witht heabsur dnot ionsofani mal magnet ism, andwi that tempt sto
demonst rat emar vels, suchascl air voy anceandt hesensi t i
venesst o
magnet s.I tt huscameaboutt hat , dur i
ngt heper iodsubsequentt o
Braid'sdi scov er ies, hypnot i
sm pr esent edav ar i
edaspect .Ont heone
hand, unl imi tedskept icism andadet erminedr epudi at ionofr eadily
verif
iabl eobser v ations; ont heot her ,uncritical enthusi asm wi thout
appr eciat ionofsci enceandi tsmet hods.Buti naddi t
iont ot he
conser v at ism oft hemanofsci ence, andt hegr oundl esspr et ensions
ofthemesmer ist ,aref oundt hecont r i
butionsofaf ewdi scer ning
student sai ding, thoughi naspor adi canduncer t
ainway , thepr ogress
ofthesci ence.Whathadbeenr epeat edlyest ablishedwasf or gotten
andhadt ober eëst abl i
shed; obser vat i
onsmadebyt hosewhoi nsome
onedi r
ect ionhadf al l
eni ntoer rorwer ediscr edi t
ed, andhadt obe
verif
iedanew.Thepr ogr esswast hust ort
uousandi l
l-def ined, but
nonet hel esst heessent i
alandi mpor t
antphenomenawer egai ning
widerandmor eaut hor itativer ecogni ti
on.Theuseofhy pnot ism as
ananæst het i
cwasmosti nfluent ial incompel lingt heat tent i
on
ofthemedi cal prof essi on; f
ort hef requentr epor tsofsur gi cal
oper ationsuponhy pnot i
zedpat ient sbymenofr eput ationcoul dhar dl
y
bedi smi ssedasi ll
usor y.Asear l
yas1821Recami erhadut il
ized
themagnet ici nsensi bili
t yforsur gi cal purposes; i
n1829Cl ocquet
perfor medasev ereoper ati
onuponamagnet izedwoman; in1837Oudet
extract edat oot hf rom apat ienti nt hiscondi tion; f
rom 1842ona
numberofEngl ishsur geons- -Tupham, War d, Elli
otson, Pur l
and- -used
hypnot ism f orv arioussur gi
cal oper at i
ons, andaMesmer icI nfirmary
forthispur posewassuccessf ullymai ntained.Manyoft her epor t
sof
suchoper at i
onswer er ecei vedwi thext remeskept icism.Thecel ebrated
surgeon, Lisf ranc, regar dedCl ocquetasadupe; andOudetmetwi th
asimi l
arrecepti
on.Mostext ensiveandremar kableweretheser i
es
ofoper at
ionsperformedinIndiauponnat ivesbyDr .Esdai
le, and
reportedin1846.Themostshocki nganddanger ouspathologi cal
growthswer eremov edwithoutpai nandwitht heminimum ofdi scomf
ort
.
Dr.Esdaileisenti
tledtohi
ghr anki nt
heaccountoft hi
speriod,
becausehi sworkwasdonesol argel
yinindependenceofot her s;
mor eover,hedevelopedatheoryoft hephenomenaqui teanal ogousto
thatofBr ai
d;andinday swhenanæst heti
cswer ebutlit
tl
eknown
naturall
ygrewent husi
asti
cov erthev al
ueoft hepracti
ceswhi chhe
hadsosuccessf ullydemonst r
ated.

Amor edet ai l
edaccountoft hisper i
odt hani sher epossi blewoul d
considert hephy siologi cal cont ributionsofsuchasCar pent erand
Bennet tandMay o, whosecr it
icismsandexpl anat ionsoft heal leged
mar velsandf alset heor i
esofmesmer ism st emmedbutcoul dnotst ay
theflowofext rav agantpr act i
cesandbel iefswi t
hwhi chEngl andwas
thendel uged; wi t
ht hecar efullydet ailedconcl usionsandexper iment s
ofAzam, ofDemar quay ,
andGi r
ar d-Teul on, ofDur anddeGr os( who
l
aterassumedt henameofPhi l
l
ips, andt hr oughwhom Br aid'
s
wor kwasi ntroducedi ntoFr ance) ;andofsev eral otherandof t
en
i
ndependentwor ker s.Ther ei sone, howev er, whoseposi t
ioni swor t
hy
ofsepar at enot ice, andwhoi napecul i
arwayf or
mst het ransiti
on
betweent hepr esentst atusofhy pnot ism andt hatwhi chpr evai l
eda
halfcent uryago.Ir ef ertoDr .A.A.Li ebaul t,who, untilwi t
hin
recenty ear s,mai nt ainedatNancyt hehy pnot iccl ini
cf oundedbyhi m
fort
yy ear sago.I n1866, hepubl ishedav aluabl eandor iginalwor k
describinghi smet hodsandpr act i
ce.Heputhi ssubj ect st osleepby
verbalcommand, andsuggest edt ot hem t her eliefoft hei rpainsand
ail
ment s, enf or cingt hesuggest ionswi thsuchpr escr i
pt i
onsaswer e
l
ikelytobeef fect i
ve.Het husadopt edt hemet hodof" suggest ion"as
thecent ral poi ntoft hesy st em, andmayber egar dedast hef ounder
ofthe" suggest ionist "school ,al
soknown, thoughnoti nt hemai nby
reasonofhi slabor s, ast heschool ofNancy .Li vingi nr eti
rement ,
outoft ouchwi tht hemedi cal professi on, pr esent inghisr esultsi na
form unat tract ivet ot hesci ent if
icmi nd, andencumber edbypecul iar
personal v i
ews, hiswor kat tractednoat tent ion; andi tr emai nedf or
mor einfluent ial inv est igator s,par t
icular lyChar cotatPar i
sand
Bernheim atNancy ,toest abl i
sht her ecogni zeddoct ri
nesofmoder n
hypnot i
sm.

I
X

Itwill
bei nst ructiveatt hispoi nttor etraceourst epsand
compl etet hesur veyoft heant ecedent sofhy pnot ism bysomeaccount
ofaser i
esofcont ributi
ons, whi ch,whi l
et heymayr epresent
thebackwar dst epsi nthezi gzagl i
neofpr ogressf rom obscur e
speculationst osci ence,ar enev er t
helessi mpor tanthi stori
cal
factorsint hecont inuityoft hemov ement ,andi nthemai nt
enance
ofthei nteresti nt hisbranchofpsy chol ogicalstudy .The
fancif
ul doct ri
nes, whichMesmerr evived,or i
ginatedi nmedi æval
my sti
cism andsuper sti
ti
on; andatnot ime, fr
om t hent i
llnow,
havesuchext rav agantsy stemsandnot i
onsf ail
edt oat tractan
allt
ooext ensi vecl assofi ntel
lect ualmal content s,towhom t he
progressofknowl edgeseemsabsur dlyslowandl abor i
ous.Before
theest ablishmentoft hesci ent i
fi
ct heor yofther elationofbody
andmi nd, t
heoppor t
uni tyint hisfieldf orsuchspecul ationswas
endless, andi tist ot hev asthi storyofpseudo- sci encet hatan
accountoft hesepr oper lybel ongs.I tisfort hepur poseofgai ni
ng
apr operunder standi ngoft hev ariousconcept ionswhi chwer eandar e
associ at
edwi thhy pnot ism t hatanexcur sionint ot hisbar renareai s
heremade.Thef ant ast icschemesofMesmer ,Puy ségur ,andPét eti
n,
andev enofBr aid, hav eal readybeennot iced, andt heseedsownby
them st i
llbear sundesi rabl ef ruit
.ToJ.P.F.Del euze( 1785- 1835),
authorofi nfluent ial wor ksonmesmer ism, maybeaccor dedt he
doubt fulhonorofr anki ngasl eaderi nthemov ementwhi chcont inued
themy sti
candeccent ricel ement sofani mal magnet i
sm.Heaccept ed
thecombi nedmar v elsofmesmer ism andsomnambul i
sm.Hedi rect edhi
s
effort
st owar dst heel abor at i
onoft hepar apher nal i
aoft hebaquet ,
thewandandpasses, andt hei nculcationofmostdet ail
edcaut ions
andr egulat i
onsf ort hegui danceoft heoper ator .Ev erymov ementof
thehand, andey es, andheadassumedspeci al signifi
cance.Thepol es
ofthehumanf ramemustbeconsi dered, andnodepar turemadef r
om
thepr escribedmani pul ation.Thepr ocessofdemagnet izingisthus
described: -
-

"Wheny ouwi sht oputanendt ot hesitting, takecar et odraw

towar dtheext r
emi tyoft hehandsandt owar dtheext remi tyofthe
feet, prolongi ngy ourpassesbey ondt heseext r
emi ti
esandshaki ng
yourf i
ngereacht ime.Fi nall
y,makesev eral passest ransv ersely
befor et hef ace, andal sobef oret hebreast , atthedi st anceof
threeorf ouri nches; t
hesepassesar emadebypr esent i
ngt hetwo
handst oget her ,andbr isklydrawingt hem f r
om eachot her,asi f
tocar r
yof ft hesuper abundanceoff luidwi thwhi cht hepat i
ent
maybechar ged.Youseet hatitisessent i
al tomagnet i
ze,al ways
descendi ngf rom t heheadt otheext remi t
ies, andnev ermount i
ng
from t heext r emi tiest ot hehead. "Themagnet i
sm i simpar tedto
i
nani mat eobj ects, and" onemaymagnet i
zeapi tcherofwat erint wo
ort hreemi nut es, agl assofwat erinonemi nut e.Itisunnecessar y
tor epeather et hatpr ocessespoi nt
edoutf ormagnet izingwat er,
l
ikeev ery thingel se, woul dbeabsol utelyusel ess, i
ft heywer enot
empl oyedwi that tent ionandwi thadet er minat ewi ll
."" Themagnet izer
whousesawandoughtt ohav eoneofhi sown, andnotl endi ttoany
person, lesti tshoul dbechar gedwi t
hdi fferentf luids--apr ecaution
mor eimpor tantt hani tiscommonl ythoughtt obe. "Iti sthis
phaseoft hesubj ectt hatf oundi tswayi ntoGer many ,andwasmost
typicallyembodi edi nt hewr it
ingsofWol fart,Kieser ,andEnnemoser .
Forsuchmy st i
csnot hingseemedt ooabsur dt of i
ndcr edence, nort oo
prof oundt of indanexpl anati
oni nani mal magnet i
sm.

Itwast hroughDeleuze' sinfl

uence, also, thatmesmer i
sm was
transplant edtoAmer ica.Asear lyas1837, CharlesPoy enl ect
uredand
wr oteonani malmagnet i
sm inNewEngl and; heexhi bi
tedt heusual
phenomena, madet heusual cl
aimsf orsuper naturalfaculti
es,andgave
theusual fanci
fulexposi t
ions.Itwas, howev er,t
hroughDodsand
Gr i
mes, i
n1850, t
hatmesmer i
sm becamepr omi nentinAmer i
ca,under
theabsur dnameof" electro-
biology .
"Thepopul arinterestwhich
theyar ousedmaybei nferredfrom t hef actt hattheywer einvi
tedto
exhibitbef oreCongress, thesignatur esofCl ayandWebst erappeari
ng
i
nt hel etterofinv
itati
on.Theabsur dityoft heirwr i
tingsis
suf f
ici
ent lyevi
dentint hef ol
l
owi ngext r
act s:"Lettwoper sons
ofequal brain,
bothinsi zeandf l
uid, si
tdown.Letoneoft hese
i
ndi vidual sr emai nper fectlypassi ve, andl ett heot herexer cise
hisment al andphy si calener giesaccor dingt ot het r
uepr inciples
ofmesmer i
zi ng, andhewi lldispl acesomeoft hener vo-vital f
luid
from t hepassi v ebr ainanddeposi titi nhi sowni nst ead.Thenext
dayl ett hem si tanot herhour , andsoondayaf terday , untilthe
actingbr ainshal lhav edisplacedt hemaj orpar toft hener v o-vi
tal
fl
uidf rom t hepassi v ebrainandf il
ledupt hatspacewi thitsown
nervousf orce, andt heper sonwi l
l yi
el dt ot hemagnet i
cpower
andser enel ysl umberi nitsinexpr essi blequi etude. ""Yourbr ain
beingmagnet ical l
ysubduedi swor thhundr edsofdol larst oy ou.You
aret henr eadyf orthedayofdi st
ress. "Ani gnor anty oungmani s
magnet i
zedandf orthwi thconv erseswi tha" ment al act i
vitywhi chput
tobl ushmenofsuper ioreducat i
onandi ntell
ect ual endowment s."
Anemi nentl awy erisast onishedathi sl earningandhi squot ations
from l egal aut hor i
ties.HespeaksGr eek, Lat i
n,Fr ench, Polish,
allper fect l
y, andwi thoutaccent ;thoughwhenawakeheknowsno
l
anguagebutEngl ish.Gr imesdet er mi nedt hef unct ionofpar t
sof
thebr ai nf r
om t heanswer sofhi ssomnambul i
st,andt husdi scov er
ed
thatt hecor puscal losum i sdesi gnedt oequal i
zet hef lowoft he
nervousf l
ui d.Fr om t hesamesour ceher eceivedt heassur anceoft he
correct nessofhi sphr enologi cal views." Ithenaskedherconcer ni
ng
thelocat i
onandusesofsev er alnewphr eno-or gans, whi chIsupposed
thatIhaddi scov ered, andt omysur pr isesheanswer edmewi thoutt he
l
easthesi tat i
on, andconf i
rmedal l mypr ev iousopi nions, notev en
except i
ngt hoseopi ni onswhi chIhadnev erment ionedt oanyone, and
whichshecoul donl yhav eknownbycl ai rvoyance. "

"Elect ro-biol ogy "madei tswayi ntoEngl and, andt her ef ounda
placeamongt heendl essf ormsofabsur dityandpseudo- sci encet hen
prev alent .Af ewi l
lust rat i
onsar epower l
esst ogi v eanyadequat e
not i
onoft heext entandv arietyoft heext rav agantpr etensi onswi t h
whi chani mal magnet ism wassat urat edi nt hey ear sf ollowi ngBr aid's
obser vations.Thedi abol icor i
ginofmesmer i
sm wasdi scussedby
pulpi tandpr ess; apamphl et,ent i
tled" Dialoguebet weenaMesmer ist
andaChr ist i
an,"mai ntai nedt hatt het wof aithswer ei ncompat i
ble.
Itwasgener all
yur gedt hatmesmer ism f av or edmat er i
alism, andi n
1856t heCat holicChur chi ssuedanedi ctagai nstt hepr act i
ce.The
skept i
cism oft hemedi cal professi onf oundexpr essi oni next remeand
certai nlyunsci ent ificst at ement s.Dr .Buchanan( 1851)ofGl asgow,
holdi ngt hatt heal l
egedcondi tionwast her esul tofact ingand
tri
cker y,pr oposedt heexper imentoft elli
ngahy pnot izedboyt hat
hecoul dnotmov e, andt henappl y i
ngt hebi r ch;t his,hef elt
conf ident , woul dsat i
sf act orilyref utet hewhol edoct rine, andi f,
i
nni net y-ninecasesoutofonehundr ed, theboydi dnotscamper
off,thoughhi sf eetwer emesmer ized, hepr omi sedt or ecant" andt o
believ ei nmesmer ism ev eraf ter."Ther ei sunf ortunat elynor ecor dof
theaccept anceoft hi st est ,whi ch, incompar i
sonwi tht hehy pnot ic
anæst hesi aofsur gical oper ationst henper for med, woul dhav ebeen
easi l
ymet .Fr om t hef ol lowi ngcommentofamedi cal j
our nal ,in1843,
onemayi nfert hatt hecont rov ersydi dnotal way sr ecogni zet he
_pol i
tesses_ofdi scussi on." Themesmer o-mani ahasnear l
ydwi ndl ed
i
nt hemet ropol isi ntoser vilefat uity,butl inger sinsomeof
thepr ov i
nceswi tht he_ gobe- mouches_andchaw- bacons, who, af ter
gulpi ngdownapoundoff atpor k, woul d, wi thwel l-
gr easedgul l
ets,
swal lowsuchal otofmesmer i
cmummer yaswoul dchokeanal ligatoror
boa- const rictor."
Thet wowr iter stobepr esent l
yci t
edar esel ect edasi ll
ust rati
ons
oft het rutht hatt hepossessi onofi ntell
ect ual at t
ainment si n
otherdi rectionsdoesnoti nsur eagai nstsuchgr osser rorsasar e
aboutt obenot i
ced, andt hesecond, mor eov er ,servesasat ypeof
thecompi lationsoft heper iod, towhi cht her eadermayber ef er r
ed
forf urtheri nst ances.Ther eput at i
onofMi ssHar ri
etMar tineau
i
nsur edgener alat tent i
ont oher" LettersonMesmer ism"( 1845) .
Mi ssMar ti
neauwascur edofal ong- standi ngi llnessbymagnet ic
treatment ,theoper at orbei nganot edmesmer ist,SpencerT.Hal l.
Themagnet i
zingpr ocessgav er iset opecul i
arsensat ionswhi ch
wer eat t r
ibut edt ot heact ionoft hemagnet icf luid."Myheadhas
oftenappear edt obedr awnout ,t ochangei tsf orm accor dingt o
thet ract i
onofmymesmer i
st,andani ndescr ibabl ebutexceedi ngly
agr eeabl esensat i
onoft ranspar encyandl ight nesst hroughapar tor
whol eoft hef ramehasf ollowed. "Mi ssMar ti
neauwast husmadea
conv er ttomesmer ism, andi niti
at edexper iment sofherown, finding
i
nhermai d, J.,asomnambul eofunusual power s.Shemai ntained
herheal thbyf ollowi ngt hepr escr i
ptionsgi venbyt hesomnambul e,
andt hel atterexhi bitedt hemanyv arieti
esofmar vel
swi thwhi ch
wehav ebecomef ami l
iar.Thespont aneousorsuggest edut ter ances
oft hesomnambul euponmat tersr elat i
ngt oherexal t
edcondi t i
on
wer eunquest i
oni ngl yaccept ed." Dot hemi ndsoft hemesmer istand
thepat ientbecomeone? "" Somet i
mes, butnotof t
en. "
--"I
si t,then,
thatt heyt ast e, f
eel , etc.,thesamet hings, att hesamemoment ?"
"Yes. "--
"Wi l
l ourmi ndsbecomeone? ""Ithinknot .
"-
-"Whatar ey our
chiefpower s? ""Iliket olookupandseespi ritual things; Icansee
diseases, andIl iket oseev isions. "--
"Cant hemi ndhearot her wi se
thanbyt heear ?"" Notnat ur al
ly;butadeafper soncanheart he
mesmer i
stwheni nt hesl eep; notany bodyel se, howev er."--
"Howi sit
thaty oucanseewi t houty ourey es! ""Ah!t hati sacur i
oust hing.I
hav enotf oundi touty et."

From t he" Letterst oaCandi dInqui reronAni mal Magnet i

sm, "by
Wi l
li
am Gr egor y,M. D.,F. R.S.E.,prof essorofchemi st ryi nt he
Univer sit
yofEdi nbur gh, sel ectionsappr opriatet oourpr esent
purposemaybemadeal mostatr andom.Somewr itingi spl acedi nthe
handsoft hesomnambul e,andf rom t hi sshepi ctur est hewr i
ter,tel
ls
ofthel ady'
sr ecentai lment s,hersur roundi ngs, hert rav els, and
hercondi t
ion; andwhent hel adyher sel fispr esent edshei mmedi atel
y
recogni zesherast hesubj ectofherv ision.Al ostwat chi s
recov eredandt het hiefdet ectedbyt hesamemeans; thewher eabouts
ofabsentf riendst ravelingi ndi stantl andsi sdet ermi nedby
placingasampl eoft hei rhandwr it
ingoral ockoft hei rhai rin
thesomnambul e'shands.Thesomnambul et ranspor tsher sel ftopast
ti
mes, anddet ailstheev ent soft hel ifeofMar y,QueenofScot s,
asshewi t
nessest hem.I nhermagnet icv i
sionshef ol lows, dayby
day, t
headv ent uresofSi rJohnFr ankl in, whowast heni nt heAr ct
ic
regions.Shef requent lyspokeofhi soccupat ions, and, whenasked
thet i
meofday ,foundi tei t
herbyl ooki ngatat imepi ecei nt he
cabinorbyconsul t
ingSi rJohn' swat ch; andf rom t hedi ffer encei n
ti
mei ndicatedbyt hesomnambul et hel ongitudeofSi rJohnFr ankli
n'
s
l
ocat ionandt hedi rectionsofhi smov ement swer ecal cul ated." Ona
Sundayaf ternooni nFebr uary ,
1850, shesai di twasabout10A. M.
there, anddescr ibedt hecapt ain,SirJohn, asr eadingpr ay er sto
thecr ew, whoknel tinaci r
clewi tht hei rf acesupwar d, looki ng
athim andappear i
ngver
ysor r
owful.Sheevennamedt hechapt
erof
St.Mar k'
sgospelwhichhereadont hatoccasi
on. "Althoughwear e
naïvelytol
dthat,"
asageneralrul
e,weoughtt ov eri
fyt hevisi
on
beforeadmi t
ti
ngitasaninstanceofgenuineclairvoyance,"yeti
n
thi
scaset hesomnambul e'
sasserti
onshadbeensouni for
mlyveri
fi
ed
thatitseemedunnecessarytoquestionthecorrectnessofherment al
Arcti
cexplorati
ons.

Allthev ar iet i
esofsuper nat ural condi tions--consci ousl uci dity ,
consci ouscl airv oy ance, sy mpat heticcl airvoy ance, sympat het i
c
retr
ov ision, directcl airv oy ance, ment al traveling, i
nt rov i
sionand
prevision, spont aneousr et r
ov ision--wer efor mul at edandaddedt heir
quot at ot hegener al my st ery.Thedoct ri
neofcr oss- magnet ism, or
thedi sturbi ngi nf l
uenceofdi fferentmagnet izer s, wasdev el oped,
andbecameaf av oritemodeofaccount ingf orf ail
ur esofal lki nds.
Extrav agantdoct ri
nesor iginat i
ngi not herf ieldsofpseudo- sci ence
werei ncor por at edi ntomagnet i
sm; themagi cmi rrororcr y stal was
oneoft hese.Thenot ioni sdoubt l
essv eryanci ent ,--
compar et he
shew- stoneofDr .Dee( 1527- 1608) ,--andwasr ev ivedbyBar onDu
Potet ,whodr ewabl ackmagi cci rcleont hef l
oorwi thapi eceof
charcoal ; thist hesubj ectappr oached, st aredati tfixedly ,and
seemedf asci nat edbyi t ;grewexci ted, breat hedhar d, mov edt oand
fro,andt hensawv isionsi nt hemagi cmi rror."Itwasnodr eam nor
nightmar e; theappar itionswer eact uallypr esent .Aser i
esofev ents
wereunr ol ledbef or ehi m, represent edbysi gnsandf i
gur eswhi chhe
couldunder standandgl oatov er,somet i
mesj oy ful, somet imesgl oomy,
j
ustast heser epr esent at i
onsoft hef uturepassedbef orehi sey es!
Verysoonhewasov er comebydel iri
um, hewi shedt osei zet hei mage,
anddar tedaf eroci ousgl ancet owar dsi t;hef inal lyst artedf or war d
totrampl eont hechar coal circle,thedustf rom i tar ose, andt he
oper atorappr oachedt oputanendt oadr amasof ul lofemot i
onand
terr
or .
"

"Darli
ngism"wasat erm br oughtforwardbyoneDar l
ing, whouseda
disc,saidtobemadeofzi ncandcopper ,toputhi ssubj ectsto
sleep.Likeel ectro-biol
ogy , i
twasmer el
yanewnamef orthesame
phenomenaexhi bi t
edi nconnect ionwi t
habsur dtheor eticalnot i
ons.
Thephr enol ogical mani festati
ons,sounf or
tunatelycount enancedby
Braid,continuedt obeexhi bit
edbyot hersinconnect i
onwi ththe
hypnot i
cst ate.Clairvoy ancecont i
nuedt ober egardedasoneoft he
mostessent ialtestsoft hemesmer icconditi
on,andt ookapr omi nent
partinpubl icexhi bit
ions.Somewhatl at
eritwasi ncorpor atedi nto
theequi pmentofspi ri
tualism,andt hismov ementpr obabl yexerteda
my sti
cinfluenceuponmesmer i
sm.

Thei nvestigationsofBar onReichenbachaddedanewcl assof

sensiti
ves.Rei chenbachannouncedt hedoct ri
neofan" odi c"force
or"odyle,"streami ngfort
hf rom magnetsandf r
om thehumanf rame,
andaf f
ect ingt hehumansy stem;cert
ainsensi t
ivescouldseet hese
emanat ions, andmagnet izedsubjectsatoncebecome" odi c"sensit
ives.
Thedoct ri
net hatcertai
nper sonsaresensi t
ivetomet al
swasan
ancientone.I tr eappear
edi nthemy t
hst hatwer ewov enaboutCasper
Hauser ,thewi ldboyofNur ember g(1828) ,whogav eevidenceof
hisunusual originbyshudder i
nginthepr esenceofaneedl e,and
evidencingi ntenseagonyi npassingahar dwareshop.Mi ssMar ti
neau's
J.holdsapi eceofst eelsot i
ghtl
ythatnoonecanwr enchi tfrom
her,butt oucht hest eel wi thgol dandi tfall
sf rom herhands
atonce.Thef ollowi ngci tat i
onwi l
lshowhowt hismov ementwas
util
i
zedi nmesmer i
cpr act ices: "Butt oascer t
ai nwhet herhe( a
Maj orBuckl ey,amesmer ist)canobt ainconsci ouscl airvoyance, he
makessl owpassesf r
om hi sownf or eheadt ohi sownchest .Ifthis
producesabl uel ightinhi sf ace, strongl yv i
sibl e, t
hesubj ectwi l
l
probabl yacquireconsci ouscl airvoy ance.I fnot , i
fthel i
ghtbe
pale,thesubj ectmustf i
rstber ender edcl airvoy antint hesleep.
Takingt hosesubj ectswhoseeav er ydeepbl uel i
ght,hecont inues
tomakepassesov erhisownf ace, andal soov ertheobj ect ,
aboxor
anut ,forexampl e,inwhi chwr ittenorpr i
ntedwor dsar einclosed,
whicht hecl ai
rvoy antist or ead.Somesubj ect sr equireonl yapass
ortwot obemadecl air
v oy ant ,other sr equiremany .Theydescr i
be
thebluel ightasr ender ingt heboxornutt ranspar ent,sot hatthey
canr eadwhati si nside.Ift oomanypassesbemadebyMaj orB. ,t
he
bluelightbecomessodeept hatt heycannotr ead, andsomer everse
passesmustbemadet or endert hel ightlessdeep.Maj orBuckl eyhas
thuspr oducedconsci ouscl airv oyancei nei ghty -ni
neper sons, ofwhom
fort
y -
fourhav ebeenabl et or eadmot t oescont ainedinnut -
shell
s,
purchasedbyot herpar tiesf ort heexper i
ment .
"

Itmustnotbesupposedt hatt hesepr act i

ceshav eent irely
disappear ed.I nawor kpubl i
shedasl at eas1869wemayr ead
suchsent encesas, "thecl ai r
v oyanceofani diotinast at eof
somnambul ism woul di nspi r
emewi thmor econf i
dencei fIwer esi ck
thant hegr eat estgeni useswhi chgr acemoder nmedi ci ne;"andagai n,
"itnevercoul dbei magi nedwi thwhatt act, accur acy ,andpr ecision,
somnambul istsaccountf orany thingt hatt akespl acei nt hem.Theyar e
l
iteral
lypr esentatt heper formanceofal lthei rorgani cf unct i
ons;
theydet ecti nt hem t hesl i
ght estdi sor der ,themi nut estchange.
Thenofal l thishef or msacl ear ,exact ,andmat hemat ical i
dea.
Hecoul dt ell,fori nst ance, howmanydr opsofbl oodt her ear ei n
hishear t;heknows, almostt oagr amme, howmuchi twoul dr equire
tosat i
sfyhi sappet iteatt hemoment ; howmanydr opsofwat er
woul dbenecessar yt osat i
sf yhi sthirst, andhi sv aluationsar e
i
nconcei v abl yexact .Ti me, space, forcesofal lkinds, ther esistance
andwei ghtofobj ect s, hist hought s,orr atherhi sinst i
nctmeasur es,
hecal culat es, appr eciat esal l thesemat tersbyasi nglegl anceof
theey e."Int hel ect uresandcheapcompendi umst ell
i
ng" Howt o
Mesmer ize, "andgi ving" TheWhol eAr tofMesmer ism, "bywhi cht he
travel
ingmesmer i
st sofy ester day ,i
fnotoft o-day ,extendt heir
fame, onemayf indt hesev erysamedoct ri
nessi debysi dewi th
gar bl
edaccount sofr ecentdi scov eriesi nhy pnot ism.Butwehav e
alreadydwel tt ool ongupont heaber rationsoft hehumani ntellect,
i
nwhi cht hel udicr ousandt hesol emnar esocur iouslycombi ned.

Thetransi
ti
onf rom theant ecedentt othepr esentstat
usof
hypnoti
sm wasaccompl ishedi nthemai nbyt wofactors;bythe
preci
sedetermi nati
on,accor di
ngt origi
dlyscienti
ficmet hods,
ofthephysiologicalandpsy chologicalcharacteri
sti
csoft he
hypnoti
cstate,andbyt headv ocacyofi tscl
aimsandt hefurther
devel
opmentofi tssphereofi nfl
uence, onthepar tofprofessional
menofabi l
ityandacknowl edgedst anding.Themi schievousand
erraticassoci at i
onsofmesmer ism, asal soofhy pnot ism, wer e
diffi
cul tt oout grow.Unj ust i
f i
abl eskept icism andnegl ectwer et he
natur al consequencesofext rav agance, per v ersi on, andchar l
at anism.
Event her epeat edandv er i
fiabl epr oduct ionbyhy pnot icmeansof
anæst hesi asuf ficientf orser ioussur gi cal oper at ions, wasi gnor ed;
part l
y,per haps, becauseoft hedi scov eryofet her ,whi cht ur ned
thei nter esti nanæst het icsi nt onewchannel s.Thel egitimat eand
progr essi vei nv est i
gat i
onsofsuchasBr aid, Li ebaul t,Azam, Dur and
deGr os, andot her s, wer eonl yf itfull
yandspar sel yr ecogni zed.As
l
ateas1874Dechambr e, inhi sMedi cal Ency clopedi a, decl ar est hat
allthephenomenar estuponsel f-decept ionanddel usion, andt hat
thecondi t i
ondoesnotexi st.Butbegi nni ngwi t
ht het hirdquar ter
oft hecent uryt heat tituder api dlychanged.Ri chet( 1875)publ ished
ani mpor tantpaperi nanaut hor i
tativephy si ologi cal j
our nal , i
n
whi chheagai nest abl ishedbysci entificmet hodst her eal ityoft he
hypnot i
ccondi tion.I nt hishewr ote,"Itr equi resconsi der abl e
cour aget ospeakal oudt hewor dsomnambul ism.Thest upi dcr eduli
ty
oft hemassesandt hepr etensi onsofcer tai nchar l
at anshav ebr ought
thet hingi tsel faswel last henamei nt osuchdi sf av ort hatt her e
arebutf ewmenofsci encewhodonotl ookdi spar agingl yuponany
communi cat ionont hesubj ect ."Theadv ocacyofChar cot( 1878)and
hisdemonst rationsatt heSal pêt r
ièref i
nal lysucceededi ngai ning
theday ; andi n1882t hebanpl aceduponacademi cdi scussi onsof
thi
ssubj ectwasl i
ftedbyt her ecept i
onont hepar toft heAcademy
ofSci enceofamemoi rbyChar cotonhy pnot ism.Theext ensi veser i
es
ofst udi esi nst igat edbyhi m att heSal pêt rièr e, andcar ri
edon
withmar kedabi lityandsuccessbyt hosewhoi nsomemeasur edr ew
theirinspi rat i
onf rom t hef ieldofi nqui rywhi chhei naugur at ed;
ther ecogni tionwhi chhesecur edf ort hepr esent ationofst udi es
uponhy pnot i
sm bef or el ear nedsoci et ies; thef ar -reachi ngi nf l
uence
ofhi saut hor ity,-
-al lcont ribut edt otheaccept anceofhy pnot i
sm
asasci ent ifi
cf act ,andt hei ncl usionofi tsst udywi thint he
cir
cl eoft hesci ences.I tshoul dbecar eful lynot ed, howev er,
thatt heper i
od( whi ch, toconnecti twi tht henameofbutone
ofitsr epr esent at ives, maybecal ledt heper i
odofChar cot ),
thoughmar kedbyi mpor tantext ensi onsofourknowl edgeofhy pnotic
phenomena, wasi nessenceaper iodofr einst at ement .Al l the
essent ial andf undament al di scov erieshadbeenmadeandf or gotten,
andev enhadbeenr edi scov er eddecadesbef or e; butnotunt ilthis
periodwer et heyext ensi velyandaut hor itat i
v elyacknowl edged.
Thisr einst at ementwasnat ur allyther esul tofcoöper at ionof
manywor ker s; whi lehy pnot ism st ill
r emai nedaf av or i
test udyof
Frenchneur ologi sts, ot hercount r
iescont ribut edext ensi velyt oi ts
adv ance.I nGer manyt hemai ni mpet ust oi t sst udyseemst ohav e
beengi v enbyt hest rikingdemonst rat i
onsofhy pnot i
cphenomena
byaDani shhy pnot i
st ,Hansen( 1879and1880) ,whi chl edt ot hei r
studybyv ariousphy si ologi st s.Theear liestAmer i
cancont ribut ion
oft hisper iod( andwhi chwassomewhati ndependenti nor igin)was
ast udyoft rance- stat esbyDr .G.M.Bear d, ofNewYor k, in1881.
Butaccount sofcont ribut or sandcont ribut ionsbel ongnol onger
tot hehi st orical aspectwhi chwear econsi der ing, butt omoder n
hypnot i
sm.Suf ficei tt osayt hatt hel iterat ur eoft hesubj ectof
thepastt wodecadesi sal mostal armi ngl yv ol umi nousi ni tsext ent,
andmostcosmopol itani nit scomposi ti
on; thatcognat edepar tment s
ofsci ence- -phy si ology ,psy chol ogy ,medi cine- -
consi deri tsbear ings
upont hei rspeci al probl ems; thati tst her apeut icappl icat iont o
thecur eofdi seasebyt heef ficacyoft hepowerofsuggest i
oni s
recogni zedext ensi v elybygener al pr act itioner s, byneur ologists,
aswel lasi nspeci f
ichy pnot iccl inics; thati tsut i
l
izat ionasa
special met hodofpsy chol ogyhasbeenpr oduct iveofi nterest i
ngand
valuablecont ri
but i
ons; andt hati tillumi nat esmanyadar kr ecess
i
nt hest oryoft hehi stor i
cal andsoci ologi cal dev el opmentof
humani ty.Onephaseoft hemat ter , alone, seemsdest inedt oser v e
asanhi stor ical turning- poi nt ;they earoft henewepochi sbest
mar kedbyt heappear ancei n1886ofDr .Ber nhei m' scl assi cv olumeon
"Suggest i
onandi tsTher apeut ical Appl icat ions" ;
andt hekey -noteof
thenewerdoct ri
nel iesi nt het er m" suggest ion. "Char cotandhi s
foll
ower shad, indi ffer entdegr eesandway s, emphasi zedt hephy sical
charact erist i
csoft hehy pnosi s; theyhel dt hati nt y pical subj ects
therewer eobj ect iv
el ydi stincthy pnot i
cst ates, char act eri
z edand
i
nducedbyphy sical mani f
est at i
ons.Theyr ecogni zedt hei mpor t
ance
ofsuggest ion, buti naddi t
iont oi tal sor ecogni zedt heexi stence
ofobj ect i
v elydi fferent iatedhy pnot icphenomena.Theseandr elat ed
doctrinesar ecommonl yr efer redt oast hoseoft he" school ofPar i
s."
Incont rastwi tht hisi st he" school ofNancy ,"ofwhi chDr .Ber nhei m
i
st heacknowl edgedl eader ,andwhi chmaybechar act erizedast he
"suggest i
oni st"school .Thi sschool r ecogni zesdi fferentdegr eesof
suggest i
bility,andanendl essv ariet yofr esul tingphenomena, but
regardssuggest ion, ini tsv ar i
ousf or ms, asf ur nishi ngasuf ficient
andcompr ehensi vecl uet ot heent i
r er angeofobser vat i
ons.I t
i
scompel ledaccor di ngl ytor egar dt het hr eedi stinct i
v est ates
recogni zedbyChar cotast hemsel v est hepr oductofunconsci ous
suggest i
onandofacont agi ous_ espr i
tdecor ps_oft heSal pêt ri
èr e
subject s.Theschool ofNancyt o- dayenj oy st hemostext ensi ve
foll
owi ng, andmaybesai dt or epr esentt hedomi nantt rendofpr esent
study.Onemayf airlysayt hatt hepr esentpsy chol ogi cal studyi n
thisdomai ni sthest udyofsuggest i
on, onef or m, thoughonl yone
form, ofwhi chi shy pnot icsuggest i
on.Wi tht hecompl eter eal i
zat i
on
ofthepsy chol ogi cal signi fi
canceoft hehy pnot icst ate, t
hef i
erce
andadv ent ur ousst ruggl ef orexi st enceofhy pnot i
sm maybesai dt o
terminat ei ni tsundi stur bedadapt at i
ont oasci entificenv ir
onment .

XI

Thehi storyoft heant ecedent sofhy pnot i

sm i sr i
chi n
suggest iveness.Fort hehi st orianoft hei nduct i
v esci encesi t
i
llustrat est heinf l
uenceoft heci r
cumst ancesaccompany ing
adi scov eryupont hest atusoft hedi scov er yitself; that
theaccept anceofadi scov er ydependsmor euponi tslogical
concor dancewi thcur rentsci ent i
ficconcept i
ons, upont hemanner
ofitsdemonst ration, thanupont hei ntri
nsi ccont entofwhati s
demonst rated.I tisasdi f
f i
cul tinsci enceasi nr eal li
fet oescape
thei nfluencesofunf ortunat eassoci ates; thei nter estingst at e
whi chwenowr ecogni zeashy pnosi swasnat ur allydi scredi tedwhenit
consor tedwi t
hani mal magnet ism andt hemar velsofsomnambul i
sm,but
wasr ecogni zedwheni t
scr edent ialswer eexpr essedi ni ntelligi
ble
phy siological andpsy chologi cal t
er ms.Fort hehi st orianofhuman
errort hest or yisequal lysigni ficant .Itil
lust r
at esagai nt hatt he
ment al att
itudeessent ial
lyi nf l
uencest r
ut hander roral ike; that
withal l dueal lowancef orignor ance, forfaul tyobser vation, for
defect iveor gani zationofknowl edge, errorwasdue, mor et hant oany
ofthese, tot hel ackofsui t
abl econcept sf ort hepr operabsor ption
andappr eci ationoft hephenomenai nt heirt ruesi gni ficance.For
l
ackoft heset her ewasmi sconcept i
onandov ersight ,andi nt hei r
steadpr epossessi onbynot i
onsofawhol l
yi rrelev antchar act er.
Suchnot ionswer efost er edbywhatwer etrospect ivel yr ecogni zeas
pseudo- sci ence; suchwast hef ictiti
ousani mal magnet ism, anent ity
nev erdemonst rated, butsuppor tedonl ybyasuper ficial anal ogi cal
plausi bility.Theywer ef oster edal sobyt heact ivityoft he
mar v el-l
ov ingi mpul se, whi chi sunr esponsi v etot heuni for mi ti
esof
natur e, andf av orsmy sticfabl e,whi l
eov erlooki ngsensi bl ef act .
"Werunmögl ichesgegl aubt , könntunmögl ichesv er ri
cht en. "The
speci al for m ofbel ief, t
henameoft hesy stem, thenat ur eoft he
expl anat or yt heor y,seem al mostacci dent al.Thr oughoutal ltimes, the
samei nt ensecr av i
ngt oov ert hr
owt hel imi tationsoft hehumanmi nd
hasbeenpr esent ,andhasbeensat i
sfiedbymucht hesamebel i
ef sand
theor ies.Mesmer i
sm har ksbackt oast rology ;pr ophet sandseer shav e
alway sexi sted; themy steryoft heat tr
act ivef orceoft hemagnet
forlongmademagnet i
sm amostpopul arexpl anat ionofanyobscur e
phenomena; thesameper for mancest hatconv i
ncedt hemesmer istofthe
exist enceoft hemagnet i
cf lui dar eev idencet ot heel ect ro- biologi st
oftheel ect ro-v italfor ce,oft he" od"t ot hef ol l
ower sof
Reichenbach; and- -mor est riki ngst il
l-
-theout fitoft hemoder n
spiritualist icmedi um, thet rance, thecl airvoy antdi scov er yofone' s
privat eaf fairs, ther eadi ngofmessagesi nseal edenv elopes, the
conv ersat ionwi thabsentordepar t
edf riends, areal ltobef oundi n
theannal sofsomnambul ism.Tr uly,historyr epeat si tsel f;andt he
endl essf or msofmy st i
cism, err
or ,andext rav aganceseem i mmor tal;
theychangei nf orm andaccommodat et hemsel v est ot headv ancei n
knowl edgeandci vil
izat i
on, andpar odyt hef ormsofst at ementandt he
met hodsofsci encei nanagewhi chhasl ear nedt obei mpr essedwi th
scient ifi
cdemonst rations.

Fort hespeci al studentofhy pnot ism nol essonoft hehi storyofits

ant ecedent si smor epr acticallysi gnifi
cantt hani tsillumi nati
on
oft heext ent, var i
et y,andsubt letyofunconsci oussuggest i
on.If
Puy ségur '
ssubj ect spr escr ibef ortheirowni ll
sandseewi thout
theirey es; ifPét etin'sreadwhati spl acedont hei rstomachs; or
thei nterposi tionofpoorel ectric-conduct or spr eventmani festati
ons;
i
foneoft hesubj ect sexami nedbyt hecommi ssi onof1784coul dnot
bedepr ivedofspeechunl esst hemagnet izi ngbandpassedbel owhi s
mout h; i
foneoft heSal pêt ri
èresubj ectsof1829coul dbecur edonl y
byi mmer sioni nt her iv
er ;i
fDel euze'ssubj ect sr esponddi ff
erently
tot hemi nut edi ffer encesi nmani pul at
ions, whi chhebel ievedt obe
essent i
al; i
fthesubj ectswhom Br aidexami nedcoul dpr ov ethetruth
ofphr enol ogy ,andt hemesmer i
st'
ssubj ect sf eel t
hemagnet i
cf l
uid
streami ngt hrought heirsy stems; ifwithinr ecentt imespar alysesar e
transf erredf rom onear mt ot heot herbyt heact ionofamagnet ,or
Dr .Luy s'ssubj ect sshowt hechar acteristicef fect sofadr ugwhen
aseal edv i
al cont ai ningi tispl acedupont hesubj ect '
sneck, or
respondt ot hepuppet swhi chhehasmani pul at ed,--
sur elyitisas
obv ioust hatsomespont aneouscapr i
ceoft hesubj ectorunconsci ous
suggest ionsoft heoper atorhav eor igi
nat edt hesenot ions, andt hat
unconsci ousi mi tat i
onhasf urthercont ribut edt ot hei rdi ssemi nation,
asi tisobv ioust hatal lthesei npar tmut ual lycont radi ctor y
phenomenacannotbet rue, object i
vef act s.Thesi gni ficanceofmor e
recenti nv est i
gat i
onsi nal l
iedf ieldsst il
l tur nsupont hef actor
whi chunconsci oussuggest ionplaysintheirproducti
on.Theadv ocates
oftelepathy,whet heroccurringunderhy pnoti
cormor enor mal
conditi
ons, feelconfidentthatunconscioussuggest i
onaswel lasal l
othersour cesofer rorhavebeenel iminated;theskepticalcri
ti
cs
pointoutov erlookedandnov elmodesofunconsci oussuggest i
on, and
drawconf idencef rom thehi stor
yofthepast ,bothoft heunwarranted
fl
ighttoimpr obabl ehypothesi sonthebasisofanal legedabsence
ofanat uralexplanat i
on,andoft hesolventpowerwhi chfuture
i
nv esti
gationmayhol dinst ore.

Thest oryoft heconquestofar ealm off ablebyacampai gnof

enli
ght enmenti sal way sat al
eofi nt erest .Theopeni ngofanew
vist
adi rectsone'sgazeout war dov erunexpl oredar eas.I tmaybe,
asoursev enteenth-cent ur ychr oniclert el
lsus, that"wear eal l
Indi
ansandSal vagesi nwhatwehav enotaccust omedoursenses, "and
that,"whatwasConj uringi nt hel astagei sMat hemat i
quesi nthis";
butourmor eext ensiv eacquai nt ancewi t
ht hecour seofdi scov ery
andt hedemonst r
ationoft ruthhasgi v enusamor el ogical sense
ofthepr obabl eandt hei mpr obabl e; andt heev oluti
onbywhi ch
conjuringbecomesmat hemat icsi smor eintimat elyunder st
ood.The
recentest abl
ishmentofhy pnot i
sm i ni tssci entifi
caspect sf urnishes
thepr operper spectivef ort hecompr ehensi onofi tsant ecedent s;
i
tgivesconf i
dencet hati tsfutur edev elopmentwi l
lincor porate
thespi ri
tofpr esentr esear ch, asi twi llav oidtheaber r
ationsof
thepast ;andi tgivest ot hest or yofi tsv i
cissitudesat imel y
perti
nenceaswel lasapsy chol ogi cal significance.

THENATURALHI
STORYOFANALOGY

Theor iginofhumanendowmentl ieshiddeni nanobscur eand

unrecor dedpast ;thef actofdev elopment ,oft hegr adual unfol dment
ofcapaci t
y,standsoutconspi cuousl ythroughoutt hehi storical
recor dofhumanachi ev ement ,andi sequal l
yr ecogni zabl eint he
extensi v eremai nsofpr ehi storichumani ty.Thest oryoft hement al
devel opmentofmani sconst ructedf rom travelers'account sof
primi t
ivepeopl es, fr
om t herecor dsofear lyciv i
li
zations, from t he
sequencesoft houghtandbel ieft hatareconsi deredi nt hehi st or
y
ofcul tur e,f
rom t hest udyoft hei ntell
ectual growt hofchi l
dhood,
from t heobser vationoft hel esspr ogressiveel ement sofcur rent
civi
lizations.Thepr esentessayat tempt stopor t
rayt hest atus
ofonef orm ofi ntell
ect ual process, orofment alat t
itude, whi ch
char acter i
zesundev elopedst agesofhumant hought ,andhaspl ayed
animpor tantandv ar i
abl epar tint hedr amaofment al evolution.I
proposet opresentt he" Nat ural HistoryofAnal ogy ,
"--
meani ngt hereby
thet reat ment, accor dingt ot hemet hodsofnat uralsci ence, ofat ype
ofment alaction, i
nterest i
ngatonceasapsy chological pr ocess, and
againf rom itspr actical resultsasaf actorint heant hropol ogi cal
historyoft her ace.

Ananal
ogyi
sat
ypeofr
easoni
ng,
andassuchi
sref
err
edt
othe
l
ogi cianf ormor epr ecisedef inition.Hi sbr ief estexpl anat ionof
thet erm maybest atedast hei nf erenceofaf ur t
herdegr eeof
resembl ancef rom anobser veddegr eeofr esembl ance; thear gument
thatbecauset heEar thandMar sagr eei nt hecommonpossessi onofa
solidcr ust ,anat mospher e, pr esenceofwat er, changesofseason,
thepossi bi l
itiesofr ainandsnow, andot herobser v edqual iti
es,
theywi l
l alsoagr eei nt hef urtherr espectofbei ngi nhabi ted.
Thismayser veasanexempl aroft heanal ogi cal ar gumenti nits
purestandmostdev elopedf or m; buti nt hesur veyoft hev ar i
eties
anddi stribut i
onoft hisnat ur al productofr at i
onal i
ty ,itwi ll
benecessar yt oi ncl udemanyf or msoft houghtdi v ergi ngmor eor
l
essf rom, thoughal way sr et aining, ar ecogni zabl er elationt othis
type.Theanal ogical infer ence, indeed, goesbackt oani nar ticulate
form, inwhi chi tmer gesi ntoaf eel ingr at hert hananar gument ,a
suscept i
bi li
tyt oani nf l
uencesuppor tedbyundef i
nedpl ausi bi l
ity,
rathert hanaconcl usionf rom t angi bleev idence.Buthowev erl acki ng
i
ndef initenessorf or mul ation, howev erunconsci ousl yr eal ized
andbar el yexpr essi ble,thet endencyordi sposi ti
ont obel iev eis
communi cat edt oot her sandbecomesani nf luent i
al fact ori nt he
ulti
mat ef ixat i
onofbel iefandi nt hegui danceofconduct .Logi cal ly
consi der ed, anal ogyi sal way saweakar gument ;andbecomesweaker ,
ast her angeofobser vedr esembl ancei smor eandmor el imi ted, as
ther esembl ancesbel ongt oacci dent al,unessent ial trai ts, and
ast heunder ly i
ngbasi soft hei nfer encei sr emov edf rom di rect
verifi
cat ion.Psy chol ogical ly,itspowert oi nf luencebel iefmaybe
veryst rong, andwhent hisi snott hecase, ther est i
ll mayexi st
adi sposi tiont obei nfluencedbyanal ogi cal consi der at i
ons, even
whent hesear esuccessf ul lyr esist edorsuppr essed.Thei nst i
nct iv
e
proclivityt owar dst heuseofanal ogi es, whet heri tbel ogi cal or
anti-l
ogi cal inef fect ,for msani nt erest ingpsy chol ogi cal trait.
Logi ccounsel showwemayt hi nkmostpr of itablyandcor rect l
y ;
psy chologydescr ibeshowweact ual l
ydot hi nkort endt ot hi nk.The
l
ogi ciani st hegar denerbentupont rainingcer tai
nsel ect edf lower s
accor dingt oani deal standar d, ander adicat ingal lot her sasweeds;
whi l
et hepsy chol ogi stist hebot ani stt owhom al l plant s, weeds, and
fl
ower sal ikear ewor thyobj ect sofst udy ,andwho, indeed, traces
significantr esembl ancesbet weent hedespi sedweedandt hechoi ce
fl
ower .

Thenat uralhist
oryaccountofanal ogywi l
lconsiderthestatusin
l
essadv ancedstagesofhumandev el
opment ,andt heevoluti
onof
thisform ofthought ,
whi chscienti
ststo-dayuseonl ywiththe
greatestcaution,andt owhi chtheyatbestassi gnbutalimi t
ed
andcor roborati
vev al
ue.I twil
lappearthatanalogyi sdominant
i
npr i
mitivet
ypesoft hought ;t
hatithasani mpor tantcul
tural
history;andhasleftanunmi stakablei
mpr essuponmanybel i
efsof
ourci vi
l
izati
on,mar kedasobsol et
e,perhaps,inthedicti
onary
ofthecul tur
ed,butcur rentsti
lli
nthepar l
anceofav er
ageand
untutoredhumani ty.

I
I

Thegreatlawofapper cept
ion,
teachi
ngthatweobserveaccor
ding
toourinheri
tedcapaciti
esandouracqui
redexper
ience,t
hatwe
i
nav eryrealsensecreatetheworl
dinwhichweli
v e,
explai
ns
thedi fficul tyofr eal i
zingmodesoft houghtst r i
kingl ydi ffer ent
from ourown, ei therasmor epr imi tive, ormor ecompl ex, orasbased
uponot herper spect i
v esoft hesoci al, i
nt ellect ual, andet hi cal
rulest hatgui det houghtandconduct .Tot hesupr emel yci v i
li
zed
citi
zenoft heni net eent hcent ur y,thement allifeofonewhohas
har dlyaf irm hol dont hef irstroundoft hel adderofci vil
izat i
on
i
snat ur allysomewhati ncompr ehensi ble.Ani ll
ust rat i
onoft he
conspi cuouscont rast, thoughdoubt lessami dstani nher entcommuni ty
,
oft het hought -habi tsofunt utor edandofcul tur edman, maysuggest
thedi rect ionandt henat ur eoft heev olut i
onar ydev elopmentt hat
separ at es, yetbi nds, theoneandt heot her .Pr omi nentamongsuch
cont rast si st hedi fferentst andi ngassumedbyt hef act sand
reasoni ngsofsci encei npr i
mi tiv eandi nhi ghlyci v i
lizedl ife; and
ani mpor tantpar toft hisdi f
ferencemaybev i
ewedast heshi ft
ing
oft heposi ti
onoccupi edbyt hear gumentbyanal ogy .Deepert hant he
l
anguageofwor ds, andunder ly ingt hei ruseandf or mat i
on, i
st he
habi tofcompar i
ngobj ectwi thobj ect ,oft raci ngr esembl ancesand
not i
ngcont r
ast s.Itwoul dseem t hati nt hepr imi ti
v euseoft hi s
processt her ei sl acki ngt hedi st i
nct ionbet weent her esembl ances
mor est rictlyinher enti nt heobj ect sandt hoseor igi natingi nt he
modeofv iewi ngt hem; subj ectandobj ectar est i
ll mer gedi na
vaguerr ealm ofper cept i
onwher emy thandsci ence, poet i
cal ficti
on
andev identf act ,areasy etundi f f
er ent i
at edandmi nglewi thout
l
etorhi ndr ance.Thesav agef r ameshi swor l
dbyt her ealizat ion
ofsi mpl ef anci essuggest edbysl ightanal ogi es, wher et heman
ofcul tur eexami nest heobj ect i
v ecausesofphenomenaundert he
guidanceofsci entifical l
yest abl ishedpr inci plesandaccur atel ogic.
For tunat el y,howev er, forourpowerofr eal izi
ngby gonement al
traits,thesef ormsofbel i
efst ill fi
ndcur rencyassur vivals, in
Mr .Ty lor '
saptwor ds, "oft hel owercul t
ur ewhi cht heyar eoft o
thehi ghercul tur ewhi cht heyar ei n."Wet huscanunder st andt he
beliefwenol ongershar e; wecanappr eci ateassuggest i
v emy thor
far-fetchedanal ogywhatt oourancest or smayhav ebeenapl ausible
belieforasat isf act oryexpl anat ion.

Thepr omi nenceofanal ogyamongundev elopedpeopl essuppl ies

unlimi tedi ll
ustrati
onsoft her ôlewhi chitpl aysi npr i
mi ti
ve
circl
es, t
heessent ialinf luencewhi chi texer tsov ert hought s
andcust omsi nt heear lyhi st oryofmanki nd.Consi derf i
rstthat
widespr eadcl assofcust omsandobser vancesbywhi cht hesav age
regar dshi mselfasi nf l
uenci ngf orgoodori llt
hef ateoff ri
endor
foe.TheZul uchewi ngabi tofwoodt osof tent hehear toft heman
hewi shest obuyoxenf rom, oroft hewomanhei swooi ng( Ty l
or);
theIllinoi sIndiansmaki ngf igur esoft hosewhoseday stheydesi re
toshor ten, andst abbi ngt hesei magest ot hehear t, orbyper for
mi ng
i
ncant ationsuponast onet ryingt of or m ast onei nt hehear tsof
theirenemi es(Dor man) ; thePer uviansor cer er,maki ngragdol l
sand
piercingt hem wi thcact us- thor ns, andhi dingt hem aboutt hebeds
tocr i
ppl epeopl e;ort henat iveofBor neo, maki ngawaxf igureof
hisenemyi nthebel ieft hatast hei magemel t
s, t
heenemy '
sbody
willwast eaway( Ty l
or );theZul usor cererwhosecur esapor t
ion
ofadesi redv i
ctim'sdr essandbur iesi tsecr etl
y ,
sot hat,asi t
rotsaway ,hislifemaydecay( Cl odd) ;theconf essionr ecor dedi n
asev ent eenth-centur yt rial forwi t
chcr aft,thatt heaccusedhad
"buriedagl oveoft hesai dLor dHenr yinthegr ound, sothatas
thegl ov edi drotandwast e, thel iveroft hesai dl ordmi ghtr ot
andwast e"( Brand) ;theNewBr i
tainsor cer eroft o-daywhobur nsa
cast awaybananaski n, sothathewhocar elessl ylefti
tunbur i
ed
maydi eat orment ingdeat h( Clodd) ; bewitchingbyoper atingupona
l
ockofhai rort hepar ingsoft hef i
nger -
nails,andt heconsequent
widespr eadcust om ofr eli
giousl ypr eventingsuchper sonal scr
apsf r
om
fal
lingint oot hers' possession; --
allthesev ariedf ormsofpr imit
ive
witchcr aftrestupont henot i
ont hatoneki ndofconnect i
on, one
l
inkofr esembl ance, willbr
ingwi thitot hers.Thear gument , i
f
explicit
lyst at ed, ascanhar dlybedonewi thoutdoi ngv iol
encet o
i
tsinst i
nct ivef or ce,maybeputt hus: t
hisbi tofwoodorst one
orlockofhai rorscr apofcl ot hingr esembl est hismanorwomani n
thatt heoner epresent st heot herort hattheonehadaper sonal
connect i
onwi ththeot her ;
ther eforet heywi l
l f
ur therresembl eone
anot herint hatwhat ev erwillmaket heonesof tandy i
eldingort he
otherhar dandunf eelingwi llhav ethesameef f ectont heot her,or
i
nt hatwhat ev erisdonet ot heonewi l
lhappent ot heother .Other
consi derat i
onscombi newi tht hisunder l
yinganal ogicalfact orto
i
mpar tcogencyandpl ausibili
tyt oabel ieforcust om; butt het ype
ofthel ogi c,cr ookedt houghi tbe, isr ecogni zabl ethroughout .

Anothersi gnificantgr oupofpr i

mi tiv
ebel ief
s, i
nv ol
v i
ngasi mi l
arly
i
ndirectar gumentbyanal ogy,relat est othepar takingofanani mal
fort
hesakeoft husabsor bingitst ypicalqualit
ies.TheMal ay seat
ti
gertoacqui ret hesagaci tyaswel last hecunni ngoft hatani mal ;
theDy aksr efuset oeatdeerf orf earofbecomi ngf aint-
hear ted;the
Cari
bseschewpi gsandt ortoisesf orf earofhav ingt heirey esgrow
smal l
(Lubbock) ; evencanni balism maybei ndulgedi n,
int hehopes
ofabsor bingt hecour ageofabr av eman, asint hecaseofCapt ain
Wells,whowaski ll
ednearChi cagoi n1812, andwhosebodywascut
upanddi stri
but edamongt heI ndi ans, "sothatall mi ghthav et he
opportunityofget t
ingat asteoft hecour ageoussol dier"(Clodd);
andinananci entMexi canr i
te,cal ledt heeat i
ngoft hegod, there
occursanel abor atedandsy mbol ical form ofthesamebel ief.

Theuseofomens, theinterpret ationofsi gnsandcoi ncidences, forms

anot herr i
chf ieldf orill
ust r
ationofar gument sbyanal ogy ."Magi cal
arts,"say sMr .Ty lor ,"
inwhi cht heconnect ioni st hatofmer e
anal ogyorsy mbol i
sm, areendl essl ynumer oust hr oughoutt hecour seof
civil
izat i
on.Thei rcommont heor ymayber eadi l
ymadeoutf r
om af ew
typical cases, andt henceappl iedconf ident l
yt othegener al mass.
TheAust rali
anwi l
l observ ethet rackofani nsectnearagr av et o
ascer taint hedirect ionwher ethesor cererist obef oundbywhose
craftt hemandi ed....TheKhondi setsupt hei ronar rowoft hewar
godi nabasketofr ice,andj udgesf r
om i tsst andi ngupr i
ghtt hat
warmustbekeptupal so, orf r
om i tsfalli
ngt hatt hequar rel may
bel etf all
t oo;andwhenhet ortur eshumanv icti
mssacr i
fi
cedt o
theear thgoddessher ejoicest oseet hem shedpl ent if
ul tear s,
whi chbet okencopi ousshower st ofalluponhi sl and. ""Int hebur i
al
ceremoni esoft henat i
vesofAl aska, iftoomanyt ear swer eshed
theysai dthatt her oadoft hedeadwoul dbemuddy ,butaf ewt ears
j
ustl aidt hedust "(Dor man) ."TheZapot ecshadav er ycur ious
mannerofsel ectingamani touf orachi l
dati tsbi rth.Whenawoman
wasaboutt obedel ivered, t
her elativesassembl edi nthehutand
commencedt odr awont hef l
oorf iguresofdi fferentani mal s, r
ubbing
outeachoneasf astascompl et ed.Theonet hatr emai nedatt het i
me
oft hebi rt
hwascal ledthechi ld'ssecondsel f
, andassoonasgr own
uphepr ocuredt heani mal,andbel ievedhi sheal t
handexi stence
boundupwi thi t
"(Dorman) .Thet akingofomensbyt hef l
ightof
bir
dsort het racksofani mals,byt hesky ,byt heinspectionof
sacrif
ices, byt hetri
vialhappeningsofdai lylif
e,aboundi nsav age
ceremoni als, andinaf airproporti
onofcasescar rywi t
ht hem t he
rat
ionaleoft heirori
gin,thatsavest hem f rom beingmer ecapr ice.
Andi nall t
hoseendl essappeal stochanceorl otforthedet ect ion
ofcrime, theunf oldmentoft hefuture,thepr edicti
onoft hei ssue
ofdiseaseorofi mpor t
antt r
ibalevents, t
her eisalway ssome
underlyi
ngl i
nkofconnect i
onbet weent heki ndofomenort henat ur
e
ofitsinterpret at
ionandt heissuei tsignifi
es; andthisconnect ion
i
tis,howev ersl i
ghtorfanciful,t
hatmai ntainsthebeliefint he
fur
therbondofomenandi ssue.

I
II

Thatsuchconnect ionsmayt rav el st i

ll far t
heral ongt hepat hof
anal ogywi thoutl osi ngf or ce,iswel lillust ratedi nt heobser vances
regar di ngt heuseofnames.Theconnect ionseemst opassf rom thi
ng
toi mage, toname, muchaspi ct ure- wr itingpassesi ntowor d-wr i
ti
ng.
Theuseofi dol sisabundantev i
denceoft heext entoft hi s
ment al oper ati
on; whati sdonet oorf ort hei dol isanal ogi cally
transf er redt ot hegod, andt heconf usi onmaybecomesogr osst hat
whent heor acl esoft wogodsdi sagr ee, theiridol sar eknocked
agai nsteachot her,andt heonet hatbr eaksi sdecl ar edi nt hewr ong.
Adr awi ngorot herr oughr esembl ancemaydoser vicef ort het hi
ng,
especi al l
yinsacr i
ficesofobj ect sofv al ue.Bysi mi larst epst he
namebecomesanessent i
al por ti
onoft heobj ectorper sonnamed,
andanal ogiesf ormedt hr ought henamear eappl iedt othet hing.
Accor di ngly, amanmaybebewi tchedt hr oughhi sname; hencet here
ariset hemostel abor ateandr igidobser vancespr ohi bitingt heuse
oft hename, whi char egr oupedt oget heri nt hecompl excodeoft he
Taboo, --
that" dr eadt yrantofsav agel ife, .
..theI nqui siti
onoft he
l
owercul ture, onlymor et erri
bl eandef f ect i
vet hant heinf amous
'
Hol yOf fi
ce'"( Clodd) .Foruncompl icat edi l
lust rationsofname
anal ogi es, howev er,wemustgot oot hercust omst hant heTaboo.I t
i
sr el at edt hati nt heBr itishwarwi thNepaul ,Gor eeSahhadsent
order st o" fi
ndoutt henameoft hecommanderoft heBr iti
shar my ;
wr i
tei tuponapi eceofpaper ;takei tsomer iceandt urmer i
c;
sayt hegr eati ncant ationt hreet i
mes; hav i
ngsai di t,sendf or
somepl um- treewood, andt her ewi thbur nit;
"t huswast hel if
eof
thecommandert obedest roy ed.Si mi lar lyitwassuspect edt hatt he
KingofDahomeyr ef usedt osi gnal etter , writteni nhi snamet o
thePr esi dentoft heFr enchRepubl ic, forf eart hatM.Car notmi ght
bewi tchhi mt hr oughi t( citedbyCl odd) ." Barbar i
cmanbel i
ev es
thathi snamei sav ital par tofhi msel f, andt her efor et hatt he
namesofot hermenandofsuper humanbei ngsar eal sov italpar t
s
oft hemsel ves.Hef ur therbel iev est hatt oknowt henamei st oput
i
tsowner ,whet herhebedei ty,ghost ,ormor t al,int hepowerof
anot her ,involvingr iskofhar m ordest ruct iont ot henamed.He
theref or et akesal lki ndsofpr ecaut i
onst oconceal hisname, often
from hi sf ri
end, andal way sf rom hi sf oe"( Clodd) .InBor neot he
nameofasi cklychi ldischangedt odecei vet heev i
l spirit
st hat
tormenti t."Whent hel i
f eofaKwapaI ndi ani ssupposedt obei n
dangerf r
om i ll
ness, heatonceseekst ogetr i
dofhi sname, and
sendst oanot hermemberoft het ribe, whogoest ot hechi efandbuy s
anewname, whi chi sgi vent ot hepat i
ent.Wi tht heabandonmentof
theol dnamei tisbel ievedt hatt hesi cknessi sthr ownof f.'Ont he
recept i
onoft henewnamet hepat i
entbecomesr elatedt ot heKwapa
whopur chasedi t
.AnyKwapacanchangeorabandonhi sper sonalname
fourtimes, buti tisconsi deredbadl uckt oat temptsuchat hing
forthef ifthtime' "(Clodd) .TheMohawkchi efcanconf ernohi gher
honoronhi sv isit
ort hanbygi v i
nghi m hisname, wi thwhi chgoes
therightofr egar dingt hechi ef'sf ameanddeedsofv alorashi s
own.ATahi t
ianchi efbecamesosmi ttenwi t
hSt ev enson'schar msthat
heassumedSt evenson' sname; inexchangeSt ev ensont ookt hename
ofthechi ef,andi noneofhi sl etterssi gnshi msel f,"Terit
er a,
whichhewaspr ev i
ousl yknownasRober tLoui sSt ev enson. "Whent otem
andt ribal namesar eassumedt oobt ainthequal iti
esoft heani mal
namesake, ort her everenceduet ot heper soni st ransf er
r edt ot he
name, andwheni ncant ationsandt heut terancesofmy sticf ormul æare
grantedl ikeef ficacyast hemani pul ati
onoft het hingst hemsel ves,
weseet heoper ationoft hement al lawunderdi scussi on; though
i
tisst illmor esal ientlyill
ust ratedi nt hemor eart i
ficiali
zed
practicesoft heChi nesephy sician, who, forl ackofadesi reddr ug,
will"
wr i
tet hepr escr i
ptiononapi eceofpaperandl etthesi ckman
swallowi tsashesorani nf usionoft hewr i
t i
ngi nwat er
;"oroft he
Mosl em whoexpect srelieff rom adecoct ioni nwhi chav er seoft he
Koranwr i
ttenonpaperhasbeenwashed( Ty lor
).

Whati st rueofnamesi sal sor egar dedast rueofot her

represent at i
v esorembodi ment sofper sonal ity--thef oot print,the
drawi ng, t
hei mage, theshadow." Br okenbot tleendsorshar pst ones
areput , i
nRussi aandi nAust r
ia, int hef oot pr i
ntsofaf oe, for
thepur poseofl ami nghi m( Lang) ;oranai lmaybedr iveni ntoa
horse' sf oot pr intt omakehi m gol ame"( Gr i
mm) .TheOj ibway spracti
ce
magi c" bydr awi ngt hef igur eofanyper soni nsandorcl ay ,orby
consi der inganyobj ectast hef igur eofaper son, andt henpr icking
i
twi thashar pst i
ckorot herweapon; ...theper sont husr epresent ed
willsuf ferl ikewi se"( Dor man) .Thesamei deaappear si nKi ngJames' s
"Demonol ogy ,"inwhi chhespeaksof" thedev ilteachi nghowt omake
pictur esofwaxorcl ay ,thatbyr oast i
ngt her eoft heper sonst hat
theybeart henameofmaybecont i
nual lymel tedordr iedawayby
sickness; "andev ennowHi ghl andcr of tersper for atet hei mageof
anenemywi thpi ns.Thesamei deaf indsat angi blei l
lustrat i
oni n
thecol lectionofobj ect si nt hePi ttRi v ersMuseum atOxf ord( such
asapi g'shear tf rom Dev onshi re, wi thpi nsst ucki ntoit),whi ch
wer eusedf oral ikepur pose.AndCat lin'sst or yoft heaccusat ion
broughtagai nsthi m byt heYukons, thathehadmadebuf faloesscar ce
byput tingsomanypi ctur esoft hem i nhi sbook, maybepar all
eled
byt hest or i
esgat heredf rom Scot landt oSomer set ,of" i
llheal thor
i
llluckwhi chf ollowedt hecamer a, off ol kswho' tookbadanddi ed'
afterbei ng' a-tookt '
"(Clodd) ."TheBasut oav oidst her iverbank,
l
est ,ashi sshadowf al l
sont hewat er, acr ocodi lemaysei zei t
andhar mt heowner .InWet arIsl and, nearCel ebes, t
hemagi cians
prof esst omakeamani llbyspear ingorst abbi nghi sshadow; the
Arabsbel iev et hati fahy ænat readsonashadow, i
tdepr ivest heman
oft hepowerofspeech; andi nmoder nRoumani at heanci entcust om
ofbur yingav ictim assacr i
ficet ot heear t
h- spiritunderanynew
struct urehasasur vi
v alint hebui lderent icingsomepasser -byt o
drawnear ,sot hathi sshadowi st hr ownont hef oundat i
on- stone,the
bel
i
efbei
ngt
hathewi
l
ldi
ewi
thi
nthey
ear
"(Cl
odd)
.

Tot heunder ly
ingnot i
onst husv ar
iouslyembodi edmaybeappl i
ed
Mr .Clodd'schar acterization: t
heyform" apar tofthatgener al
conf usi
onbet weent heobj ectiv
eandt hesubj ect
ive--i
not herwor ds,
betweennamesandt hings, orbet
weensy mbol sandr eali
ti
es--which
i
sauni versalfeatureofbar bari
cmodesoft hought .Thisconf usi
on
attri
butest hequal i
tiesofl i
vingthi
ngst othingsnotl ivi
ng; i
t
l
iesatt her ootofal lfetichism andi dol
atry;
ofal lwitchcraft,
Shamani sm,andot herinst rumentswhi char easkey stotheinv i
sibl
e
kingdom oft hedr eaded. "Itisinsuchanat mospher ethatthe
philosophyofanal ogyr uleswi t
hundisputedsway .

"I
deasar euniversal,
incidentsar el ocal,
"saysMr .Cl odd,i
n
speakingoft hedi ff
usionoff olk-l
oret al
es.Thesamei str
ueof
thoughtt endencies.Wemayr eali
zemor eintimatelytheanalogical
potencyofnamesbyr ecall
ingt heirsur vi
valsfrom thesolemnusesof
cursesandexcommuni cati
ons, tothechar mscar riedabouttheper son
consistingofmagi corcabal isticwr i
ti
ng,tot heplay f
ulorthe
seri
ousGer manusageofsay ing_ unberufen_ ,
andr appingthreetimes
undert hetableifawor dort hought" t
empt i
ngPr ov i
dence"hasf al
len
from thel i
ps.Clearly
,ifwef ol l
owanal ogyasagui de,ther
eis
muchi naname.

I
V

Wemaynextpr oceedt omor egeneralusesoft heanal ogical

tr
ait,
--moregener al becauset hespecialanalogicalappr opri
ateness
ofthoughtorcust om i snol ongersoappar ent,butrequiresto
bev i
ewedmor easaspeci al and,i
tmaybe, asomewhatar bi
trar
y
appli
cat i
onofapr inciple, i
tselfsupport
edorbel ievedinon
analogicalgrounds.Met aphorandsi mileandsy mbol i
sm maybebased
upont hesamet y
pesofr esembl ancesthatunder l
ieanal ogy,buti
tis
desirable,
sof arasmaybepossi ble,t
oholdt hesedi sti
nct;yet
whati smet aphort ousmayst il
lbeanalogyt oothers.

Whenwespeakofaheadofcabbage, thet r
unkofat r
ee, orthel egs
ofat able, weunder standt hatwehav eappl i
edt hesenamesont he
basi sofr esembl ancest oobj ect stowhi chthenamesmor est ri
ctl
y
belong, andt herei snot houghtt hatthenamecar rieswi thitany
furtherconnect i
on; butwhent heChi nesedoct oradmi nisterst he
heads, mi ddl epar ts,andr oot sofpl ants, f
ortheheads, bodi es,
andl egsofhi spat i
ent sr espect ively,heisclear lyledt odosoby
av aguesenseofanal ogi calf i
tness, byaf eelingt hatt hebodi l
y
simi l
ar i
tiesar eindicativeoff ur t
herconnect i
onofaquasi -causal
type.Thi ski ndofr easoni ngaboundsi npr i
mitivecer emoni als,in
whi cht heappr opriatenessoft heobser vancesandoft heel ement sof
ther itual dependuponr esembl ancesorsy mbol i
cal suggest iveness.
Itisdi ff
icul ttof i
ndi nst ancesoft histraiti
nwhi chamor eor
l
essconsci oussy mbol ism i sexcl uded, forweknowhowr eadi lythe
sav agemi nd, i
ni tssomewhatmor edev elopedst ages, usest hismodeof
thought ,asi sev idencedbyt hei ngenuityoft heirpi cture-writi
ng,
gest ure-language, andt ribalsy stems.Butapar tf r
om sy mbol ical
procedur es, inwhi cht heunr eal i
tyoft heunder l
y i
ngr esembl ances
i
shal facknowl edged, wemaynot etheappl i
cat ionofsuchgener al
principlesast hatunusual phenomenahav eunusual signi ficance,
andt hatt oaccompl i
shi mpor tantobj ectsdr asticmeansandr ar e
subst ancesmustbeempl oyed; thatoper ationsandr emedi eswi l
lbe
effect i
v eaccor dingt ot heirdi vergencef rom t heusual andt hecommon
exper ienceofmanki nd.Thei nf l
uenceoft hispr inciplei st raceabl e
i
nt hebi zar refanci esandgr otesqueper formancesofsav ages, asalso
i
nt her ev erenceshownt ot hebel ongi ngsoft hewhi temanandt he
curioususest owhi cht heyar eput .Int heirr i
tual obser v ances, as
wel lasi nmedi calpr actice,thesamepr i
nci pleisi nvolv ed; asi ngle
i
llustrat i
onwi l
lsufficet or ecall thiswel l-
knownf or m oft hought .
Dor manci test hef ateofanI ndianwar r
iorbr oughtt ocampaf tera
mostdi sast rousencount erwi thagr izzlybear .Tor epai rhi sv er y
seriousi njur i
es" t
hedoct orcompoundedamedi cinet hatr eallyought
tohav ewor kedwonder s.Itwasmadebyboi l
i
ngt oget heracol lect
ion
ofmi scel laneousweeds, ahandf ulofchewi ngt obacco, theheadsof
fourr attlesnakes, andasel ectassor tmentofwor n-outmoccasi ns.The
decoct i
ont husobt ainedwasseasonedwi thal itt
lecr udepet roleum
andal ar gequant i
tyofr edpepper ,andt hepat ientwasdi rected
tot akeapi ntoft hemi xtureev eryhal fhour .Hewasabr av eman,
conspi cuousf orhi sf orti
tudeundersuf fering, butaf tert aki nghi s
fi
rstdosehet urnedov eranddi edwi tht heut mostexpedi tion."

Anot heroneoft hesegener alpri

nci pl
esmayhav ebeensuggest ed
byt hef ail
ureoft heor dinaryomens; andthustheconcl usi
onwas
reachedt hattheanal ogypr oceedsnotaccor di
ngt oresemblancebut
bycont rast.Forexampl e,t
heZul us, whendreaming" ofasickman
thathei sdead, .
..say,'becausewehav edreamtofhi sdeathhe
willnotdi e.'Butiftheydr eam ofaweddi ngdancei tisthesign
ofaf uner al.Sot heMaor i
shol dthataki nsmandr eamtofasdy i
ng
willrecov er,buttoseehi m welli
sasi gnofdeath.Bot hracesthus
wor kedout , bythesamecr ookedlogi cthatgui
dedourownancest or
s,
theaxi om t hatdreamsgobycont rari
es"(Tylor
).I
twi l
lbeseen
i
nl aterpor tionsofourexposi ti
ont hattheseandot hergeneral
principlesofananal ogical t
ypehav elostnoneoft hei
rpotencyin
theirmor emoder normor eeruditephases.

Thepar all
el ism bet weent hement al dev elopmentoft hei ndiv i
dual
andoft her ace, thoughnecessar il
yi ncompl ete,isyetdeepl y
suggest iveandsi gnifi
cant .Inav eryt ruesenset heunf oldmentof
ment al facul tyf r
om chi l
dhoodt omat urityr eflectstheal liedcour se
ofev olutionf rom sav ageryt ocivil
izat ion; yett her eflectioni s
dist
or tedandi st raceabl eonl yi
ngener alout l
ines.Undev eloped
formsoft houghtandi nstincti
vet endenci es, ofar elatedt houghby
nomeansofani dent i
cal character, shoul dbet r
aceabl ei neach; and
amongt hem t henat uralpr ocl
iv
ityf ordependenceuponanal ogies.
Thatchi ldr enar ef ondofr easoningbyanal ogyt herecanbeno
doubt ;theirconf usi onoff actwithf ancy ,thei rlackofext ensi ve
knowl edgeandt heabi li
tyt oref
eref fect st opr opercauses, t
hei r
greatlov ef orsoundef fect sandpl ayofwor ds, t
heear nest nessof
thei
rpl ayconv ictions--allthesef urnishar ichsoi lf
ort hegr owt h
ofsuchhabi tsoft houghtaswear enowconsi deri
ng.Ont heot her
hand, thei nf luenceoft hei radultcompani ons, oftheirconv entional
surroundi ngs, oft hegr owt hoft hemake- bel ievesent imentby
whi cht hel awsoft her eal wor l
dar edi ffer ent iatedf rom t hoseof
fairy-l
and, makei tdi ff
icultt opr onounceasanar gumentbyanal ogy
whatmayr eal l
ybeahal f-consci ouspl ayoff ancyorj uggl er y
ofwor dsandi deas.Ther ei s, f
ur ther,consi der abl
edi ffi
cul ty
i
ncol l
ectingchar act eri
st i
canduni mpeachabl ei l
l
ust rationsof
argument sbyanal ogyi nchi ldren, owi ngt ot hegener al l
ackof
suitablecol l
ect ionsofchi ldren'sspont aneousandor iginal ment al
react i
ons.Whatf ondpar ent sar eaptt oobser v eandnewspaper
par agrapher st or ecor dar esay ingst hatamusebyaquai nt nessor
theassumpt ionofawor ldlywi sdom bey ondt heiry ear s,whi l
et he
trulysuggest i
v et rai t
spassunr ecor dedf orl ackofpsy chol ogically
i
nf ormedobser v er s.Ther eist husagapt obesuppl i
edbyv aluable
andsuggest i
v est udyofanal ogyi nchi l
dhood.Howev er ,nott opassby
thet opicwi thouti llustration, Imayci tet her epl yoft hel ittle
boywho, whenaskedhi sage, sai dhewasni newhenhest oodonhi s
feetbutsi xwhenhest oodonhi shead, becauseani nv ert ed9makes
a6; hewascer tainl yreasoni ngbyaf ar -
fet chedanal ogy ,howev er
l
ittl
ef aithhemayhav ehadi nt hecor rect nessofhi sr easoni ng.The
childrenwhobel i
ev edt hatbut tercomesf rom but terfli
es, andgr ass
from gr asshopper s, beansf r om bees, andki ttensf rom pussy -will
ows
(StanleyHal l),mayhav ebeensi mpl ymi sl edbysoundanal ogies;
butwhenSi rJohnLubbockt el
lsusofal ittlegi r
lsay ingt oher
brot her,"
Ify oueatsomuchgoosey ouwi l
l bequi t
esi l
ly,"andadds
that ,"
therear eper hapsf ewchi ldr ent owhom t heinduct ionwoul dnot
seem per fect lylegi t i
mat e,"weappr eciat et hatsuchar gument s, so
closel ypar alleli
ngt hesuper sti
tionsofsav ages, maybemor ereal t
o
childrent hanwesuspect .

VI

Wemaynowent erint hesear chf orreasoningsbyanalogyi nto

afieldofgr eatestinter esttot hestudentoft hehist
oryof
culture;namel y,
thehousehol dtraditi
ons,thesupersti
ti
ons, and
thepseudo- scienti
ficsy stems, t
hator i
ginatedamongourancest or
s,
remot eori mmedi ate, andar est i
l
l farfr
om obsoleteinallbutthe
upperst rataofourci v i
lizati
on.Thi sporti
onoft hethemei ndeed
present san_ embar rasder ichesses_ ,
andt heil
lust
rati
onst obe
cit
edf orm butani nsi gni f
icantshareoft hosethatcouldreadilybe
collected.Certai
nlymor ethanonechapt erofthehistoryofhuman
errorcoul dbepr ofi
tabl ydev otedtot hoseduet oanunwar ranteduse
oft heargumentbyanal ogy.

Wemaybegi nbyt akingaf ly

ingexcur sionintot hatbodyof
supersti
ti
onsandf olk-l
orecust omswhi chnonat i
on, howev erhighor
l
owi nthescal eofci vil
i
zation, i
swi t
hout .Thewi despreadcust om
ofcarryi
ngbabyupst ai
rsbef orebei ngt akent othelowerf l
oorsof
thehouse, sothathemaybesuccessf ul i
nli
feandpar tici
patei n
i
tsupsr atherthani tsdowns, restsuponbaby -
logicindeed.The
beli
efthatifbabykeepshi sf iststightl
ycl osedhewi l
l best i
ngy ,
butifhehol dsanopenpal m hewi ll
begener ous,li
kewi serequi r
es
nointerpr
et at
ion.Itisforbi
dden, t
oo,tomeasur eachi l
d, f
or
measur i
ngi ti
smeasur ingitfori tscoffin.Tot heGer manpeasant ,
i
fadoghowl slookingdownwar di tmeansdeat h,ifupwar dr ecovery
from si
ckness." TheHessi anl adt hinkst hathemayescapet he
conscri
ptionbycar r
yingababy -gi
rl'
scapi nhi spocket --
asy mbol i
c
wayofr epudi ati
ngmanhood. ""Fish,
"say st heCor nishman, "shoul dbe
eatenf r om t het ailt
ot hehead, tobringot herf ishes' headst owar ds
theshor e, foreat ingthem t hewr ongwayt urnst hem f rom t hecoast .
"
"I
tisst illplain,"say sMr .Ty l
or,from whom Ihav eci t
edsomeof
theseexampl es, "whytheomenoft hecr owshoul dbedi ff
er entont he
ri
ghtorl efthand, whyav ul t
ureshoul dmeanr apaci t
y;ast ork,
concor d; apel i
can, pi
et y
;anass, labor ;
whyt hef ierce,conquer ing
wol fshoul dbeagoodomen, andt het i
mi dhar eabadone; whybees,
typesofanobedi entnat i
on, shoul dbel uckyt oaki ng, whilef l
ies
returning, howev eroftent heyar edr i
v enof f,shoul dbesi gnsof
i
mpor tuni tyandi mpudence. "Andaspar all
elst ot hesesi gns, i
nt he
veget abl ewor l
d, onemayci tetheamar anthassi gnifyingimmor tali
ty;
i
v y,strengt h; cypress,woe; heli
otrope, attachment ;
aspen, fear ;
aloes, bitterness; whi
lethr oughmor ear tif
icialassoci ationst he
l
aur elbecomest hesi gnofr enown; ther ose, oflov e;theol i
v e,of
peace; andt hepal m,ofv ictory.

Lessdi rectlyanalogi cal aret hecust omsofasemi -sy mbol ic

char acter,dependi nguponamy ster i
ousorpot entsy mpat hy .Thus, in
"Bav aria,fl
axwi llnott hr i
veunl essi tissownbywomen, andt his
hast obedonewi t
hst rangecer emoni es, incl udingt hescat ter ingover
thef ieldoft heashesofaf iremadeofwoodconsecr ateddur ing
mat ins.Ashi ghast hemai dsj umpov ert hef i
resont hehi l
ltops
onMi dsummerNi ght ,
sohi ghwi llthef l
axgr ow; butwef indal so
thatashi ghast hebr idespr i
ngsf r om t het abl eonhermar riage
night ,sohi ghwi llthef l
axgr owi nt haty ear ."Thi sispar al l
eled
byt hecust om, recor dedbyMr .Fr azer ,cur r entint hei nteriorof
Sumat ra.Ther e" t
her i
cei ssownbywomenwho, insowi ng, lett he
hairhangl oosedownt heirbacks, inor dert hatt her icemaygr ow
l
uxur iant l
yandhav el ongst alks. "Iti shar dlynecessar yt ocont inue
thesei l
lustrati
ons, whi chwi ll atoncesuggestot her s,wi thwhi ch
theweal t
hofsuper st i
tiousl or eov er fl
ows; nordot heyr equir e
elabor ateint er
pretat ion.Ther esembl ancesi nv olv
edmaybef anciful
orsy mbol i
c, obviousorobscur e, super ficial orintrinsic, natur al
orar tifi
cial,butthesubt l
eandpr ot eanbasesofanal ogybecome
recogni zabl eassoonast hemi ndi sdi r ect edt owar dst hei rdet ect
ion.

Itwillbemor eprofi
tabl
et oli
mitt hei nquirytoaf ewgr oupsof
beli
ef s,whichhav ebeenmor eorl essf ullyel
abor atedi nt
osystems.
Oft heset heinter
pretati
onofdr eamsof fersapr omi singharvestof
analogi es.Thispracti
cehasav ener ablehi st
ory,thest udyofwhi ch
woul dconst i
tuteani nt
eresti
ngt askf ort hepatientst udentofthe
by-pat hsofhumancul t
ure.Ishall drawonl yfr
om t hecont empor aneous
survivalsofthisancientlore,t
hedr eam- bookspur chasableinev ery
cit
yandv i
ll
age.

Mysel ecti
onsf rom t hi
sl i
teraturehav ebeenmadewi thav iewof
present i
ngt hety picalkindsofanal ogythroughwhi chmoder ndr eam
omensar ebeli
ev edi nandt hroughwhi chthiskindofr eadi
ngf inds
asal e."Todr eam ofusi nggl ue,"anauthorit
ytellsus,"for
etell
s
i
mpr i
sonmentf ory ourselforf ri
end;"andt hi
sbecauseapr ison
andgl uear ealikei nthatiti sdiffi
cultt
ober eleasedfrom the
holdofei ther.Simi larl
y,becauset hepineapplehasar oughand
forbiddingappear ancei tbecomesi ndr eamst heomenof" crossesand
troubles."Thisseemshar dl ymor ethanapl ayofwor ds; i
ndeed, we
hav eher etouchedoneoft hemanypoi ntswher emet aphorandanal ogy
meet .Fori nst ance, wecommonl yspeakoft hel adderofsuccessand
theupsanddownsoff or tune; t
hedr eam- bookt el l
sust hat"todr eam
ofgoi ngupal adderf or etel lst hepossessi onofweal t
h; comi ngdown,
ofpov erty."Thecommonphr aseof" mud- slinging"i sthusi nterpreted
byt hedr eam- books, "todr eam ofdi rtydirtormudsi gnifiest hat
someonewi llspeaki llofy ou.I fsomeonet hr owsdi r
tony oui t
foretellst haty ouwi l
l beabused. "Tot hesamecat egor ybelongt he
dream- bookmaxi ms, that" todr eam ofbei ngmount edonst ilt
sdenot es
thaty ouar epuf f
edupwi thv ainpr i
de; ""t
odr eam t haty ougat her
frui
tf r
om av er yoldt reei sgener allysupposedt opr ognost i
cat e
thaty ouwi llsucceedt ot heweal thofsomeanci entper son; i
fyou
dream ofacl ockandt hehandsst opi tmeansdeat h;ifthehandskeep
mov i
ng, r
ecov ery;
"" t
odr eam ofaconcer tmeansal i
feofhar mony
wi t
honey oul ov e."So, too, v ariousobj ectsbecomesi gni fi
cantof
theirst ri
kingchar act er i
st ics: theear t
hwor m, f
rom i tshabi t
sof
under gr oundandsecr etdest ruct ion, denotes" secr etenemi est hat
endeav ort or uinanddest royus; "andal lstronglyr edolentf ood,
suchasoni ons, gar l
ic, andl eek, easi l
ybet ray i
ngt heonewhohas
partakenoft hem, becomesi ndi cat i
veoft hebet rayalofsecr etsand
thel i
ke.Mr .Dy ercitessomeaptl i
nesi nwhicht hel ogici sabout
asmer i
tor i
ousast hev er se: --

"Todream ofeatingonionsmeans
Muchst r
if
eint hydomest i
cscenes;
Secr
etsfoundoutorel sebetray
ed,
Andmanyf alsehoodsmadeandsai d."

From Mr .Ty l
or '
scollectionofdr eam omensofsi milarchar acter
Icull thef ollowing: "t
owasht hehandsdenot esr el
easef r om
anxiet ies;""tohav eone'sf eetcutof fprev entsaj ourney ;
"" hewho
dreamshehasl ostat oothshal lloseaf riend; ""hethatdr eamst hat
aribi st akenoutofhi ssi deshal lerel ongseet hedeat hofhi s
wife;"t odr eam ofswi mmi ngandwadi ngi nthewat erisgood, sot hat
theheadbekeptabov ewat er.Agoodshar eoft heomensdependupon
cont rast sandnotuponr esembl ances: "
tobemar r
ieddenot essomeof
yourki nsfolkar edead; ""todr eam ofdeat hdenot eshappi nessand
l
ongl ife;"andsoon.Ot hersoft hesedr eam- bookanal ogiesdepend
ratheruponv erbal r
esembl ance, andst il
l other sinvolver esembl ances
toosubt l
eandpecul i
art ober eadi lyexpl ained.Ther eisper haps
nothi ngmor eunder lyi
ngt hedi ctum t hat" dreami ngaboutQuaker smeans
thaty ouwi llmeetaf ri
endsoon"t hant hef actt hattheQuaker sare
a"Soci etyofFr i
ends;"al itt
lemor eel abor atepunni ngunder liesthe
predi ctiont hat" todream ofadai ryshowet ht hedr eamert obeof
ami l
ksopnat ure;"andf inallywhatacur iousmi xtureofper verted
anal ogyi sr eflectedint henot iont hatt odr eam of" azebr a
i
ndi cat esachecker edl i
fe"!

Thegr eatpartst hatnamesandnumber splayinsuper stiti

onsofal l
kindsissof ami li
arthataf ewinstanceswillbesufficient .Iti
s
welltobeari nmi ndt hatthesenumberandnamepr edict i
ons, i
nthe
courseoft heirvener ableandev ent
full
iv
es,hav ebeensy stematized,
andthegapsi nt hesy stem suppli
edbyarbitrar
yassoci ations.Thus
themoder nf ortune-tell
i
ngbookshav eanomenf oreachoneofa
packofcar ds, orasetofdomi noes,inwhichwef i
nd, amongwhat
seemsl it
tl
emor et hananar bit
raryassi
gnmentoft heor dinary
eventsoflife,goodandbad, pl
easantandunpl easant, impor tant
andt r
iv ial,-
-amongt hesev eral car dsordomi noes, her eandt here
someunder l
yingbasi sofanal ogy ; hear tsr elat et ol ov eaf f airs,
diamondst oweal t
h; ki ngsandqueenspl ayi mpor tantr ôles; thej ack
i
saboutasof t enal ov erasaknav e; thr eesandsev enshav especi al
signi f
icance; anddoubl et hrowsi ndi ce, especi al l
yt het wosi xes,
hav ei mpor tantconsequences.Soi nf olk- l
or e, oper at ions, tobe
effect i
v e, mustbedonej ustt hreet imes, ort hr i
cet hr ee, orsev en.
Thesev ent hchi l
dofasev ent hchi ldhasspeci al power s, asweal l
know.Thet wel ft
hhourt hatdi videsni ghtf rom dayi samoment ous
i
nst ant , asi sal sot het imeoft hecock' scr ow." Agai nstawar ty
erupt i
ont hel eechesadv isedt hepat ientt ot akesev enwaf er sand
wr i
teoneachwaf er ,Maxi mi anus, Mal chus, Johannes, Mar tinianus,
Diony si us, Const ant inus, Ser afion; thenachar m wast obesungt ot he
man, andamai denwasaf terwar dst ohangi tabouthi sneck"( Black).
Inasi mi larst rai nthedr eam- booki nf or msust hati fanumberof
youngwomen, notlesst hant hr eenormor et hansev en, assembl eona
certainni ght,andi f,ast hehourst rikesel ev en, theyeacht ake
aspr i
gofmy rtleandt hrowi t, t
oget herwi thni nehai rsf rom t he
head, uponal ivecoal ,andi ft heygot obedatexact lyt wel ve
o'clock, theywi l
ldream oft hei rf utur ehusbandsasar ewar dof
theirpai nsandt heirmat hemat i
cal accur acy .Notaf ewofnumber
andnamecer emoni alsar ei nv est edwi tht hei rpowerbyr eligious
associ at i
ons; thei l
l l
uckoft hirteenandofFr i
dayi scommonl y
regar dedasduet ot hi ssour ce.I nt henor ther nEngl ishcount ri
es,
wi t
chesar esai dtodi sliket hebr ackenf er n, becausei tbear son
i
tsr oot st hei nitialC( indi cat ingChr ist) ,whi chmaybeseenon
cut t
ingt her oothor izont ally( Dy er).Thecl ov er, onaccountofi ts
trefoilf or m, suggest i
ngt rini ty, i
sl ikewi segoodagai nstwi tches
(Dy er).Al ikeexpl anat i
onseemsappl i
cabl et ot heef ficacyoft he
crossandt hecr oss- roads, bot hofwhi chent er, i
nav ar i
et yof
way s,int of olk-lorebel ief sandcust oms.Whi lenumber sandnames
anddef ini t
eassoci ationssel dom f or mt hewhol ebasi sofanal ogyby
whi cht hebel iefbecomespl ausi ble, theyv eryf requent lyent erto
emphasi zeandgi vepoi ntt opr act icessuggest edonot hergr ounds.
Thear gumenti nvolv edi nt henumberanal ogyi sext r emel ysi mpl e;
i
ti snot hi ngmor ethanbecauset wophenomenahav ei ncommont he
associ at i
onwi ththesamenumber ,t her ef or et heywi llbeconnect ed
i
nf ur therr espect s.Thi ssl enderl i
neofconnect ionaf fect st he
mi nutecodeofsuper st i
tiousact ion, andf or mst het hr eadwher eonar e
strungmoment ousomens, power ful reci pes, direpr edi ctions, andwi se
precaut ionsagai nstv ar i
ousi magi nar ydanger s.

Thelogi cbywhi cht het r

eat ment scurrentinfolk-medi cineacqui re
thei
ref ficacyi spassi ngst r
ange; atfir
stacquai ntancewi t
h
thi
swonder landwear eaptt oimagi neour selvesi nsomewei rd
topsy-turvydom, wher eev eryt
hinguncannyandi ncongr uousi sgr eedi
l
y
coll
ect ed,andt hemostbi zarr
eandt ri
vialdoi
ngsbecomeendowed
withmar velousef f
icacy .Uponcl oseracquai ntancewedi scov ersome
l
itt
leor derint hemedl ey,and, i
nspi teofmucht hatr emai ns
arbi
trar yandcapr i
cious, webegi nt otracetheanal ogiesaccor ding
towhi cht hev ar i
oust reatment sar ecomposedandt hepot i
ons
concoct ed.Thecommonconnect i
onoft oadswi thwar ts,bothasgi vi
ng
andcur i
ngt hem, isduet onothingmor ethant hewar tyappear ance
ofthet oad'sski n;simi l
arly,i
nGl oucestershir
e, againstear -ache
asnai lispr i
ckedandt hef roththatexudesdr oppedi ntothe
pati
ent 'sear( Black) ;andt hisbyr easonoft hesnai l
-l
ikepassages
i
nt heear .Feversbeingconnect edwi thheatandbl ood,andboth
thesecl osel
yassoci at
edwi t
hr ed,redt hingsbecomeef fi
caci
ousin
diseaseschar acter
izedbyfever .Thatt hisshouldbeespecial
ly
i
nv ogueagainstscar l
etfev
eri snomor ethannatural
;anditi
s
relatedthatwhent hesonofEdwar dII.wassi ckofthesmall-
pox,
thephy sici
andirectedthatthebed- furnitur
eshouldber ed(Bl
ack).
Otherf ormsofsuchassoci ationswi llbemetwi t
hinthediscussi
on
oft hedoctri
nesofsi gnatur
esandsy mpat hi
es.

Folk-
medici nefor msapar ti
cularlyaptf i
eldfortheappl i
cati
on
ofthetwogener al formsofanal ogyindicatedaspr evalentamong
savages:anal ogiesbycont r
astandt heassi gnmentofunusual effect
s
touncommoncauses.I fsomet hingisdonewi tht her ighthand, doing
i
twi t
hthel eftrever sestheact i
on; onesetofdi rectionsappl i
es
tomenandcont raryonest owomen; sayi
ngat hingbackwar dsi s
parti
cul
arl
yef fi
cacious.Thepr escripti
onagai nsthi ccough, thaty ou
should"cr
osst hef rontofthel eftshoewi tht hef orefingerofthe
ri
ghthandwhi ley our epeattheLor d'sprayerbackwar ds"(Black)may
servetoil
lustratet heonecr ookedt ypeofar gument ,
whi l
efort he
otherwehav eonl yt orecallt
heShakespear eanwi tches, wit
ht heir-
-

"Roundaboutt hecaul dr ongo;

Inthepoi son' dent railst hrow.
Toad, t
hatundercol destst one,
Day sandni ght shast hirty-one
Swel ter'
dv enom sl eepi nggot ,
Boi lthouf irsti' thechar medpot !
Fill
etofaf ennysnake,
Inthecaul dr onboi landbake;
Ey eofnewtandt oeoff r
og,
Wool ofbatandt ongueofdog,
Adder '
sf ork, andbl ind- wor m'ssting,
Lizard'sl eg, andowl et'swi ng,
Forachar m ofpower ful t
rouble,
Likeahel l
-brot hboi landbubbl e.
Scal eofdr agon, toot hofwol f;
Wi tches' mummy ;mawandgul f,
Oft her av i
n'dsal t-seashar k;
Rootofheml ockdi gg'di 'thedar k;
Liverofbl asphemi ngJew;
Gal lofgoat ,andsl i
psofy ew,
Silveredi nt hemoon' secl ipse;
NoseofTur k, andTar tar'slips;
Fingerofbi rt
h- strangl edbabe,
Ditchdel iver '
dbyadr ab, --
Maket hegr uel thickandsl ab;
Addt heret oat iger '
schaudr on,
Fort hei ngr edient sofourcaul dron.
Cool i
twi tht hebaboon' sbl ood,
Thent hechar mi sf i
rm andgood. "

VI
I

From f
olk-
medici
netofal
seandabsur
dformsofr
emedi
alsyst
ems,
thetr
ansit
ioni
ssli
ght
.Forpr
esentpur
posest
hemosti
nstr
ucti
ve
ofsuchsy st emat izedbel ief si st hedoct rineofsy mpat hy , ofwhi ch
themostf ami liarsur viv al ist hephr ase, "tot akeahai roft hedog
thatbi ty ou. "Thesy st em appear edi nv ar i
ousphasesandatv arious
ti
mes.Wef indPar acel susabel iev eri ni ti nt hef orm ofa" weapon
salv e,"whi chi st obeappl iedt ot heweapont hatcausedt hewound
andt her ebyt oheal thewound; weaponandwoundhav ingoncebeen
relatedascauseandef fect , thisr elat i
oni ssupposedt oi nsur e
furtherconnect ion.Thesy stem f oundwi deci rcul at i
ont hr ought he
effor tsofSi rKenel m Di gby .Whi l
eSi rKenel m' spr act i
cesi nv olved
badobser v ationandi gnor anceofmedi ci ne, whatgav et hemet hodi ts
plausi bi lit
yandi nducedt hef aul tyobser v ationwasanunder l
y i
ng
beliefi nt hear gumentbyanal ogy .Hi st reat mentmaybegat her edf rom
ast or yhet ellsofaMr .Howel l
, whosehandwascuti nanat tempt
tost opaduel bet weenf riends.Si rKenel m ar ri
v esont hesceneand
asksf orany thingt hathadt hebl ooduponi t ;hei sgi vent hegar ter
wher ewi tht hehandwasf irstbound; thi shepl acesi nabasi nof
wat er ,whensuddenl yMr .Howel l, whoi sunawar eofwhati sgoi ngon,
exper i
encesacool ingef fectandar elieff rom pai n.Whent hegar ter
i
spl acedbef or eagr eatf ire, Mr .Howel lexper iencesani ntense
bur ningi nt hewound.St il
l anot herf or m oft hisi deaappear si nt he
"sympat het ical phabet ,"inwhi cheachoft wof riendscut soutapi ece
ofhi sski nandhasi ttr ansf er redt ot heot her ; ont hisgr af tedski n
anal phabeti st attooed, andwhenal et teri spr i
ckedont heski nof
theonef r
iend, t
heot herf eel st hepai natt hecor respondi ngpoi nt;
andt husi nt ercour sei sest abl i
shed.Ast il
l mor ecur iousf or m of
thedoct ri
neappear si nanout -of-t he- waypamphl et ;itst itle( a
Ger mant ransl ationf rom t heFr ench)i s" TheThoughtTel egr aph: ort he
i
nst ant aneouscommuni cat ionoft houghtatanydi st ance, ev enf r
om one
endoft hewor ldt ot heot her ,bymeansofapor tabl emachi ne.The
mostwonder ful inv ent ionofourage. "Thet ruebasi soft hemet hod,
wear et old, dependsupona" sy mpat het i
c- gal vano, magnet i
c, mi ner al,
animal , adami ticf luid;"t hepr act icedependsupont heal leged
discov er yofaspeci esofsnai l
s, pl acedi nasy mpat het i
cr elat i
on,
sot hatev eraf tert hei rmov ement sar ei nhar mony .Accor di ngl yeach
oper at ort akesoneoft hesnai lsandpl acesi tupont heal phabet
char t; thesnai lcrawl sov ert hechar tr est inguponcer tainl et ters,
andt heot hersnai l,howev erf arr emov ed, wi ll doj ustt hesame, and
thust het hought -telegr aphwi llbeest abl ished.Li keChar lest he
Second' sf amousf ish, thatwoul dnotaddt ot hewei ghtofadi sh
ofwat eri nwhi chi twaspl aced, i
tl acksnot hingbutt rutht obe
agr eati nv ent ion.Pr act icesoft hesamegener al nat urear est i
ll
cur rent ; i
nt heNet her lands, t hekni fet hatcutonei sr ubbedwi th
fatint hebel i
eft hatast hef atdr iest hewoundwi llheal .The
relationmaybecomemor er emot elyanal ogi cal andmor ear bitrary ,as
when, tocur eague, asmanynot chesar ecuti nast ickast her ehav e
beenf i
t s;ast hest i
ckdr iest heaguei st odi sappear ; rupt ur ed
childr enar epassedt hr oughaspl i
tt ree, andt husasy mpat hyi s
producedbet weenchi ldandt ree, sot hatast het reeheal st hechi ld
willbecur ed.Al ikesy mpat hyi ssupposedt oexi stbet weencel est ial
object sandhumanev ent s; t hisi spar ti
cul ar l
yappl iedt ot hemoon,
themoon' sgr owt handwanei ndi cat ingt hef or tunat et imesf orgr owt h
anddecayofear t
hl yt hings.Onemustsowgr ain, cutt hehai r,and
per form sundr yot heroper at i
onswi tht hei ncr easeoft hemoon, to
i
nsur ei ncr easeofgr owt h.Thet idesar esi mi larlysi gni fi
cant ,as
theev er -pat het i
cBar kis" goi ngoutwi tht het ide"suf ficient ly
i
llust rat es.
Whi l
ei nt hedoct rineofsy mpat hy ,ther esembl ancebasal tot he
anal ogyi soneofr elat ion, --
suchast her el at i
onofcauseand
effect , ofownerandt heobj ectowned, ofi mpl ementandt heact ion
per formedbyi tsuse, --i
nt hedoct rineofseal sorsi gnat ures, the
resembl ancei sanout war d, usual l
yav i
si bleone, offor m, col or ,
ort hepossessi onofmar kedpecul iar i
t i
es.Under lyingt hisdoct ri
ne
seemst obet hebel i
eft hatnoobj ectorev enti swi t
houtpr of ound
signi fi
cancef orman' swel far e.Thekeyt ot hissi gnifi
cancei st o
bef oundi nar esembl anceobv i
ousorr emot e,act ual ori deal .Hence
theusesoft hingsar esuggest edbyt hei rappear ance.Theeuphr asia
orey ebr ighti susef ul incaseofsor eey esonaccountoft hebr ight
ey e-li
kespoti ni t
scor olla; speci al vi
r tuesar eascr ibedt ot he
ginsengonaccountoft her esembl anceofi t sr oot stoahumanshape.
Thegr anul at edr oot soft hewhi temeadowsaxi fragewer er egar ded
asef ficaci ousagai nstcal cul ouscompl ai nt s.TheSol omon' s-seal
i
ssocal ledonaccountoft hemar ksi nt hecr oss- sect i
onofi ts
root s, andi susedt oseal wounds.Wat er -
sol dier ,onaccountofi t s
swor d-shapedl eav es, wasr egar dedasusef ul forgunshotwounds.The
redr osesuggest si tsusei nbl ooddi seases; andy ell
owf lower swer e
usedi nj aundi ceandl iv ercompl aint s.Thewal nutwascl ear lydef i
ned
forusei nment al diseases: f oritsshapewast hatoft hehead,
theout ergr eencov er ingbei ngt heper icrani um, thehar dshel l the
skul l,andt heker nel thebr ai n.Ol dladi es' thi st l
ewasf orst itches
i
nt hesi de, net tl
et eaf ornet tle-rash, hear ts'-easef orhear t
troubl es.Pl ant swhosepar tsr esembl edt eet hwer epr escr ibedf or
toot hache, quaki nggr assagai nstshakes, andsoonwi t
hconsi stent
i
llogi cal i
t y(Dy er).Ther esembl ancesher ei nv ol vedar eobv ious
enough; theyar ejustsuchasunder liepopul arnamesofpl ant sand
themet aphor ical useoft er ms.Theyf or m anot heri ll
ust rationof
howmet aphorandanal ogyov erlap; whatweacceptasasuf ficient
suggest ionf oranappr opr iat enamewasbypseudo- sci ence, by
folk- l
or e, orbysuper st i
tionr egar dedassuf ficient lysigni fi
cantt o
suppor tacause- and- eff ect -l
ikeorat el eol ogi cal relati
on.Thi s,
further mor e, isal ineofpr act i
cei nwhi chmoder nsuper stitionand
sav agebel iefst andonanequal foot ing; thepr escr i
ptionsj ust
citedar emat chedbyt heoper ati
onsoft heCher okee, whomake" a
decoct ionoft hecone- fl
owerf orweakey esbecauseoft hef anci ed
resembl anceoft hatpl antt ot hest rong- si ght edey eoft hedeer "
(Clodd) ; whocar ryoutt henot ionmor eel abor at elywhent hey" dr ink
ani nf usi onoft het enaci ousbur rsoft hecommonbeggar s'-lice, an
Amer i
canspeci esoft hegenusDesmodi um, tost rengt hent hememor y
,"
ort o" insur eaf i
nev oi ce, boi l cricket sanddr i
nkt hel i
quor "
(Clodd) .The" Zul umedi cine- man, whot akest hebonesoft heol dest
bul lordogoft het ribe, gi vingscr apingsoft heset ot hesi ck,
sot hatt heirl i
v esmaybepr olongedt ool dage, "int urnf i
ndsa
par allel int hesev ent eent h-cent ur ydoct or s, "who, wit
hl essl ogi c,
butper chanceunconsci oushumor ,gav et hei rpat ientspul v er i
zedmummy
topr olongt hei ryear s"( citedbyCl odd) .Anal ogyi nsav ager y ,in
pseudo- sci ence, andi nundev elopedsci ence, i
nsuper stiti
onandi n
sur vival ,areofanat ur eal lcompact .

Thetransi
ti
onf rom magict osci
encewasmadepossi bleby,and
i
tsel
fill
ust
ratest hesupplanti
ngof,l
ooseandf al
ser
easoningby
cl
oseandl ogicalthought;t
hepseudo-sciencesr
epr
esentweakand
err
oneousinferenceev enmor et
hant heyembodydefecti
veobserv
ati
on
ormer eignor ance.Anov er -
dependenceuponanal ogychar act erizessome
por t
ionsoft hem al l
, andf indsi t
sf ul
lestdev elopmenti nast rology ,
asal soi nthev ari
ousf or msofal chemyandmagi cwi thwhi chi tis
histori
cal l
yconnect ed.Al thought hisbodyoft houghtengagedt he
ener gi
esofmanyabl eandf amousschol ars, wecanl ookuponi tonly
asasy stem ofr esembl ancesandcoi ncidences, elabor at eandcompl ex
i
ndeed, butr equiringl i
ttlemor ethanav i
vidi magi nat i
onanda
somewhatkeensensef orf ar-f
etchedanal ogies." Thisinv estigat i
on,"
say stheast r
ol ogerinRy dber g'
s" Magi coft heMi ddleAges, ""relies
ont her esembl ancesoft hings, forthissi mi larit
yisder iv edf rom
acor respondence, andcausal i
tyisinter wov enwi thcor respondence.
Thus, forinst ance, wej udgef rom ther esembl ancebet weent he
splendorofgol dandt hatoft hesun, thatgol dhasi tscel est ial
cor r
espondencei nt hatl umi naryandsust ainst oitacausal
relati
on."Agai n,"thet wo- hor nedbeet lebear sacausal rel ationt o
themoon, whi chati tsi ncr easeandwanei sal sot wo-hor ned; andi f
therewer eanydoubtoft hisi nti
mat er elationbet weent hem, i
tmust
vanishwhenwel earnt hatt hebeet lehi desi tseggsi nt heear t
hf or
thespaceoft went y-
eightday s,orjustsol ongat imeasi sr equi red
forthemoont opasst hrought hezodi ac, butdi gst hem upagai non
thet went y-ni
nt h,whent hemooni sinconj unct i
onwi t
ht hesun. "
(Agrippa, "DeOccul taPhi losophi æ,"i.24. )

Itwi l
lreadi l
ybeseenhowl i
mi tlessar et her esul tsobt ainabl e
withsuchasy stem.Eachpl anetbecomesassoci at edwi thadef inite
par toft hebody ,andanar gumentsuchast hef ollowi ngbecomes
possi ble: "SinceCapr i
cor nus, whi chpr esi dedov ert hekneesi nt he
houseofSat ur n, andal l crawl ingani mal sar econnect edwi tht he
planet ,thef atofsnakesi sanef fect iver emedyagai nstgouti nt he
knees, especi al lyonSat ur day ,thedayofSat urn"( Ry dber g) .Tabl es
ofcor respondenceswer ef reelydev isedshowi ngt her epresent atives
oft hesun, moon, andf ivepl anet samongt heel ement s, themi cr ocosm,
animal s, plant s, met al s,andst ones.ThusMar swasr epr esent edi n
thesespher esr espect ivel y,byf ire, aci dj uices, beast sofpr ey ,
bur ni
ng, poisonousandst i
ngi ngpl ant s, i
ronorsul phur icmet als,
diamond, jasper ,amet hy st,andmagnet ; t
hev einofanal ogyl yingi n
thef i
er cechar act eroft hegod, whosenamet hepl anetbear s.Thi s
i
deaofcor respondencedomi nat est hequeercol l
ect ionofoddsand
endsbywhi cht heol d-timemagi cianwor kedhi schar ms." Here,"f or
i
nst ance, hewoul dsay ,"isapl ateofl eadonwhi chi sengr av ed
thesy mbol ofapl anet ;andbesi dei tal eadenf laskcont ai ning
gall.IfInowt akeapi eceoff ineony xmar kedwi tht hesamepl anet
symbol andt hisdr i
edcy pressbr anch, andaddt ot hem t heski nofa
snakeandt hef eat herofanowl , y ouwi ll needbutt ol ooki nt oone
oft het abl esgi veny out of i
ndt hatIhav eonl ycol lect edv arious
thingsi nt heel ement arywor l
dwhi chbearar elat i
onofmut ual
activityt oSat urn, andi fr i
ght l
ycombi nedcanat tr
actbot ht he
power soft hatpl anetandoft heangel swi thwhi chi tisconnect ed"
(Ry dber g).Mr .Ty lort husabl ychar act erizest heanal ogi esonwhi ch
suchsy stemsar ebui ltandt heusest owhi cht heyar eput ."But
mostofhi spseudo- sci enceseemst or estonev enweakerandmor e
arbitraryanal ogi es, notoft hingsbutofnames.Namesofst arsand
const ellations, ofsi gnsdenot ingr egi onsoft heskyandper i
ods
ofday sandy ear s, nomat t
erhowar bi trarilygi v
en, aremat er i
als
whi cht heast rol ogercanwor kuponandbr ingi ntoi deal connect ion
withmundaneev ent s.Thatast ronomer sshoul dhav edi v i
dedt hesun' s
cour sei ntoi magi narysi gnsoft hezodi ac, wasenought oor iginate
astrol ogical r
ules, thatt hesecel est i
alsignshav eanact ual ef fect
onr eal ear t
hlyr ams, bulls,crabs, li
ons, vi
r gins.Achi ldbor n
undert hesi gnoft hel i
onwi l
l becour ageous, butoneundert he
crabwi llnotgof orwar di nlife; onebor nundert hewat er manwi ll
bedr owned, andsof orth..
..Agai n,simpl ybecauseast ronomer schose
todist ributeamongt hepl anet st henamesofcer taindei ties, the
planet st herebyacqui redt hechar actersoft hei rdiv i
nenamesakes.
Thusi twast hatt hepl anetVenusbecameconnect edwi thl ov e,
Mar swi thwar ,
Jupi ter( whose♃i nal t
eredshapest illheadsour
physi cians' prescr i
ptions)wi thpowerandj oviality."Thev ar i
ous
positionsoft heheav enlybodi esatone' sbi r
th, interpr etedbysuch
wildanal ogies, r
eadi lyy i
eldmat erialforthepr edi ctionoff ut ur e
career s, vagueenought odef ycl osedeni al ,andbol denought oclaim
readilyf oreseeabl econsequencesasst rikingv erifi
cat ions.Ast r
ology
represent sthecl imaxoft hear gumentbyanal ogy ,fullysy st emat i
zed
andcal lingintopl aymanyoft her esour cesofmoder nl ear ning.What
i
ssocl ear l
yrepr esent edi nast r ologyappear st oal essext enti n
otherpseudo- scient i
ficsy stems; notablyi npal mi st ryandphr enology.
Itcapt ivatest hewel l
-informedaswel last hei gnor ant ,itappeal s
tomi ndst hatar est rongaswel l asthoset hatar eweak, and
emphasi zest hepr icelessnessofoursci ent if
ici nher it
anceandt he
necessi tyofguar dingi tbyt hecul tiv
at i
onofsoundl ogical habi t
s
ofthought .

Itwoul dbepl easant ,butunwar ranted, t

ot hinkoft hesef ormsof
thoughtasobsol ete; humannat ureismor edeep- seatedt hanl earning.
"Inev erydepar t
mentofhumant hought ,"say sMr .Clodd, "ev i
dence
oft henon- per sistenceofpr imi t
ivei deasi stheexcept i
onr ather
thant her ule.Scr atcht heepi der m oft heci vi
lizedman, andt he
bar bariani sf oundi nt heder m.I npr oofofwhi ch, therear emor e
peopl ewhobel ievei nZadki el's'VoxSt ellarum' thanint he
Naut i
cal Al manac; andr arear et hehousehol dswher ethe' Bookof
Dr eams' and' For tune- Teller
' arenott obef oundi ntheki tchen.
TheSi nghal esecast erofnat ivit
ieshasmanyr epresent ativesi n
theWest ,andt her emayl iepr of i
tint her eminderoft heshal l
ow
dept ht owhi chknowl edgeoft heor der lysequenceoft hingshasy et
penet ratedi nt hemany .Soci etiesandser i
alsf ort hepromul gat ionof
ast rol
ogyexi standf lourishamongus; Zadkiel boast shi sci rculation
ofahundr edt housand, andv aunt sthef ulfi
ll
mentofhi sDel phic
propheci es; whi l
et hel ateAst ronomerRoy al,Si rGeor geAi ry,was
pest ered, ashi ssuccessorpr obabl yi s,wi t
hr equest st owor kt he
planet s,accompani edbysi lverwher ewi thtocr osshi sexper tpal m."
Theol dast rologyf indsi tsdescendant si nmoder nfatuousv olumeson
Hel i
ocent ricAst rology ,orKabal isticAst rol
ogy ,aboundi ngi nabsur d
pseudo- phi losophi cjar gonandsci ence- apingdemonst r ations, butin
realityonl yt he" vulgar estt r
av est yoft heol d.
"

VI
II

Bywayofconcl usi
oni tmaybehel pf
ult
oconsidercer t
aingeneral
tr
uthsi
nthef i
eldofant hr
opologyandmentalevolut
ion,upon
whicht
heill
ustrati
onswehav ebeenconsi
deri
nghav eabear ing.
Wehaveseenwhatawi delyext
endedgenustheanal ogical
argument
compasses;andy et,
ifwewer etoincl
udeunderthisheadcer tai
n
closel yal li
edandy etdi st i
ngui shabl ef ormsoft hought ,itwoul d
bemuchwi derst ill
.Ir eferpar ticul arlyt ot heuseofmet aphor
andsy mbol ism, whi ch,liket hechi l
dr en' smake- bel i
ev ewi tht heir
dollsorf ai
r i
es, isnonet hel essont heboundar yl inebet ween
ther eal andt hef ictiti
ous.My thequal lyreadi lypassesf rom t he
unconsci oust ot heconsci ousst age, andmuchofwhati spl ausibly
i
nt erpr etedasanar gumentbyanal ogy ,seemsequal l
ywel lan
i
nt entional useofsy mbol i
sm andmy th.Thatsav ages, atl easti n
allbutt hel owerst ages, appr eci atet heuseofmy thi sbey ondal l
doubt .Pr imi ti
v ecer emoni als, asal sopr i
mi tiveexpl anat ionsoft he
changesofnat ure, aref ullofsy mbol isms, whi chi nvolvet hesame
ment al habi t,whosepr oduct si nt hedomai nofanal ogyhav ebeen
por tr
ay ed.Thi smy thologi cal inst inct , Mr .Ty lorwel lsay s, "belongs
tot hatgr eatdoct ri
neofanal ogyf rom whi chwehav egai nedsomuch
ofourappr ehensi onoft hewor ldar oundus.Di strust edasi tnow
i
sbysev erersci encef ori t
smi sleadi ngr esul ts, anal ogyi st ous
stil
l achi efmeansofdi scov eryandi llustrat ion, whi l
einear l
ier
gradesofeducat ioni tsinf l
uencewasal l butpar amount .Anal ogies
whi char ebutf anci est ouswer et omenofpastagesr eal ity.They
coul dseet hef l
amel i
ckingi t sy etundev our edpr eywi tht onguesof
fi
re, ort heser pentgl i
dingal ongt heswor df rom hi lttopoi nt; they
coul dseeal ivecr eat uregnawi ngwi t hint hei rbodi esi nt hepangs
ofhunger ;
t heyhear dthev oicesoft hehi ll-dwar fsanswer i
ngi nthe
echo, andt hechar iotoft heheav engodr attlingi nt hunderov erthe
solidf irmament .Ment owhom t hesewer el ivingt hought shadnoneed
oft heschool mast erandhi sr ul esofcomposi t
ion, hisinjunct ions
tousemet aphorcaut iousl yandt ot akecar et omakeal lsi mi l
es
consi st ent."

Thepr i
nciplet hatwhatwasoncet heser iousoccupat i
onofmen
becomesi nmor eadv ancedst agesofcul turethepl ayofchi ldren,or
i
sr educedf rom ser iousnesst omer eamusement ,fi
ndsi ll
ustrations
i
nt hement al asi nthemat er
ial wor l
d.Thedr um, oncet heser i
ous
terri
fy i
ngi nstrumentoft hesav agewar r
ior ,andt her attl
e, oncet he
power f
ul embl em oft hemedi cineman, hav ebecomet hecommont oysof
children.Thebowandar rowar eusedf orski llandspor tonl y.I
na
simi l
arwayt hef ormi dabl eandt r
ustedar gumentbyanal ogyf i
ndsi ts
properf ieldinr iddlesandpuns.Whenweputt hequest ion,"Whyi s
thi
sobj ectliket heot her ?"weunder standt hatsomeout -of-t
he- way
andacci dent al resembl ancei saskedf or ,somenotv erycloseanal ogy,
thatpr ovokesamusementbutnotbel ief; i
nmanycasest her esembl ance
i
si nt henameonl yanddegener atesi ntoapun.I nsuchexer cisesof
fancywear eempl oyingt hesamef acul tiest hatourancest orsusedi n
arri
v ingatt hecust omsandbel iefsthatwehav ebeenconsi dering.
Thel awsgov er ningt hepr ogressofi ndust ri
alar t
s,ofmechani cal
i
nv ent i
onsandsoci al institut
ionsseem t hust of i
ndequal lyready
appl i
cat i
ont ot heev olut i
onofhabi tsandcust omsi nt hement al
wor ld.

From anot her,andt hatalsoacompar ati

veant hropologi
calpointof
view,thenat uralhistoryofanalogyill
ustrates,thoughimper f
ectl
y,
theevolutionarybondt hatunit
est hedev el
opmentoft heracefrom
primit
ivecul t
uret ocivil
izat
ion,fr
om infantil
ehel pl
essnesst o
adultpower ,andagai nthedissoluti
onoft hesepr ocessesindisease
ortheiratavist
icr etenti
oninlesspr ogressivestrataofsociety.
Signif
icant,event houghspor adic,parall
eli
smshav ebeenpoi nt
ed
outi nt heuseofanal ogybysav agesandbychi l
dren;andf armor e
compl etelycani tbeshownt hatsuper st
iti
onsandpseudo- sciences,
folk-l
or etraditi
onsandpopul arbeliefsshowt hesur vi
valofthese
sameanal ogical habitsofmi nd, whichmaybev i
ewedi npartas
reversionst oout growncondi tionsoft hought,i
npar tasthecr opping
out ,i
npat hologi calform, ofretardi
ngt endencieswhi chthecour se
ofev olutionmayhav er epressedbutnotwhol lydestroyed.Fort her
e
i
shar dlyaf orm ofmoder nsuper sti
ti
on,thereishardlyacust om
sanct i
onedbyt heunwr i
ttentraditi
onoft hepeopl e,
butwhatcanbe
closelydupl icatedamongt hecust omsandbel iefsoftheunt utored
sav age.

Allthisi mpr essesuswi t

ht heendur ingqual iti
esofman' sbar bari
c
past ,theper manentt houghl at entef fectofhi scompl eteadapt ati
on
forthousandsofy ear st oal owi nt ellectual env ir
onment ."The
i
nt r
usi onoft hesci entificmet hod, "Mr .Cl oddapt l
ycomment s, "
in
i
tsappl icationt oman' swhol enat ur e,dist ur
bedt hatequi l
ibrium.
Butt his, asy et ,
onl ywi thint henar rowar eaoft hehighest
culture. "Theear li
erandmor ef undament alpsy chological fact or
ofhumani tyi sfeel i
ngandnott hought ,ormor eaccur atelyan
i
ncipi entr ationality,thor oughl ysuf fusedwi themot i
onal mot ives;
andpr imi t
iveanal ogiespr oceedbyaf eelingofanal ogical fitness,
andnotbyani ntellect ual j
ust i
ficat ion." Theexer ciseoff eeling
hasbeenact ivef rom t hebegi nni ngofhi shi story,whilethought ,
speaki ngcompar at i
vel y,hasbutr ecent l
yhadf r
eepl ay..
..Man
wonder edl ongchi liadsbef oreher easoned, becausef eeli
ngt ravels
alongt helineofl eastr esistance, whi l
et hought ,orthechal lenge
byinqui ry,withi t
sassumpt iont hatt her emaybet wosi dest oa
quest ion, mustpur sueapat hobst ruct edbyt hedomi nanceoft abooand
cust om, byt hef orceofi mi t
at ion, andbyt hest r
engthofpr ej udice,
passi on, andf ear."

Thesur v eyoft hear gumentbyanal ogybr ingshomet heconv ict i

on
thatt her ear ef ormsofment al action, psy chol ogi cal tendenci es
ort hought -habi ts,char act er i
st icofundev elopedst agesofhuman
ment ality ;thatt heseappeari nv ersat i
leandi nst r
uct i
vev ari
et y;
and, mor ei mpor t
antst il
l,thatt heyf ur nishgl impsesoft hewor kings
ofagr eatpr ogr essivel aw, vi
si blei nt heshi ft
ingofi mpor tance
attachedt ot hear gumentbyanal ogy ,andi ni tsgr adual subor di nati
on
to,andul timat er etirementi nf av oroft hest ur dypr inciplesof
i
nduct ivel ogic.Wear et husl edt oappr eciat et hemeansbywhi ch
errori sconv er tedi ntot rut h,thesl owandpai nful st epsbywhi ch
thel ogi coft hesci encesi sunf oldedandmast er ed.WhenLor d
Chest erf i
el dr elatest hatt hepeopl eexpect edaf atal issueoft he
king'si llness, becauset heol destl ioni nt het ower , ofaboutt he
sameageast heki ng, hadj ustdi ed, hecannothel pcomment ing
upont hewi l
dnessandcapr iceoft hehumanmi nd; butMr .Ty lor
mor ejudi ciousl yr emar ks, "I
ndeedt het houghtwasnei therwi l
dnor
capr icious; itwassi mpl ysuchanar gumentbyanal ogyast heeducat ed
wor ldhasatl engt hpai nfullyl earnedt obewor t hl
ess, butwhi ch
i
ti snott oomucht odecl ar ewoul dt ot hisdaycar r yconsi derabl e
wei ghtt ot hemi ndsoff our -f
if t
hsoft hehumanr ace. "Anal ogy
hasdoubt l
essl ostt hepr est i
geofol dent i
me; butt her emai nsof
effeteandmi sleadi ngf ormsoft hought ,uphel dbyaf eel i
ngoft heir
anal ogi cal plausi bili
ty ,
cont i
nuet osur v ive,andmayatanyt i
me,
whencl oakedi namoder ngar b,regai nt hei rfor meref f
iciency ,
andfeedt hecont agionofsomenewf adorpseudo-science;whil
e
supersti
ti
on, l
i
kepov erty
, weshal lalway shavewithus,solong
astherear esocial andintell
ectual di
stinct
ionsamongstmen.I n
theli
ghtoft henat uralhi
st orysurveyofanal ogy,t
hesephenomena
appearint hei
rtr
uesi gni
ficance,testifyi
ngatoncet otheinherent
progr
ess, despit
er ev er
sions, andtot heunderly
ingunityof
consti
tuti
onandpur pose,throughwhi chthesephenomenaacqui ret
hei
r
deeperandmor ehumani nterest
.

THEMI
ND'
SEYE

_
Haml
et.
_Myf
ather
,-
-met
hinks,
Iseemyf
ather
.

_
Hor
ati
o._O,
wher
e,myl
ord?

_
Haml
et.
_Inmymi
nd'
sey
e,Hor
ati
o.

Itisacommonpl acetaughtf rom nur serytouniversi

tyt hatwesee
wi thourey es,hearwi thourear s,andf eelwit
hourf i
nger s.Thisis
thet ruth,butnott hewhol et ruth.Indispensableasar et hesense
organsi ngai ninganacquai ntancewi tht heworldinwhi chwel iv
e,
yett heyal onedonotdet er mi nehowext ensiveorhowaccur atethat
acquai nt
anceshal lbe.Ther ei sami ndbehi ndtheey eandt heearand
thef inger-ti
pswhi chguidest hem i ngat heri
nginformat i
on,andgi v
es
valueandor dert otheexer ciseoft hesenses.Thi sispar ti
cular
ly
trueofv i
sion, -
-themosti ntellectual ofal lt
hesenses, theonei n
whi chmer eacut enessofthesenseor gancount sleastandt het r
aini
ng
i
nobser vationcount smost .Theeagl e'sey eseesfarther,butour
ey est ell
usv astlymoreofwhati sseen.

Theey emaybecompar edt oaphot ogr aphiccamer a,wi t

hi tsey el
id
cap, itsiri
sshut t
er,
itsl ens, andi tssensi t
iveplate,--
the
retina;whenpr oper
lyadj ustedf ordistanceandl ight,thei mage
i
sf or medont heretinaasont heglasspl ate,andt hepi cturei s
taken.Sof arthecompar isoni shelpful ;butwhi l
et hecamer at akesa
picturewhenev erandwher ev erthepl at ehappenst obeex posed, the
compl et
eactofseei ngr equi ressomecoöper ationont hepar toft he
mi nd.Ther et
inamaybeexposedat housandt imesandt akebutf ew
pictures; orperhapsi tisbet tertosayt hatthepi cturesmaybe
taken, butr emainundev elopedandev anescent .Thepi cturest hatare
dev elopedar estackedup, li
ket henegat i
vesint hephot ographer 's
shop, i
nt hepigeon-holesofourment al storer
ooms, --
somef adedand
blurred,somepoor l
yar rangedormi slai d,someof tenr eferredt oand
freshpr intsmadet her efrom, andsomequi tenegl ected.

Inordertosee,iti
satoncenecessar yt
hatthereti
nabesui tabl
y
exposedt owardtheobjecttobeseen,andthatthemindbef av
orabl
y
disposedt ot
heassimilati
onoftheimpressi
on.Trueseeing,
observing,i
sadoubl eprocess,
part
lyobject
iveoroutward-
-the
thingseenandt hereti
na,-
-andpar
tl
ysubjecti
veorinward--
the
picturemy steri
ousl yt r
ansf erredt ot hemi nd'sr epr esent at i
v e,
thebr ai n,andt her ereceiv edandaf fi
liat edwi thot heri mages.
Il
lustrat i
onsofsuchseei ngwi tht he" mi nd'sey e"ar enotf art o
seek.Wher ev ert hebeaut iesandconf or mat ionsofnat ur al scener y
i
nv i
tet heey eofman, doeshedi scov erf amiliarfor msandf aces;
thef or cesofnat ur
ehav er ough- hewnt her ocks, butt hehumaney e
detect sandof tencr eatest her esembl ances.Thest rangert owhom such
curiosi ti
esoff or m arefirstpoi ntedoutof tenf i
ndsi tdi fficul tto
discov erther esembl ance, butonceseen, thef aceorf orm obt rudes
i
tselfi nev er yview, andseemst hemostconspi cuousf eat urein
theout look.Thef l
i
cker i
ngf ir
ef urnishesaf i
nebackgr oundf or
theact ivi
tyoft hemi nd'sey e,andagai nstt hisi tproj ect st he
formsandf anci eswhi cht hel eapingf lamesandt hebur ningember s
from t imet otimesuggest .Notal lseet hesef ire-pictur esr eadi l
y,
forourment aley esdi ff
ermor ef rom oneanot hert hant hephy sical
ones, andper hapsnot woper sonsseet hesamepi ctur ei nqui tet he
sameway .Itisnotqui tet rue,howev er ,asmanyhav ehel d, thatin
waki nghour sweal lhav eawor l
di ncommon, buti ndr eamseachhas
awor ldofhi sown; forourwaki ngwor ldsar emadedi ffer entbyt he
diff
er encesi nwhatengagesouri nterestandourat tent i
on.I tis
truet hatourey eswhenopenar eopenedv eryl argel ytot hesame
views, butbynooneobser verar eal lthesev iews, thoughv isible,
reall
yseen.

Thischar acteristi
cofv i
sionoftenser vesasasour ceofamusement .
Thepuzzl epi cturewi t
hitstantal
izingf ace, orani
mal ,orwhat
not,hiddenint hetrees,orfant
ast i
call
yconst ruct
edoutof
heterogeneousel ement sthatmakeupt hecomposi tion,istomanyqui t
e
i
rresisti
ble.Wet urnitaboutinalldirections, wonderingwher e
thehiddenf or m canbe, scanningev erydet ai
lofthepi cture,unti
l
suddenl yachancegl impser evealsit,plainlystar
ingusi nthef ace.
Whensev eral personsar eengagedi nt hisoccupat i
on, itisamusi ngto
obser vehowbl indeachi stowhatt heot herssee; t
heirphy sicaleyes
seeal i
ke,butt heirment aleyesreflectthei rownindividualiti
es.

Oft hemanyt housandsofper sonswhohandl eoursi l

verdol l
ar ,
butf ewhappent oobser vet hel ion'sheadwhi chliesconceal edi n
ther epr esent at i
onoft hef ami li
arheadofLi ber t
y;fr equently
ev enacar eful exami nat i
onf ailst odet ectt hishi ddenembl em of
Britishr ule;but , asbef ore, whenoncef ound, itisqui t
eobv ious
(Fig.1) .
[10]Forsi mil
arr easonsi tisagr eatai dinl ooki ng
foranobj ectt oknowwhatt ol ookf or ;tober eadilyf ound,the
obj ect ,t
houghl ostt osi ght ,shoul dbet omemor ycl ear.Sear chi ng
i
sament alprocesssi mi lart ot hemat chi ngofapi eceoff abr ic
i
nt ext ureorcol or ,whenonehasf orgot tent hesampl eandmust
relyupont her emembr anceofi tsappear ance.I fther ecoll
ect ion
i
scl earanddi stinct ,
recogni tiont akespl acewhent hejudgment
deci dest hatwhatt hephy sical ey eseescor respondst othei mage
i
nt hemi nd'sey e; withani ndi st i
nctment al imaget her ecogni ti
on
becomesdoubt ful orf aulty.Thenov icei nt heuseoft hemi cr oscope
exper i
encesconsi der abledi fficul tyinobser vingt heappear ancewhi ch
hisi nst r
uct orseesanddescr i
bes, andt hisbecausehi sconcept ion
oft heobj ectt obeseeni slacki ngi npr eci si
on.Hencehi straini ng
i
nt heuseoft hemi croscopei sdi stinctlyai dedbyconsul ti
ngt he
i
llust rati
onsi nt het ext book, fort heyenabl ehi sment aleyet o
real i
zet hepi ct ur eswhi chi tshoul dent er tain.Hemaybeal t oget her
toomuchi nfl
uencedbyt hepict
uresthussuggest edtohisment al
visi
on, anddrawwhati sreal
lynotunderhismi croscopeatall;
much
ast hey oungar i
thmet i
cianwillmanaget oobtaintheanswerwhi cht
he
bookr equiresev enatt hecostofar esortt
ov eryunmat hematical
processes.Fort rainingincorrectandaccuratev i
sioniti
s
necessar ytoacqui reanal er
tment aleye,t
hatobser vesall
thatis
objectivel
yv i
sibl
e,butdoesnotper mitthesubjectivetoaddtoor
modi fywhati sreallypresent.

I
I

[
Ill
ustrat
ion:FIG.1.-
-I
nordertoseet heli
on'
s
head,lookatt heabovecutupsidedown, andt
he
headwi l
lbedi scover
edfacingt
hel eft,
asabove
outl
ined.Iti
scl ear
eronthecoinitselft
hanint
his
repr
esent at
ion.]

[I
ll
ustrat
ion:FIG.2.--
Thesel et
tersshoul
dnotbe
seenatal lunti
ltheyhav ebeenobser v
edatadi st
ance
ofeighttot wel
v efeet.Aninterest
ingmethodof
testi
ngtheact i
v i
tyofthemi nd'seyewiththese
l
ettersisdescribedint hetext.
]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.2_
a_.
]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.2_
b_.
]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.3.
--
Fordescr
ipt
ion,
seet
ext
,page
282.]

Thei mpor tanceoft hemi nd'sey ei nor di nar yv isioni sal sowel l
i
llustr
at edi ncasesi nwhi chweseeorseem t oseewhati snot
reall
ypr esent ,butwhatf oronecauseoranot heri ti snat ural to
supposei spr esent .Av er yfami liarinst anceoft hispr ocessi st he
const antov er looki ngofmi spr i
nt s--
falsel etters, t r
ansposedl et ters,
andmi ssi ngl et ters--unlesst hesehappent obepar ti
cularlyst riking.
Weseeonl yt hegener al phy siognomyoft hewor d, andt hedet ai l
ed
featuresar esuppl i
edf rom wi thin; i
nt hiscasei tist heexpect ed
thathappens.I naser iesofexper i
ment sbyPr ofessorMünst er ber ga
wor dwasbr ieflyshown, whi lej ustbef oreacer taini deaort rainof
thoughtwassuggest ed.Undert heseci rcumst ancest hewor dshownwas
oftenmi sreadi naccor dancewi tht hesuggest edi dea; i
fthei deaof
futurei ssuggest ed, par tmayber eadaspast ;ifv eget ablei st he
suggest edl ineoft hought ,frightmayber eadasf ruit,andsoon.
Readi ngi st husdonel argel ybyt hement al ey e; andent irewor ds,
obv i
ousl ysuggest edbyt hecont ext ,aresomet i
mesr eadi n,whent hey
hav ebeenacci dent all
yomi t
t ed.Thi sismor eaptt ooccurwi tht he
i
rregul archar act er susedi nmanuscr iptt hani nt hemor edi stinct
formsoft hepr i
nt edal phabet ,andi spar ti
cul arlyf requenti n
readingov erwhatonehashi msel fwr itten.I nr eadi ngpr oof ,howev er,
wear eeagert odet ectmi spr ints, andt hi schangei nat t
itudehel ps
tomaket hem v isible.Iti sv er ydi ffi
cultt oi ll
ust r
at et hispr ocess
i
nt entional ly,becauset heknowl edget hatone' spower sofobser vati
on
areaboutt obet est edpl acesoneonone' sguar d, andt hussuppr esses
thenat ural act ivi
tyoft hemi nd' sey eanddr awsunusual at t
ent ion
toobj ectivedet ails.Lett her eaderatt hi spoi nthol dt hepage
atsomedi stanceof f--say ,eightort wel vef eet --anddr awanexact
reproduct i
onoft hel et tersshowni nFi g.2.Heshoul dnotl ookat
Fig.2atcl oser angenorr eadf urtheri nt het extunt il thishas
beendone; and_ per haps_hemayf i
ndt hathehasi nt roducedst rokes
whi chwer enotpr esenti nt heor iginal .Ift hisi snott hecase, let
himt rythet estupont hosewhoar ei gnor antofi tsnat ure, andhe
willfindt hatmostper sonswi llsuppl yl ightl i
nest ocompl etet he
cont our soft hel et ter s, whichi nt heor igi nal aresuggest edbutnot
reallypr esent ; t
heor igi nal out li
ne, Fi g.2_ a_ , becomessomet hing
l
ikeFi g.2_ b_, andsoonf ort her estoft hel et ters.Thephy si cal
eyeseest hef ormer ,butt hement al ey eseest hel att er.It ried
thisexper imentwi thacl assofsomet hir t
yUni ver sityst udent sof
Psy chol ogy ,and, alt hought heywer edi sposedt obequi tecr itical
andsuspect edsomeki ndofani l
lusi on, onl yt hr eeorf ourdr ew
thel etterscor rect ly; all t
her estf ill
edi nt hei magi nar yl ight
cont our s;someev endr ewt hem asheav il
yast her eal st r
okes.I
foll
owedt hisbyanexper imentofasi mi larchar act er .Ipl aced
uponat abl eaf igur e( Fig.3)madeofl ightcar dboar d, fastenedt o
blocksofwoodatt hebase, sot hatt hepi eceswoul deasi l
yst and
upr i
ght .Themi ddl epi ece, whi chi sr ect angul arandhi ghert hant he
rest, waspl acedal i
tt leinf rontoft her estoft hef i
gur e.The
student swer easkedt odescr ibepr eci sel ywhatt heysaw; andwi th
oneexcept iont heyal ldescr ibed, indi ffer entwor ds, asemi ci rcul ar
pieceofcar dboar dwi t har ect angul arpi ecei nf rontofi t.In
realityther ewasnohal f-circleofcar dboar d, butonl ypor ti
ons
oft woquar ter-circleswi t
ht hepor tionbackoft hemi ddl epi ece
omi tted.Thest udent s, ofcour se, wer ewel lawar et hatt heirphy sical
eyescoul dnotseewhatwasbehi ndt hemi ddl ecar dboar d, butt hey
i
nf erred, quitenat ural ly,thatt het wosi depi eceswer epar t
sofone
cont inuoussemi ci rcle.Thi st heysaw, sof arast heysawi tatal l,
witht hei rmi nd'sey e.

I
II

[
Il
lustrati
on:FIG.4.-
-Theblackandwhi t
eporti
ons
ofthisdesignar epreci
sel
yalike;butt
heeffectof
l
ookingatt hef i
gureasapat t
erninblackupona
whitebackgr ound,orasapat t
erninwhiteuponabl ack
backgr oundisquit
edi f
fer
ent,alt
houghthediff
erence
i
snoteasi l
ydescri
bed.]

Therei saf urt

heri nterest i
ngcl assofi l
l
ustrationsinwhi cha
singl
eout war dimpr essionchangesi tschar acteraccordingasi tis
viewedasr epresent ingonet hingoranot her.Inagener al waywesee
thesamet hingal lthet ime, andt heimageont heret
inadoesnot
change.Butasweshi fttheat tenti
onf r
om onepor ti
onoft hev iew
toanot her
, oraswev i
ewi twi thadifferentment alconcept ionof
whatt hefigurer epresent s,itassumesadi f
ferentaspect ,andt oour
ment aleyebecomesqui t
eadi ff
erentthing.Asl i
ghtbuti nteresting
changet akespl acei fwev iewFi g.4f i
rstwitht heconcept ionthat
theblackist hepat t
er ntobeseenandt hewhi tethebackgr ound, and
againtrytoseet hewhi teast hepatternagai nstablackbackgr ound.
Igiveaf ur
theri l
lustr at
ionofsuchachangei nFig.5.Inour
fi
rstandnat ur
al vi
ewoft hiswef ocustheat tenti
onupont hebl ack
l
inesandobser vet hefami l
iaril
lusi
on,thatt hef ourv er
ti
calblack
bandsseem f arfr
om par allel
.Thattheyar epar all
elcanbev erif
ied
bymeasur ement,orbycov eringupal lofthedi agram exceptthe
fourmai nbands.Butifthewhi t
epar tofthedi agram beconcei ved
ast hedesignagainstabl ackbackgr ound, thent hedesi gnisno
l
ongert hesame, andwi t
ht hi
schanget heill
usi ondisappears,and
thef ourbandsseem paral l
el,astheyreallyar e.Itmayr equirea
l
ittl
eef f
orttobri
ngaboutt hischange,buti tismar kedwhenonce
reali
zed.

[
Ill
ustrat
ion: FIG.5.-
-Whent hisfigureisviewedas
ablackpat ternonawhi tebackgr ound, t
hef ourmain
vert
icalblackbandsseem f arfr
om par all
el;
wheni t
i
sv i
ewedasawhi tepatternonabl ackbackgr oundt
he
patt
er ni
sdi fferentandthei ll
usi
ondi sappear s(or
nearlyso),andt hef ourblackbandsaswel lasthe
fi
vewhi t
eonesseem mor enear l
ypar al
lel.
]

Acur iousopt icaleffect,

whi chi npar til
lustratest hechangei n
appear anceunderdi ffer
entaspect s,isreproducedi nFig.6.In
thiscaset heenchant mentofdi st
ancei snecessar ytoproducethe
transformation.Vi ewedatt heusual readingdi stance,weseenot hi
ng
butani r
regularandmeani nglessassembl ageofbl ackandwhi te
blotches.Atadi stanceofnotl esst hanf i
fteent oei ght
eenfeet,
howev er
, aman' sheadappear squi t
ecl earl
y .Alsoobser vethat
aftertheheadhasoncebeenr eal
izedi tbecomespossi bletoobtai
n
suggest ionsofi tatnear erdistances.

[I
ll
ust
rat
ion:FI
G.6.-
-Thi
sisahighlyenl
arged
repr
oducti
ontakenfrom ahal
f-
toneprocesspr
intof
LordKel
vin.I
tappearedi
nthe_Photographi
cTimes_.
]

Amuchl ar gercl assofambi guousdi agr amsconsi st soft hosewhi ch

representbysi mpl eout li
nesf ami l
iargeomet r
ical f
or msorobj ects.
Wecul ti
v atesuchauseofourey es, asi ndeedofal l ourf aculti
es,
aswi llont hewhol eleadt ot hemostpr ofit
abl eresul ts.Asar ule,
thepar ticulari mpr essioni snotsoi mpor t
antaswhati trepresent s.
Sense- impr essionsar esimpl yt hesy mbol sorsi gnsoft hingsor
i
deas, andt het hingort hei deai smor ei mpor tantt hant hesi gn.
Accor dingl y, wear eaccust omedt oint erpretlines, whenev erwe
can, ast her epresent ati
onsofobj ects.Wear ewel lawar et hatt he
canv asort heet chingort hephot ogr aphbef oreusi saf latsur face
i
nt wodi mensi ons, butweseet hepi ctureast herepr esent ati
onof
solidobj ect si nthreedi mensi ons.Thi sist hei l
lusionofpi ctorial
art.Sost rongi st histendencyt ov i
ewl inesast hesy mbol sof
thi
ngs, t
hati ftherei sthesl ight estchanceofsov iewi ngt hem, we
i
nv ariablydoso; f
orwehav eagr eatdeal ofexper iencewi t
ht hings
thatpr esentt heircont oursasl i
nes, andv erylittl
ewi thmer el i
nes
orsur faces.I fwev i
ewout l
inesonl y,wi t
houtshadi ngorper spect i
ve
orany t
hingt odef init
elysuggestwhati sf oregr oundandwhat
backgr ound, i
tbecomespossi blef orthemi ndt osuppl yt hesedet ail
s
andseef oregr oundasbackgr ound, and_ vicev ersa_ .

[I
ll
ustr
ati
on:FIG.7.
--
Thi
sdrawingmaybevi
ewed
astherepresent
ati
onofabookstandi
ngonit
s
half
-openedcoversasseenf
rom t
hebackofthebook;
 orasthei
nsi
dev
iewofanopenbookshowi
ngt
he
pages.
]

[I
ll
ustrati
on:FIG.8.
--
Whent hisfi
gureisviewed
asanar r
ow,theupperorfeatheredendisaptt o
seem f l
at;whentherestofthearrowiscov ered,
the
feat
her edendmaybemadet opr oj
ectorrecedeli
kethe
book-cov eri
nFig.7.
]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.9.-
-Thesmall
ersquaremaybe
r
egardedaseithert
henearerfaceofapr
oject
ing
f
igureorasthemoredistantf
aceofaholl
owf i
gure.
]

Agoodexampl et obegi nwi thi sFi g.7.Theseout li

neswi llpr obably
suggestatf irstv i
ewabook, orbet terabook- cov er,seenwi thi ts
backt owar dy ouandi t
ssi dessl opi ngawayf rom y ou; buti tmayal so
bev iewedasabookopenedoutt owar dsy ouandpr esent ingt oyouan
i
nsi dev iewofi tscont ent s.Shoul dt hechangenotcomer eadi ly,
i
tmaybef acili
tatedbyt hinkingper sistent lyoft heappear ance
ofanopenbooki nt hisposi tion.Theupperpor tionofFi g.8i s
pract i
cal l
yt hesameasFi g.7, andi fther estoft hef igur ebe
cov eredup, i
twi llchangeasdi dt hebookcov er ;when, howev er,
the
whol ef igur eisv iewedasanar row, anewconcept ionent er s, andthe
appar ent l
ysol idbookcov erbecomest he_ fl
at _feat her edpar tofthe
arrow.Lookatt henextf igur e(Fi g.9), whi chr epresent si nout li
ne
at r
uncat edpy rami dwi t
hasquar ebase.I st hesmal lersquar enear er
toy ou, andar et hesi desoft hepy rami dsl opi ngawayf rom y out oward
thel argersquar eint her ear ?Orar ey oul ooki ngi nt ot hehol low
ofat r
uncat edpy rami dwi ththesmal lersquar ei nthebackgr ound?
Ori sitnowoneandnowt heot her ,accor di ngasy oudeci det osee
i
t?Her e( Fig.12)i saskel et onboxwhi chy oumayconcei veasmade
ofwi resout li
ni ngt hesi des.Nowt hef r
ont , orsi denear estt ome,
seemsdi recteddownwar dandt ot hel eft; agai n,ithasshi ftedi ts
posi ti
onandi snol ongert hef r
ont ,andt hesi dewhi chappear st obe
thef rontseemsdi rect edupwar dandt ot her i
ght .Thepr esenceoft he
diagonal linemakest hechangemor est riking: inoneposi tioni truns
from t hel eft-
hand_ r
ear _uppercor nert ot her ight -
hand_ front _
l
owercor ner ;whi leint heot heri tconnect st hel eft-hand_ f r
ont _
uppercor nerwi t
ht her ight -
hand_ rear_l owercor ner .

[I
ll
ustrati
on:FI G.10.-
-Thi srepresentsanor di
nary
table-
glass,-
-t
hebot tom oft heglassandt heentire
rearside,exceptt heupperpor ti
on, beingseent hrough
thet r
ansparentnear ersi de,andther earappar ently
projecti
ngabov ethefr ont.Butitfluctuatesin
appear ancebet weent hisandav iewoft heglass
i
nwhi chthebot tom isseendi r
ectly,partlyfr
om
under neath,
the_ whol e_oft herearsi dei sseen
throught hetransparentf ront,andt hef r
ontprojects
abov etheback. ]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:FIG.11.-
-I
nthisscrollt
hel efthalf
mayatfirstseem concaveandt herightconv ex;i
t
t
henseemst orol
loradv anceli
keawav e,andthe
l
eftseemsconv exandt herightconcav e,asthoughthe
t
roughoft hewavehadbecomet hecrest ,and_vi
ce
 v
ersa_
.]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.12.

FI
G.12_
a_.

FI
G.12_
b_.

FIGS.12,12_a_,12_b_ .
--Thet womet hodsofv i
ewingFig.
12ar edescri
bedint het ext
.Fi gs.12_a_and12_ b_
areaddedt omakecl earerthet womet hodsofviewing
Fi
g.12.Theheav i
erl i
nesseem t orepresentthenearer
surf
ace.Fig.12_a_mor enat urall
ysuggest sthenearer
surf
aceoft heboxi naposi tiondownwar dandtothe
l
eft,andFig.12_b_makest henear ersideseem tobe
upwar dandtother ight.Butinspi teoft heheavi
er
outl
inesoftheonesur face,itmaybemadet oshif
t
positi
onsfrom f
or egroundt obackgr ound, al
thoughnot
soreadil
yasi nFig.12. ]

Fig.14wi l
lprobablyseem atfir
stglimpset obet hev i
ewofa
fl
ightofst epswhi choneisaboutt oascendf r
om r i
ghttol ef
t.
Imagi nei t
,howev er
,tobeav i
ewoft heundersi deofaser i
es
ofst eps; t
hev i
ewr epr
esenti
ngt hest r
uctureofov erhangingsoli
d
masonwor kseenf r
om underneath.Atf i
rsti
tmaybedi ffi
culttosee
i
tt hus, becausethev i
ewofst epswhi chwear eaboutt omounti sa
mor enat uralandf r
equentexper i
encethant heother;butbyst ar
ing
atitwi ththeintenti
onofseeingi tdif
ferentl
ythetransiti
onwi l
l
come, andof t
enqui t
eunexpect edly.

[I
ll
ust r
ation:FIG.13.-
-Eachmemberoft hisfri
eze
represent sar el
iefor
nament ,appliedupont he
backgr ound, whichincross-sect
ionwoul dbean
i
soscel est ri
anglewithalargeobt useangl e,ora
spaceofsi mi l
arshapehollowedoutoft hesolidwood
orstone.I nr unningt
heey ealongt hepat ter
n,it
i
si nterestingtoobservehowv ari
ouslythepat terns
fl
uctuat efrom oneoft heseaspect stot heother.]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.14.

FI
G.14_
a_.

FI
G.14_
b_.

FIGS.14, 14_a_,and14_ b_.

--
Thet wov i
ewsofFi g.14
describedi nthetextarebroughtoutmor eclearlyin
Fi
gs.14_ a_and14_ b_.Theshadedpor ti
ontendst o
beregar dedast henear erf
ace.Fig.14_a_i
smor e
apttosuggestt hestepsseenasweascendt hem.Fi g.
14_b_seemst orepresentt
hehollowed-outstructure
underneat hthesteps.Butev enwiththeshadingt he
dualinterpretat
ionispossibl
e,thoughlessobv ious.
]

[
Il
lustr
ati
on:FI
G.15.
--
Thi
sint
erest
ingfigure(whi
ch
i
sr epr
oducedwit
hmodif
icat
ionsfrom _Scri
ptur
e:
 TheNewPsy chol
ogy_)i
ssubjecti nastri
kingway
toint
erchangesbetweenforegroundandbackgr ound.
Mostper sonsfi
nditdi
ff
icul
ttomai nt
ainforany
consi
derableti
meei t
heraspectoft heblocks(t
hese
aspectsaredescri
bedinthetext);somecanchange
them atwill
,ot
hersmustacceptt hechangesast hey
happentocome. ]

Thebl ocksi nFi g.15ar esubj ectt oamar kedf luctuat ion.Nowt he
blacksur facesr epresentt hebot tomsoft hebl ocks, all point i
ng
downwar dandt ot hel eft,andnowt hebl acksur faceshav echanged
andhav ebecomet het ops, pointingupwar dandt other ight .Forsome
thechangescomeatwi ll
;forot herst heyseem t ocomeunexpect edly
,
butal lareai dedbyant icipatingment allyt henat ureoft he
transformat ion.Theef fecther eisqui test riking,thebl ocksseemi ng
almostani mat edandmov ingt hroughspace.I nFi g.16asi mi lar
arrangementser vest ocr eat eani llusionast other eal numberof
blockspr esent .Ifviewedi noneway --
thebl acksur f
acef ormi ngt he
topsoft hebl ocks--t
her eseem t obesi x, arrangedasi nFi g.17;
butwhent het r
ansf ormat i
onhast akenpl aceandt hebl acksur f
aces
hav ebecomet heov erhangi ngbot tomsoft heboxes, ther ear esev en,
arrangedasi nFi g.18.Somewhatdi ff
er ent , butst i
llbel ongi ngt o
thegr oupofambi guousf i
gur es,ist hei ngeni ousconcei toft he
duck- r
abbi tshowni nFi g.19.Wheni tisar abbit,thef acel ooks
tot herightandapai rofear sar econspi cuousbehi nd; wheni tis
aduck, thef acel ookst ot hel eftandt heear shav ebeenchanged
i
nt othebi l
l.Mostobser versf i
ndi tdi f
ficul tt ohol deit her
i
nt erpretationst eadi ly
, thef l
uct uationsbei ngf requent ,andcomi ng
asasur pr ise.

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.16.

FI
G.16_
a_.

FI
G.16_
b_.

FIGS.16, 16_ a_, and16_ b_ .

--Howmanybl ocksar e
thereint hispi le?Si xorsev en?Not ethechangei n
arrangementoft hebl ocksast heychangei nnumber
from sixt osev en.Thi schangei sdescribedi nt he
text.Figs.16_ a_and16_ b_showt hetwophasesofa
groupofanyt hreeoft heblocks.Thear rangementof
apy rami dofsi xbl ocksseemst hemor est abl eandi s
usuallyfirstsuggest ed;buthol dt hepagei nv ert
ed,
andy ouwi llprobabl yseet heal ternatear r
angement
(with,howev er, thebl acksur facesst il
lformi ngt he
tops).Andonceknowi ngwhatt ol ookfor ,youwi l
lvery
l
ikelybeabl et oseeei t
herar rangement ,whet herthe
diagram behel di nvertedornot .Thismet hodofv iewing
thef i
guresupsi dedownandi not herposi ti
onsi sal so
suggest edt obr ingoutt hechangesi ndicatedi nFi gs.
12, 12_a_, 12_ b_ ,andi nFigs.14, 14_a_,14_ b_ .
]

I
V
 [
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.17.

FI
G.18.

Tindi
catesthatt
heshadedport
ionofFig.16int
his
vi
ewrepresentsthet
opofablock;Bthatint
heother
vi
ewitrepresent
sthebot
tom.]

Thiscol l
ecti
onofdi agramsser vestoi l
lustratethepr i
nciple
thatwhent heobj ecti
vef eatur
esareambi guous, weseeonet hing
oranot heraccordingt otheimpressiont hatisint hemi nd'seye;
whatt heobjecti
vef actorslackindef i
nitenesst hesubj ective
onessuppl y,whil
ef ami l
i
ar i
ty,
prepossessi on,aswel lasot her
cir
cumst ancesinf l
uencet heresult
.Thesei l
lustrati
onsshow
conclusivel
ythatseei ngisnotwhol lyanobj ectivemat terdependi ng
uponwhatt her
ei stobeseen, butisveryconsi der ablyasubj ective
mat t
er,dependingupont heey ethatsees.Tot hesameobser vera
givenar r
angementofl i
nesnowappear sast her epresent ati
onofone
objectandnowofanot her;andfrom thesameobj ecti
veexper i
ence,
especiall
yininstancest hatdemandasomewhatcompl i
catedexer ci
se
ofthesenses, differ
entobser versderiv
ev erydifferentimpr essions.

[
Ill
ustr
ati
on:FIG.19.-
-Doy ouseeaduckorarabbi
t,
oreit
her?(Fr
om _ Harper
'sWeekly
_,or
igi
nal
lyi
n
_Fl
iegendeBlätt
er_.
)]

Notonl ywhent hesense- impressi onsar eambi guousordef ective,but

whent heyar evague--
whent helighti sdi m ort hef ormsobscur e--does
themi nd'sey eekeoutt heimper fect i
onsofphy sicalv i
sion.The
vagueconf ormationsofdr aperyandmake- upt hatar eidentifi
edand
recognizedi nspirit
ual
ist i
c_séances_i l
lustrateext remei nstances
ofthispr ocess.Thewhi tewashedt reeorpostt hatmoment ari
ly
startl
esusi nadar kcount r
ylanet akesont hegui set hatexpect ancy
givesit.Thement alpredisposit
ionher ebecomest hedomi nantf actor
,
andt het i
mi dseeasghost swhatt heirmor est urdycompani ons
recognizeaswhi tewashedpost s.Suchexper i
encesweascr i
bet othe
actionofsuggest i
onandi maginat ion--thecl oud" that'salmosti n
shapel ikeacamel ,
"or" l
ikeaweasel ,
"or" li
keawhal e."But
throughoutourv i
sualexper i
encest herer unst hisdoubl estrain,now
mai nl
yout wardandnowmai nlyinwar d, f
rom t hesi mpl estexcitements
ofther etinaupt other ealmswher efancysoar sfreef rom the
conf i
nesofsense, andt heobjectiv ef i
ndsi tsoccupat iongone.

FOOTNOTE:

[10]Inor dertoobt ai
nt heeffect
sdescr i
bedi nthev ari
ous
i
llustr
ationsi tisnecessaryinseveral casest oregar dthefi
gur es
foraconsi derabl
et i
meandwi thcloseat tenti
on.Ther eaderis
requestednott ogiveupi ncaset hefirstattemptt osecurethe
effectisnotsuccessf ul,
buttocont i
nuet heef for
tf orareasonabl e
period.Individual
sdi f
ferconsiderablyinther eadinesswi t
hwhi ch
theyobt ainsuchef fects;insomecases, suchdev icesashol dingthe
diagramsi nvert
ed,oratanangl e,orv iewingthem wi ththeey eshalf
closed,ar ehelpful
.
MENTALPREPOSSESSI
ONANDI
NERTI
A

Thosewhoar eact iv
elyengagedi neducat i
onal pursui
tsarecal l
ed
uponf rom ti
met oti
met oconsidert henatureoft hediffi
cult
iesin
theimpar ti
ngofknowl edge, t
hepsy chologicalimpediment sthatstand
i
nt hewayofsuccessf ulinstr
uction.Thesear emanyandv ar
ious;and
per t
ainaswel l
t othegi versastot her eceiversoflearning.This
l
ar geandwel lthreshedf ieldIhavenoi ntenti
onofgl eaningonce
mor e;Idesir
esi mplytodr awattentiont oonef orm ofdiffi
culty
ont hepartofthel earner, whi
chhasbeenbr oughthomet omeso
frequentl
yandatt i
messof orci
bly,thatIshoul dbei ncl
inedto
selectitasthemostsal ientstumbl ing-blockinthesuccessf ul
acquisiti
onofthosebr anchesofst udywhi chi tfal
lstomyl otto
expound.

Thischar acter i
sti
c, whi chmaybecal ledment alprepossessi on, is
wel li
llust ratedi nthef oll
owi ngnar r
ative, thet rut
hofwhi ch,
howev er ,isnotguar anteed.Thest orydat esf rom t heexci ti
ngday s
whent heAmer icanpubl icwascompl et elyf ascinatedbyt hement al
gymnast icsoft he" spel l
i
ngbee; "andr elat est hattowar dst hecl ose
ofav er yf i
ercecont estwi ththeal phabet , whenonl yaf ewst alwart
champi onsr emai nedt oencount ertheer rat i
ceccent ricit
iesofEngl ish
orthogr aphy ,theconduct oroft he" bee"announcedwi thanai rof
grav eimpor tanceawor dthathef eltqui tecer tai
nwoul dret i
re
notaf ewoft hespel li
ngv ir
tuosi.Het henaskedt hei rclosest
attentiont ohi spr ecisepr onunciat i
on, andsol emnl ygav eut terance
towhatf oral l t
hewor l
dsoundedl ike_ cat _ .Eachhear erat t
empt ed
tospel lthisext raor dinarilydiffi
cultwor dwi thasui tablyunusual
rearrangementoft hel etterssuggest edbyt hesound, andwheneach
efforthadi nt urnbeenpr onouncedaf ailure, theinfor mat ionwas
givent hatt hecor rectspel li
ngwas_ c-a- t_._ Hæcf abul adocet _that
whenoneexpect sadi ffi
cul t
yhei saptt of indi tort omakei t.
Believingt hepr obl em t obeunusual ,heappl iesunusual met hodst o
i
tssol ut ion; believingi ttobecompl ex, heov er l
ookst hesi mpl e
meansbywhi chitsmy steri
esmaybeunl ocked.I tmat tersl i
ttlehow
thisreput ationhascomeabout ,whet herast her esul tofper sonal
prejudi ceorofi nher i
tedt raditi
on, whet hersuggest edbyt he
techni calityoft hesubj ectort heawkwar dnessoft het reat ment ,
whet herbyt heuseofaf ewunusual ter msoroper ations, orbyany
oneoft hecount l
essmet hods, consci ousandunconsci ous, bywhi ch
suchi mpr essionsar ef ormed, --
ther esul twi l
lbemucht hesame.

Manyast udentapproachesast udysuchaspsy chol ogyorl ogicwi t

h
anunshakabl econv i
cti
ont hathei saboutt oconsi dermat ters
abstruseanddi ff
icul
t;t
hingst otall
yunr el
atedt owhathehas
studiedelsewhereorexper iencedbef ore,andaccor dinglyrequi r
ing
anexer ci
seoft hement alf
acul t
iesasdi f
ferentaspossi blefrom
thattowhi chhehasbeenaccust omed.I tisnotaltoget herst range
thatsuchnot ionsshouldbecur rent,becauset het raditi
ont ot hat
effectisancientandstrong, andor i
ginatedint i
meswhenschol ars
gener al
ly
,andphi l
osophersper hapsmor ethanot her s,tookpr idein
exclusiv eer udition, i
nt hepossessi onofamor eorlessesot eric
wisdom qui teunr elatedt otheknowi ngandt hethinkingofοἱπολλοί
[Greek: hoi polloi].Itrequiresthecombi nedoper ati
onofl ong
periodsoft imeandofper si
stenteffor
tt oweakensuchbel i
efs;and
i
ti sonl ywi thinr ecentt imesthatt henotionhasbeensuccessf ull
y
dissemi nat edt hatt hepr ocessesconsi deredi npsy chol ogyandl ogi
c
derivet heirv ali
di t
yf rom ourdai l
yexper i
ence, andr equi refor
theircompr ehensi onnoment algymnast i
csori ntellectual contorti
ons;
thati nbrieft hesesci encessimpl yaimt osy stemat izeandi mpr ove,
toint er
pr etandexpl aintheev ery-
daypr ocessesbywhi chknowl edge
i
sgai ned.Thi s, atal levents,i
soneoft heirf
unct ions, andone
profitablyemphasi zedi nt heintr
oductorystudyoft hei rscopeand
cont ent.

Whenonehasoncef ormedt hei mpr essi on, orhashadi tpr oducedor

suggest edf orhi m, thatt hest udyort het askhei saboutt oat tack
i
sadi ffi
cul tone, hi sment al power sar eatoncesuf f
ici ent l
y
reducedt omakei treallydi ff
icult;thesi gnal isgi venofan
approachi ngi ntri
cat etur ni nt her oad, t
hebr akesar et ur nedon,
andt het rai noft houghtcr eepsal ongsl owl y .Ment al pr epossessi on
l
eadst oment aliner ti
a.Thesamequest i
onwhi cht hest udentwoul d
answerr eadi lyandf ull
ywhenaskedbyaf riendasani tem ofgener al
i
nf or
mat ion, becomesut terlybey ondhi scompr ehensi onwheni tappears
i
nt het ext -
book, thet it
le-pageofwhi chbear st heomi nousname
ofoneorot heroft hest udi esr eputedasdi fficult.Themi ndi s
notpr oper lyset ;ther eisl it
tler eceptiveness, l
itt
leal er tness.
Whenwear easkedi naconundr um- l
iket one, whyonet hi
ngi s
l
ikeanot her ,wei gnor eobv i
ousandsi mpl er esembl ances, andl ook
aboutf orobscur eones.Thest udentwhol abor sundert hei ll
usi on
thatpsy chol ogyisamazeofconundr ums, empl oysment al processes
appropr i
at et osuchapur suit.Theschool boyf indsi ti mpossi bl et o
answeraquest i
oni narithmet icdur i
ngt hegeogr aphyl esson, andt he
samel ackofadapt abili
tyi sshownbyhi sol dercount er partwhen
hegr eetst heanswert oav erysi mplequest ion( which, howev er ,he
himsel ffailedt oanswer )wi t
ht heal ltoof ami li
ar ,"Oh, ofcour se
Iknew_ that _ .
"Per hapst hemostext remei nst anceoft hemanyt hat
Icouldci tei st hatofast udentsoi rr
esponsi veandappar ent l
yat
sear egar dingt het opicunderdi scussi on- -
thesenses- -ast of or ceme
toaskhi m, "Withwhatdoy ouhear ?"andwhoanswer edwi thper fect
sincerity
, "Idon' tknow. "Thi swasapsy chol ogical quest i
on, andas
suchbecameasdi ff
icultast hespel lingof_ cat_att heendofa
"spell
ingbee. "

Whent hest udenthasbeenmadet ofeel t

hatthequest ionshei s
askedcanbeanswer edfrom hiseverydayexper i
ence, andt hatcommon
senseisof t
enqui teasser v
iceableagui deasspeci al knowl edge,
apr ogressensuesi neverywaysat i
sfactory.Suchaconv icti
on,
howev er,i
snotamat terofverbalacknowl edgment ;ity i
eldsslowl y
toexplanationandpr oceedssomewhatunconsci ousl yandi nwar dl
y.
Mor eover,i
tisatraitverysensit
ivetothepowerofcont agion,so
thatacompar at
ivelysmallproporti
onoft heclassmaysuccessf ull
y
spreadt hi
sment alatti
tudetothewhol enumber .Aquest ionwhi ch
twoort hreehavef ail
edtoanswerbecomesi nvestedwi thaspur ious
diff
icul
tywhi chmakesi tadeepmy sterytoalltheot her s.

Thi
sment
alpr
epossessi
onmayatt
imeshav
equi
tedi
ff
erentand
curiousr esults.When, forinstance, t hegoal t
ober eachedi s
given, whent heanswermaybel ookedupi nthebackoft hebook, i
t
i
ssur pri
singwhatpecul iarandi rr
ational stepswillbetakent o
secur eandj ustifytheanswersogi v en.Thi sisallt
hemor est ri
king
whent heanswerhappenst obewr ong; howev ersi
mpl ysucher rormay
bedi scov er
ed, thepr epossessedmi ndwi l
lwor kawayunt i
lbyamor e
orlessr oundaboutpr ocedur ethedesi redansweri sr eached.Anot ed
professorofchemi stryhasanapti llustrationofsuchacase.I n
achemi caltesthi sassi stantbymi st aker eferr
edthecl asst othe
wrongbot tl
e, sothatt hesubst ancewhi cht hecorr
ectliquidwoul d
hav edissolvedcoul dnotbeatal ldissol vedi ntheli
quidact ually
used.Howev er,ont hepr ofessor '
snextr oundi nhislabor atorynear l
y
everyst udentassur edhi mt hatthesubst ancehaddi ssol ved,andaf ew
wentsof arast odescr ibet hepreci semannerofi t
sdi ssolution.

Iti
squi t
ecl eart hati ll
ustrationsofment al prepossessi on,asal so
ofiner ti
a,maybef oundi nmanyoft heindust riesandoccupat i
ons
oflife.Thebi cyclehasaddedav erychar acter i
sticone.Ata
certainst agei nt heacqui si
t i
onoft hear tofcy cli
ng, t
her ecomes
atimewhenev eryobst acl eandi rregularityi nther oadabsor bst he
attentionoft her i
derwi t
haf ascinat i
ont hati squi teirresistible.
Ther i
deri ssopossessedwi t
hthei deat hatheorshei sgoi ngt o
runi ntothepostort hecur borar utoranot herv ehicle,that
thedr eadedcal ami t ymayact uallyensue.Whent heat tentioncanbe
dir
ect edt ot hecl earpat hway ,andt heobst aclesdr ivenoutf rom t he
focusofat tention, thedi ffi
cultyissur mount ed.Soi nj umpi ng
orr unningandi not herat hleti
ct r
ials,theent ertai
nmentoft he
notionofapossi blef ai
luret oreacht hemar kl essenst heint ensity
ofone' sef fort,andpr eventst heaccompl ishmentofone' sbest .He
whohesi tatesi sl ost,becauset hehesi t
at i
onmakespossi blet he
suggest ionofaf ailure,thepr epossessi onbyasenseofdi fficulty.

I
I

Someoft hei l
lust rati
onsofpr epossessi onar esomewhatt r
ivial;
othersmor eimpor tant,butper hapsnotsodef i
ni t
easmi ghtbe
desired.Itissel dom t hataninst anceoft hi
spr opensitycanbe
pointedouti nwhi chanaccur at eandquantitati
v ecompar isonmay
bemadebet weent hepossessedandt heunpossessedmi nd.Onesuch
i
llust
r at
ion,whi chseemst omecompr ehensiveandsi gnif
icant ,i
s
wor t
hyofmor edet ai
ledrecord. [
11]Iti
sderivedf r
om theexper i
ence
oftheUni tedSt at esCensusof f i
cein1890, i
nt abulati
ngt heret urns
oftheenumer at ionbymeansofmachi nesspeci all
ydev i
sedf ort hi
s
purpose.Igi veanaccountoft hemani pulati
onoft hesemachi nesin
thewor dsofonewhohadani ntimateacquaint ancewi t
ht hei
ruse,
andaddi tal
icst oemphasi zet hepointsofspeci alpsychological
signi
f i
cance.

"Theadopt ionofMr .Holl

erit
h'stabulat
ingmachi neforcounti
ng
thepopul ationoft hecountryaccording,atoneandt hesamet i
me,
tosex, color ,age,mar i
talcondit
ion,nati
onali
ty,occupati
onor
profession, languageandschool at
tendancepresentedanent i
rel
y
novel problem t ot heoffi
ce.Themachi neshav i
ngnev erbeenused
foranypur pose, therewasnopr evi
ousexper i
encebywhi chtoact
oronwhi cht opredicat
er esul
ts.Thenecessitywasupont heoffi
ce
ofemployingforav eryl
imi
tedt i
me( ni
netyday s)atl eastfi
v e
hundredpeoplef orthisworkalone,inaddit
iont ot heonet housand
whocouldbet akenf r
om otherbranchesoft hewor kandpl acedonthi
s
one.Ever
yone, i
ncludingMr.Holler
ithhi
msel f,feltthattherapid
andaccurateuseoft hepunchingmachi nescalledf oradegr eeof
cul
ti
vatedintel
ligencenotpossessedbyev erycl erk.Somuchf ort
he
mentalatt
itude.

"Thecl erks( ani nstruct orf orev eryt went y)wer etaughtt oedi t
thef amilyschedul esf rom whi cht hecountwast obemade, thus
l
earni ngt hor oughlyhowt or eadandcl assifythereturns.I norder
toaccommodat ether et urnst othecapaci t
yofapunchi ngmachi ne,
agr eatv arietyofsy mbol swer eadopt edf oroccupat i
onsand
professions: thusAdwasusedf orf armer :Acf orfarm hands: Kdf or
mer chant s: Gdf oragent s, etc.,throught went y-
fourtwo- columned
octav opagesofor dinar yty pe.Someonesy mbol mustbeusedf oreach
occupat ionr ecor ded, andt heuseoft hesy mbol smustbel earned, and,
forrapidwor k,theymustbecommi t t
edt omemor y.
[12]_ Afterfiv
e
weeksofedi ti
ng_ ,
onebyone, themostr eli
ableandi ntelligent
worker swer esett ouset hepunchi ngmachi nes.Thet aski smuchl i
ke
thatofusi ngat ypewr i
ter ,subst ituti
ngf orkey samov ablepunch
whichpassest hroughl etteredhol es,andi nplaceoft hef ortykey s
ofanor dinar ytypewr iter,aboutt wohundr edandf i
ftyhol esar eto
belear ned.

"Mr.Hol l
erithsetthenumberofcar dsf oraday 'swor kat550.
(Eachf i
nishedcar dcont ai
ned, ont heav erage, 10hol es. )_I
twas
twoweeksbef oret hatnumberofcar dswasr eachedbyanycl erk_
,and
thatonlyi nexceptional cases.Thent heentiref orceoft hedi vi
sion
wassett owor k.Int woweeksmostoft hem hadr eachedf iv
ehundr ed,
andtheav eragewasdai l
yincr easi ng.Thesecl erkswor kedatfirst
from editedschedul es;thatis,t hoseonwhi chhadbeenwr it
ten
thesymbol stobepunchedont hemachi ne.Ar ol
l ofhonorwasmade
outdai l
yshowi ngt hehi ghestr ecor ds, and_ i
naweek_t heclerks
weredoi ngf rom _si xhundr edt of ifteenhundr edaday _,butata
greatcostofner vousf orce.Sosev er ewast hener vousst rai
nt hat
compl aintswer emadet otheSecr et aryoftheI nter i
or,whof orbade
anyfur t
herpost ingofdai l
yr epor ts, andi nst
eadanor derwaspost ed
thatnocl erkwasr equiredt odomor ethansuchaday '
swor kasheor
shecoul dr eadil
yper f
orm, andt hatnoar bi
trarynumberwasr equir
ed
ofanyone.

"_Af t
ert hewor kwaswel l
underwayaboutt wohundr ednewcl erkswer e
puti ntooner oom andscat teredthrought hef orceal r
eadyatwor k.
Theyhadnoexper iencewi thschedul es,knewnot hi
ngoft hesy mbol s,
hadnev erseent hemachi nes.Theysawt hosear oundt hem wor king
easi l
yandr apidl
y,andi n_THREEDAYSSEVERALOFTHEM HADDONEFI VE
HUNDRED, INAWEEKNEARLYEVERYONE, _whilethegener alaveragewas
ri
si ng_ .Ther ewasnol ongeranyquest ionofner vousst rain,andone
oft heset empor aryclerkst hedaybef oreshel eftbeatt her ecordby
doi ng2, 230.It hi
nkt hei nfl
uenceoft hement alattit
udequi teas
remar kabl einthemat teroft heirdoingt hewor keasi l
yasi nt hatof
doi ngi trapidly.Duringthef irstmont hmanywer eact uallysickf r
om
ov erwor kwhendoi ngsev enhundr ed, whil
eaf t
ert hatti
met hei dea
thatt hewor kwasunusual lyt r
yingwasnev errefer r
edto.Anot her
significantf actisthataf tert hepostingoft hedai lyrecordwas
abol
ishedther
ewasnofalli
ngof
fint
hedai
l
yaverage,ashadbeen
anti
cipat
ed,whi
lecompl
aint
sofover
wor
knecessar
il
yceased.
"

Itisthusdemonst ratedthatanunski l
l
edclerk,withanenvironment
prov i
ngthepossibili
tyofat askandsuggest i
ngi t
seasy
accompl i
shment ,canin_ thr
eeday s_succeedindoingwhataski ll
ed
clerk,wi
thapr el
iminaryacquaintanceoff i
veweekswi ththesy mbols
tobeused, coulddoonl yaft
er_twoweeks' _practi
ce;
andt his
becauset helatt
er,doubt l
essnotawhi tinf
eri
orinabil
ity
,had
beenl edtoregardhist askasdiffi
cult
.

I
II

Ifweconsi dert hepsy chol ogi cal relationsoft hepr ocessesi nv olved
i
nt heabov ei llustrat ions, wear eledt ot heconv ictiont hatwe
seldom exer tourpower st ot hei rfull capaci ty.Instancesi nwhi ch,
undert hei nf luenceofsomest irri
ng, per hapsdanger ousci rcumst ance,
personsexer tphy sical ener giesor dinar ilybey ondt hei rresour ces,
arequi tef ami li
ar ;andt hesamei st ruet houghl essr eadily
demonst rat edofment alef for t
.Thesuccessoft hev ariousmet hodsof
"mindcur e,"i nwhi cht heconv i
ctionoft hepossi bil
ityofacur eso
mar kedl yai dsi tsreal ization, addsanot hercl assofi llustrati
ons;
andamongt heexper iment swi thhy pnot izedper sonsoccurcount l
ess
i
nst ancesoft heper for manceofact i
ons, bothphy sical andment al,
quitesur passi ngwhati sregar dedasnor mal .Thepower swhi char e
herecal l
edupont hroughsomewhatext r emeanddr ast i
cmeans, can
doubt lessbedr awnupont oal essex tentbyt heuseofmor emoder ate
agenci es; andt hisatoncesuggest st heeducat i
onal ut i
li
zati
onof
thement al at titudei nquest i
on.Per hapst heideal aimi stoimpr ess
thest udenti ndi rect l
yr at hert handi r
ect ly ,bymannerr athert han
byinst ruct ion, wi t
ht heconv ictiont hatwhati sr equi redofhi mi s
well withinhi spower s;andt odot hiswi thouti nt hel easti mpugni ng
thenecessi t yofhonest ,har dwor kf ort heaccompl ishmentofser ious
results.Thecompl ainti sof tenmadet hatt heAmer icanboyt akes
l
ongerbysev er aly ear st or eachagi vengr adeofschol arshipt han
hisf oreignbr ot her ;andt her easonoft hisdi fferencei susual ly
assignedt ot heext remel ysl owpr ogr essmadei nt heel ement arypubl i
c
school s.Themachi ner yi sst artedatt oosl owar ate, andseemst o
l
eav et hei mpr essofi tsi ner tiauponal l succeedi ngper i
ods.

Iti
snotpossi bletodev iseanyreadil
yf or
mul atedandeasil
y
appli
edcur eforthisment al
prepossession;ouraim mustbet o
steri
l
izethement alatmosphere,sot hattheger msofthediseasemay
notgainaf oothold;tosetaheal t
hynor mal stepandtakeitfor
grantedthatitcanbef oll
owedbyal lbutthelaggards.Butinspit
e
ofalleff
ort,t
hef ail
i
ngi squitecertai
nt ocropout ,
andwi l
l
alwayscont i
nuet odemandf orit
st r
eatmentmucheducat i
onaltactand
i
nsight.

Whenwecomet oasli
pper
yplaceintheroad,weinvol
untar
il
ytake
shortstepsandbecomeextremelyconsci
ousofourlocomotion.I
tis
i
mpor t
anttopr
eventt
hegrowthofthehabitofimagi
ningsli
ppery
placesinthepat
hsabouttobetrodden;andevenwhent heyare
actuall
ytobeencounter
ed,i
tiswellt
omeett hem wi
ththebracing
effortt
hatcomesfrom t
heuseofar eserv
eenergy,t
oproceed
wit
houttoomuchconsci ousnessoft
hepath,andwithasnear
lya
nor
mal gaitaspossible.Therear
esuffi
ci
entdif
fi
cul
tiesi
nthe
var
iouswal ksofli
fewithoutaddi
ngtothem t
hosethatari
sefr
om
mentalprepossession,andthatl
eadtomentali
nert
ia.

FOOTNOTES:

[
11]Thi
saccountIowet
oMr
s.MayCol
eBaker
,ofWashi
ngt
on,
D.C.

[12]Itshouldbenot edt hatitisonlytheclassi

fi
cati
onof
occupat i
onst hatrequir
essoext remelyelabor
ateandar t
if
iciala
system; t
her eturnsfornationali
ty,age,sex,mari
talcondi
tion,
etc.
,aref arsimplertorecor d.Theediti
ngconsistsinwrit
ingt he
symbol sont hereturns,sot hattheyneednotbememor i
zed.

ASTUDYOFI
NVOLUNTARYMOVEMENTS

Qui teanumberofdel usi onsf indacommonpoi ntofor igi ni nthe

nat ural tendencyt ov i
ewourment allife- -
theaggr egat eofour
thought sanddoi ngs- -ascoext ensi v ewi tht heexper i
encesofwhi ch
ourconsci ousnessgi vesi nfor mat i
onandwhi chourwi lldirect s.
Thesi gni f i
canceoft heunconsci ousandt hei nvol untaryi saptt o
beunder est imat edordi sregar ded.Wear emor er eadyt oacknowl edge
thati ncer tainunusual andsemi -mor bi dcondi tionsper sonswi l
l
exhi bitt hesepecul iarexpr essi onsoft hesubt erraneanst rat a
ofourment alstruct ure--t
hatsomehav et hehabi tofwal kingor
talkingi nt hei rsleep, thatot her soccasi onallyf allintoan
aut omat ic, trance- likecondi tion, thathy pnot ism andhy st eriaand
obscur el apsesofconsci ousnessandal terationsofper sonal ity
bringt ot hesur f
acecur iousspeci mensoft hemy steriesoft his
under wor ld,--
butwear esl owt oappr eci atet hatt hesubconsci ousand
thei nv olunt aryfindacommonandanat ural placeami dstt hesoundl y
reasonedandapt lydi rect edact i
vitiesofourowni ntell
igence.
Whi lei tisr easonabl eandpr opert ohav ef aithint het est imony
ofconsci ousness, itisdesi r
abl et hatt hisconf idenceshoul dbe
accompani edbyanunder standi ngoft hecondi tionsunderwhi chsuch
test i
monyi spr esumabl yv ali
d, andwhenpr esumabl ydef ect i
v eor
mi sleadi ng.Sense- decept ions, faul tyobser vat i
on, distract ion,
exagger at i
on, i
ll
usi on, fallacy ,ander rorar enoti dleabst ract
fanci esoft hepsy chol ogist ,butst er nr ealiti
es; andt heirexi st ence
emphasi zest heneedi nthedet er mi nat ionoft r
uthandt hemai ntenance
ofasoundr ational ity,ofacal m, unpr ejudi cedj udgment , ofan
exper iencedandbal ancedi nt elli
gence, ofadi scer ningsensef orni ce
distinct ions, ofanappr eciationoft heci rcumst ancesunderwhi chit
i
specul iar lyhumant oer r.Ademonst rat i
onoft her eadi nesswi th
whi chper fect lynor mal i
ndi vidual smaybei nducedt oy ieldv i
sibl e
evidenceofunconsci ousandi nv olunt arypr ocesses, thuspossessesa
speci al int erest ;forwhent henat ur alnessofaf ewdef initet ypes
ofi nvol unt ar ymov ement si smadecl ear ,theappl icationoft he
exper iencet omor ecompl exandmor ei ndef initeci rcumst anceswi ll
easil
yandl ogicall
yfoll
ow.Whiletheci r
cumst ancesunderwhi ch
i
nv ol
untaryindicat
ionsofment al
act i
v i
tyareordinar
il
ygiven,
aretoov ari
oust oenableonetosay_ abunodi sceomnes_ ,yetthe
pri
ncipl
edemonst ratedinonecaseiscapabl eofaconsi derable
general
izati
on, whichwillgof
artopr eventmi sconcept
ionof
apparentlymy ster
iousandexceptional phenomena.

I
I

Whensomey ear sago, theAmer i

canpubl i
cwasconf ront edwi ththe
strikingexhi bit i
onsofmuscl e-readi ng,thewi ldestspecul at i
onswer e
i
ndul gedi nr egar dingi tst rue_ modusoper andi_;andt hesuggest ion
thatal lthatwasdonewasexpl icablebyt heski l
lful i
nt erpr etation
oft heunconsci ousi ndicat ionsgi v enbyt hesubj ect s,wasscout ed
orev enr i
dicul ed.I twasnotsupposedt hatsuchi ndi cat i
onswer e
suf fi
ci ent l
ydef i
ni t
ef ort hepur posesoft he" mind- reader ,
"orwer e
obt ainabl eundert hecondi tionsofhi stests.Agai n, itwasur ged
thatt hi sexpl anat i
onwashar dlyappl i
cablet ocer tainst r
iking
per formances, whi chi nr ealityinv olvedot herandsubt lermodes
oft hought -i
nt er pretation, andt heaccount sofwhi chwer eal so
exagger atedanddi storted.Andf ur t
her mor e,i
twasar gued, toomany
wor thyandl ear nedper sonswer eabsol utelycer t
ai nt hatt heyhad
givennoi ndi cat ionswhat ev er.Forat imet hev iewt hatmi nd- reading
wasmuscl e- readi ngr est eduponr at herindirectev idence, andupon
af orm ofar gumentt hatcar ri
esmor ewei ghtwi tht hosef ami li
ar
wi t
ht henat ureofsci entificpr oblemst hanwi ththepubl icat
l
ar ge.Butt hedev elopmentofexper iment al r
esear chi nt hedomai n
ofpsy chol ogyhasmadepossi bleav ari
etyofdemonst rationsoft he
truthandadequacyoft hisexpl anat ion.Itwaswi tht hepur poseof
secur i
ngav isibler ecor dofcer taint ypesofi nvolunt ar ymov ement s,
thatt hei nv est igat i
on, ther esul tsofwhi char eher epr esent ed, was
under taken.

[I
llustrati
on:FIG.1. -
-THEAUTOMATOGRAPH.Wheni nuse
ascr een(notshowni ntheill
ustrati
on)cut sof fthe
viewoft heappar atusf rom thesubj ect.Ther ecordi
ng
dev i
ce, whichmayal sobeusedsepar ately
,isshowni n
out l
ineinhal fit
sf ul
l size.Risagl assr odwhi ch
mov esfreelyupanddowni nthegl asst ubeT, whichis
seti ntothecor kC.Ar ubberbandBi spr ovi
dedt o
prev enttherodf rom f all
ingthrought het ube,whennot
restingupont herecor ding-pl
ate.]

Inasmuchast hemov ement sinquest i

onar eof tenv erysl i
ght ,somewhat
delicateapparat usisr equi
redt osecur et hei rrecord; theappar atus
musti nameasur eexagger atet hetendencyt omot iont houghwi thout
alteri
ngi tsnature.Thef orm ofappar atuswhi chIdev isedf orthis
study ,andwhi chmaybeappr opri
atelycal ledanaut omat ogr aph, i
s
i
llustratedintheaccompany ingf i
gur e(p.310) .Itconsi stsofa
woodenf r
ame, enclosingaheav ypi eceofpl ategl ass( fif
teeni nches
squar e),andmount edupont hreelegswhi char epr ovidedwi thscr ew
adjust mentsforbr i
ngi ngthepl ateintoaper fectlevel.Upont he
plateofgl assar eplacedi nthef orm ofat rianglet hreewel lturned
andpol i
shedst eelorbr assbal l
s;andupont hebal lsrest sat hin
crystal-pl
ateglassseti nali
ghtwoodenf r ame.Thef i
nger -
tipsof
onehandr estupont heupperpl at eint heposi tioni ndi cat ed.When
allispr operlyadj ustedandgl assandbal lsar er ubbedsmoot hwi th
oil
, i
tisqui tei mpossi blet ohol dt heappar at usper fectlyst i
llf
or
mor ethanaf ewseconds; thesl ightestunst eadi nessormov ementof
thehandatonceset st hepl ater oll
ingwi thani rregul armot i
on.If
onecl osestheey esandf i
xest heat tentionuponadef initement al
i
mageort rainoft hought ,itiseasyt of ormt heconv i
ctiont hat
thepl ateremai nsqui et,butt her ecor dpr ov est hatt hisi snott he
case.Theot herpar t
soft heappar atusar edesi gnedt ogi v earecor d
oft hemov ement soft hepl ate.Fast enedt ot hel ightf ramecont aining
theuppergl asspl atei sasl enderr odsomet eni nchesl ong, bear i
ng
atitsendacor k;andpi ercingt hecor kisasmal l glasst ubewi thin
whi chasnugl yfit
tinggl assr odhasr oom t omov e.Ther odisdr awn
toasmoot h, roundpoi nt;andwheni nposi tionr est suponapi eceof
glazedpapert hathasbeenbl ackenedov eraf lameandt hensmoot hly
stretchedov erasmal lglasspl at e.Thepoi ntoft her odt husr ecor ds
easi l
yandaccur atelyev erymov ementoft hehandt hati si mpartedt o
theupperpl at e,andbyt hemannerofi t
sadj ust mentaccommodat es
i
tsel ftoallirregular i
tiesofmov ementorr ecor dingsur face.Thi s
recor dingdev i
cei sshowni ngr eat erdet ail i
nt hei l
lustrat ion,and
wasusedt ogoodadv antageasasi mpl eaut omat ogr aphi nindependence
oft hebal l
sandpl ates.I nt hatcaset her ecor dingpar ti shel din
thehandast houghi twer eapenci l,buti nav ertical posi tion,and
ther ecordpl at emaybepl aceduponat able; orf orspeci alpurposes
thepl atemaybehel di nt heot herhandorf astenedt ot het opof
one' shead.Whennotot her wisest ated, ther ecor dsher er eproduced
wer eobt ainedbyuseoft heaut omat ograph.Someoft her ecordsar e
notedashav ingbeensecur edwi tht hesi mpl erdev icej ustdescr ibed.

Thepr ocessofsecur ingar ecor di sasf ollows: thesubj ect ,

standing, placeshi shandupont heaut omat ogr aph, wi ththear m near
ly
horizontal andnotqui tefull
yext ended, andt heel bowbenti na
fair
lycomf or t
ablepost ure;hisat tentionisengagedbyaski nghi m
tolistentoandcountt hestrokesofamet ronome; tol ookatand
countt heosci ll
ationsofapendul um; tor eadf rom abook; t
ocal l
outt henamesofcol ors;tothinkofagi vendi rect i
onorl ocality,
ortheposi ti
onofanobj ect;andsoon.Hei si nst ruct
edt ot hinkas
l
ittl
easpossi bleofhi shand, maki ngar easonabl eef fortt okeep
i
tf r
om mov ing.Tocutof ftheappar atusf rom t hesubj ect'sfieldof
visi
onandat tention, alargescr eeni sinterposedbet weenhi m and
ther ecord, acur tainwi thasui tableopeni ngf ort hear mf ormi ng
partoft hescr een.Theoper atorhol dst hegl asspenci l i
nhi shand,
andwhenal l i
si nr eadinessal lowsi tt oslipt hrought hegl asst ube
andbegi nt owr it
e, remov ingitagai naf t
eradef initeinterv alor
whent her ecor dseemscompl et ed.

I
II

[I
ll
ustrati
on: FIG.2.--READINGCOLORS.Ti meofr ecord,
95seconds.Posi t
ionofcol ors→.Subj ectfaci
ng→.
InallthefiguresAr epresentsthebeginningof
therecord, andZt heend.Thear rowsar eusedto
i
ndicat et
hedi r
ectioni nwhichtheobjectat t
ended
towassi tuated, andal sothedirect
ioninwhi chthe
subjectwasf aci
ng.Thet raci
ngsareper manentlyf i
xed
 bycoat
ingt
hem wi
thaweaksol
uti
onofshel
l
aci
n
al
cohol
.]

Wemaynowconsi deraf ewt y pical resul ts.Fi g.2, anor dinary

averager esul t,wasobt ainedwhi l
et hesubj ectwascal lingoutt he
namesofaser iesofsmal l patchesofcol or, display edont hewal l
facinghi m, aboutei ghtf eetdi st ant .Itwi l
lbeobser v edt hatthe
mov ement( whi chi nal lthei l
lust rat ionshasi tsbegi nni ngmar ked
byanAandi t
sendbyaZ)pr oceedsi rregul ar l
ybutdeci dedly
_towar ds_t heobj ectuponwhi cht heat tent i
onwasf ixed.Asar ule
thesubj ecti sunawar eoft hemov ementwhi chhi shandhasmade, and
exerci sesnoessent ialcont rol ov ert her esul ts; i
ndeedi ti sli
kely
thathei sconsi derabl ysur prisedwhent her esul t
sar ef irstshown
tohi m.Att imeshebecomesconsci ousoft hel ossofequi l
ibri
um of
theappar atus,butt hei ndi cat ioni sr ar elysuf fi
cient l
ydef ini
te
toinf orm hi m oft hedi r
ect ionoft hemov ement .Noti nfrequent l
y ,
themov ementi sper formedwi thcompl eteunconsci ousness, andi s
accompani edbyast rongconv ictiont hatt heappar atushasbeen
stationar y.Insev eral casesani nt ent ional si mul ationoft he
mov ement swaspr oducedf orcompar isonwi ththei nv oluntaryrecords;
ther esul twasqui t
egener allyav erydi fferentandcoar sert ypeof
mov ement ,readi l
ydi stingui shabl ef r om t hei nvolunt ar ywr i
ti
ngs.A
promi nentchar acter i
sticofpr act ical lyal loft hemov ement sist hei
r
i
rregul arandj erkychar act er ;thehandf orat i
meosci llatesabout
uncer tainly,andt henmov esr at hersuddenl yandqui ckl yi nagi ven
direction; thenanot herper i
odofhesi tat i
on, agai namor eorl ess
shar padv ance, andsoon.I tispr obabl ethati tistheser epeat ed
briefmov ement sofmor ev i
gor ousi ndi cat i
onoft hedi rect i
onoft he
subject 'sat tention,thatt hemuscl e- readerwai tsforandut i
li
zes.

[
Ill
ust
rati
on: FI
G.3.--
READI NGCOLORSARRANGEDI N
THREEROWS.Ti meofr ecord,
90seconds.Thef i
rst
l
inewasr eadinthedirection↓;thesecondinthe
dir
ecti
on↑; andthethirdagain↓.Attheturnfr
om
thesecondt othethir
dlinetherecordisint
err
upted.
Showsmov ementoft hehandpar al
lelwit
hthemov ement
oftheatt
ent i
on.]

Iti
sobv iousenought hatt her esultsofat estoft hiski ndcannot
beant icipated, notalonebecauset herear emar keddi fferences
betweeni ndi vi
dualsint her eadi nesswi thwhi cht heywi llmani fest
i
nv olunt arymov ement s,butal sobecauset hei nt ensi tyoft he
attent i
onandt hemoment arycondi ti
onoft hesubj ectar eimpor t
ant
andv ar i
abl efact or
sint her esul t.Wi t
hv er ygoodsubj ectsit
becomesqui t
esaf et opredi ctt hegener al natureoft het racing;
andt hedi f f
erentt r
acingsoft hesamesubj ectof tenbearaf ami l
y
resembl ance.Wemustnowl ear nwhatwecanoft hev ar
iousf actors
whi chi nf l
uencet hesesubconsci oushandwr it
ings.Thati ndefinit
ely
compl excombi nationofnat ural andnur tural cir
cumst ances, towhi ch
wegi vet henameofchar acter, orindividual ity,
orper sonal it
y ,
doubt l
esspr esent sthemostst ri
kingf actori nt his, asi tdoesi n
normal handwr i
ting;andi nbot hcasesanal ysesar ei nev i
tablyv ague
andconf inedt opr ominentpoi nt sofdi fference.Ext remet y
pesar e
alway sint eresti
ngandatt imesi nstructive.Thet racingofFi g.
3wasobt ainedundert hesameci rcumst ancesasFi g.2, butwi tha
subj ectwhoset endencyt owar dsinv olunt arymov ement sisf armor e
mar ked, i
si ndeedunusual .Thet ot alext entoft hemov ementi s
mor et hant hreet imesasgr eatasi nthef or mercase, andi tt wice
changesi tsdi r
ect ion.Thi sl atterchar act eristicisthenot ewor thy
one, fori tisduet ot hef actt hatt hecol orswhi cht hesubj ect
wasr eadi ngwer ear rangedi nt hr eer ows; t
hef i
rstrowwasr ead
from lef ttor ight( correspondi ngt oadownwar ddirectioni nt he
fi
gur e);thesecondr owwasr eadi nt her ev er seddi recti
on; and
thethi rdr owi nt heor iginaldi rect ionagai n.Thecompl etenessof
correspondencebet weent hemov ement soft hehandandoft heat tent
ion
l
eav esnot hingtobedesi red.Thi ssubj ecty ieldedt hemostext ensive
andpr edict ableinv olunt arymov ement sofanywhom It est ed.A
sati
sf act oryi mpr essi onoft hev ar ietyandr angeoft hei ndiv i
dual
diff
er enceswhi chsubj ects,chosensomewhatatr andom, arel ikel
y
topr esent ,maybegat her edf rom t heser iesofr ecor dswhi chwi l
lbe
reproducedasi ll
ust rativeal soofot heri nf l
uences.I nFig.4i s
represent edanot herav erager ecor dqui tesi mi l
artot hatofFi g.2
butpr oducedbyanot hersubj ect , whiler eadi ngf rom apr intedpage
forthr ee-quar tersofami nut e; asbef or et hehandmov est owar dsthe
focusofat tention.I twoul dbeeasyt opr esentbot hmor edeci ded
andext ensi ve,andmor euncer taini nv olunt aryrecor dsofst il
l other
subject s; whi l
enegat iv eorqui tei ndet er mi nat etracingsar ebyno
meansuncommon.

[
Il
lustrat
ion:FI
G.4.-
-READINGFROM PRI
NTEDPAGE.Ti
me
ofrecord,45seconds.Di
rect
ionoft
heatt
ent
ion→.
Subjectfaci
ng→. ]

When, tov ar ythenat ureoft hei mpressiontowhi chtheat tention

i
sdi rected, amet ronomei sused, andt oinsureat tentionont he
partoft hesubj ecthei sr equi redtocountt hest r
okes, itmaybe
thatanot herf orm ofinv olunt arymov ementappear s.Thet endency
tobeatt i
met oenliveningmusi cbytappi ngwitht hehands, or
stampi ngwi tht hefeet, ornoddi ngwiththehead, ismostf ami l
iar
;
andDr .Lombar dhasshownt hatmusici scapabl eofef f
ect i
ngsuch
thoroughl yi nvoluntarymov ement sast hesuddenr i
seoft hel egthat
foll
owsr eflexlyuponabl owont hepatellaoft heknee.I ti
snot
surprising, therefore,tof i
ndev i
dencesofper iodicmov ement si n
theseaut omat ograms; andi nsomei nstances, suchasFi g.5, t
his
pervadest hewhol er ecord.Her ethehandmov estoandf ro, keeping
ti
me- -notaccur atelyatal l
, buti nagener alway --wit
ht hest rokes
ofthemet ronome.

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.5.
--
COUNTINGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Showst heosci
ll
ati
onsoft
hemov
ement
swi
th
t
hestrokesofthemetr
onome.
]

[I
ll
ustr
ati
on:FIG.6.-
-COUNTI NGTHEOSCI LLATIONSOF
APENDULUM.Ti meofr ecor
d, 45seconds.Directi
onof
theatt
enti
on→.Subj ectfaci
ng→.Thepoi nt
s1, 2,3,
showt heposit
ionsoft hewrit
ing-point
,15,30,and45
secondsaftertherecordwasst ar
ted.]

Toobtainsimil
arresul
tsforav i
sualimpr
essionasil
entl
yswingi
ng
pendulum i
sused,thesubjectfol
lowingt
heoscill
ati
onswit
hhis
eyesandcountingthem.Ther esulti
smor efr
equentl
ysi
mplya
mov ementtowardsthependulum, Fi
g.6;butoccasi
onal
l
ythereappear
per
iodicmovementsi
nducedbythoseoft
hependul
um.Av
eryexcel
l
ent
i
nstanceoft
helatt
erappear
sinFig.7(
p.318)
.

[
Ill
ustr
ation:FIG.7.-
-COUNTINGPENDULUM OSCI LLATI
ONS.
Timeofr ecord,80seconds.Showsmov ementatfi
rst
towardthependul um, andt
hensynchr
onouswithits
oscil
l
ations.
]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:FIG.8.
--
THINKINGOFAHI DDENOBJECT.
Ti
meofr ecord,30seconds.Di
rect
ionoft
heat
tent
ion
→.]

[
Ill
ust
rat
ion:
FIG.9.
--
READINGFROM PRI
NTEDPAGE.The
pagewasmov edaboutt
hesubj
ecti
nthedi
rect
ionof
thear
rows.

→
3
↑2 4↑
1
← ]

Wemaymor ecl oselyappr oximat et heor dinar yexper imentoft he

muscl e-readerbygi v
ingt hesubj ectsomeobj ectt ohi de, sayakni fe,
andt henaski nghi mt opl acehi shandupont heaut omat ogr aph, and
tothinki ntent l
yoft heplaceofconceal ment .Asbef oret her ei sa
mov ementoft hehand; andont hebasi soft hegener aldi rect i
onof
thi
smov ementonemayv ent ureapr edictionoft hedi rect ioni nwhi ch
thekni f
el ies.Ther esul
tswi llshowal l
gr adesofsuccess, from
compl etef ailuretoanaccur atelocal i
zingoft heobj ect; butasgood
arecor dasFi g.8i snoti nf requent .Asi ndicat edbyt hel et t
er sand
thear r
ow, thehandmov edi rregularlyt owar dt hehi ddenkni fe.In
thi
scaset heey esar eclosed, andt heconcent rationoft heat tent
ion
i
smai ntainedbyament al ef fortwithoutt heai doft hesenses.The
peculiarlineofFi g.9wasobt ainedi nanexper imenti nwhi chabook
wassl owl ycar riedaboutt her oom, thesubj ectbei ngr equi r edt oread
continuousl yf r
om t hepage.I tisev identt hatt hehandf ol lowed
themov ementoft heattent ion,noti naci rclebuti nani rregul ar
outl
inecl osi nginuponi tsel f;thechangei npost urewhi cht his
processi nv olvedhasanundoubt edi nfluenceupont her esul t.

[I
ll
ustr
ati
on: FI
G.10.--
COUNTI NGPENDULUM
OSCILLATIONS.Ti meofr ecor d,120seconds.Direct
ion
oftheattenti
on→.Subj ectf acing→.I l
lust
ratesslow
andindir
ectmov ement.Thepoi nts,1,2,3,
4, i
ndi
cate
theposit
ionoft hewrit
ing- point,30,60,90,and120
secondsaf t
ertherecordwasst arted.
]

[I
ll
ustr
ati
on: FIG.11.-
-COUNTI NGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Ti meofrecord,70seconds.Thepoi nts,
1,
2,3,4,i
ndicatet heposi
ti
onsoft hewr iti
ngpoi nt
at15,30,45, and60secondsaf tertherecordwas
begun.Dir
ect ionoftheattent
ion→.Subj ectfacing→.
Il
l
ustrat
essl i
ghthesitat
ionatf i
rstandt henar apid
mov ementtowar dt
heobjectofat tenti
on.Reducedt o¾
 si
ze.
]

[I
ll
ust
rati
on:
FIG.12.
--
COUNTI NGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Ti meofr ecor
d,90seconds.Directi
onof
att
enti
on→.Subjectfaci
ng→.I l
l
ustr
atesinit
ial
dir
ect
nessofmov ementfoll
owedbyhesitancy.]

Bef orepassi ngt oamor especi f

icinter pretat i
onoft hedat a,it
maybei nter estingt oi ll
ustratemor ef ullyt hescopeofi ndividual
var i
ations; fort hegr eatdi fferenceinav ailabi l
i
tyofsubj ects
tot hemuscl e-readeri sequal l
ypromi nenti nt estswi t
ht he
aut omat ogr aph.Somemov ement sar edi rectandext ensive,ot hersare
circuitousandbr i
ef.Fi g.10i sagoodt ypeofasmal lmov ement ,but
ofonequi t econst ant lytowar dtheobj ectoft heattenti
on.Thi smay
becont rastedwi thanext remer ecord, nother erepr oduced, i
nwhi ch
ther eisamov ementofsi xandahal fi nchesi nforty-f
iveseconds;
orwi t
haf ai rlyext ensi vemov ementasi nFi g.11.Insomecasest he
fi
rsti mpul secar riest hehandt owar dt heobj ectofthought ,and
i
sf oll
owedbyconsi der abl
ehesi tati
onanduncer t
ainty;amar ked
exampl eoft hist endencymaybeseeni nFi g.12.Ther eis,too, an
opposi t
et ype, inwhi cht heiniti
almov ement sarevar i
able,andt he
significantmov ementt owar dtheobj ectoft houghtcomesl at er,when
per hapst her ei ssomef at
igue.Thist endencyappear ssomewhati n
Figs.11and13.

[
Ill
ustr
ation:FIG.13.
--
THINKI NGOFALOCALI TY.Ti
me
ofrecord,120seconds.Di r
ecti
onoftheattenti
on
←.Subj ectfacing←.Il
lustrat
esini
ti
alhesi
tancy
fol
lowedbyast eadymov ementtowardtheobjectt
hought
of.
]

I
V

Whati st heor i
ginoft hemov ement si nvolvedint heser ecor ds?To
whatext entar et heymov ement soft hehand, oft hear m, oroft he
entir
ebody ?Casual obser vationi ssuf f
ici
entt oshowt hatwi t ha
givenposi t
ionoft hear m, certainmov ement sar emuchmor er eadily
madet hanot hers; andt hei nv oluntar ytendenci eswi ll natur ally
foll
owt hel inesofl eastr esi stance.I f,forinstance, youhol dy our
arm near lyonal ev elwi t
ht heshoul der sandi nl i
newi ththem, you
perceiveatoncet hatmov ement soft hehandt ot hef rontar emuch
mor ereadi lymadet hant ot her ear,andmov ement st owar dt hebody
mor ereadi lythant hoseawayf rom t hebody ;thet endencyoft hehand
i
st omov ef orwar dinaci rcleofwhi cht heshoul derist hecent re.
Whatwer equi rei saposi t i
oni nwhi chmov ement sinanyonedi recti
on
areasr eadi lymadeasi nanyot her ;andt hismaybeappr oxi mat ed,
thoughonl yappr oximat ed, byhol dingt hehandatanangl eofabout
45°wi t
ht hel i
nej oiningt heshoul der s, andwi tht heel bowbentat
anangl eofabout120° .Thi swast heposi t
ioninmostoft het ests,
andt heusual resultwasamov ementt owar dtheobj ectofat tent i
on;
butwhent heobj ectat t
endedt oliesi nbackoft hesubj ect,t his
tendencyi ssomet i
mesout wei ghedbyt henat ural t
endencyf ort hearm
tomov ef orwar d, andt her esul tmaybeamov ement_ forwar d_ ,buta
l
essdi rectmov ementf orwar dt hanwhent heobj ectofat tent ioni s
tothefr ont .Inagoodsubj ect ,howev er, t
heinv oluntar ytendency
i
sst rongenought opr evail
,andamov ement_ backwar d_results.An
i
nstanceoft hi s, obt ainedunderot herbutcompar ableci r
cumst ances,
appear sinFig.14.I ti
st obenot edt hatint hi
sf i
gur ethet r
acing
mar kedI.wasobt ai nedwi t
hthesubj ectseat ed,andt hemet r
onome
beatingbehindhi m; thehandaf tersomehesi tati
onmov esbackwar d
slowlytowardst hemet ronomet oamoder ateext ent.IntracingII.
,
withthesubj ectal soseat ed,themet ronomei stot hefront,and
thehandmov esdi rect l
yandquicklyt owar dsi t
.Weconcl udet hat
theposi t
ionoft hebodyi sanimpor tantf actorinther esultant
mov ement s,butt hati tdoesnoti nterferewi t
ht heiraccepted
psychological inter pretati
on.

[I
ll
ustrat
ion:FI
G.14.-
-COUNTI NGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Subj ectseated.Intr
acingI
.t hemet r
onome
i
satt herear.Ti
meofr ecord,105seconds.Di r
ecti
on
oftheattenti
on←.Subj ectfaci
ng→.I ntr
aci ngII
.
themet r
onomewast othef r
ont.Ti
meofr ecord45
seconds.Direct
ionoftheattenti
on→.Subj ectfaci
ng
→.⅘ si ze.]

[
Illustr
ation:FI
G.15.
--
COUNTI NGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Ti meofr ecor
d,45seconds.Theupper
tracingshowst hemovement softheheadr ecordedupon
apl ateresti
ngonthehead.Thelowert raci
ngshows
theusual r
ecordoft
hehandupont heautomatograph.
Directionoftheatt
enti
on→.Subj ectfacing→. ]

Whenobser vingt hesubj ectdur i

ngat est,wemaynot ethemov ement s
ofthebodyasawhol e, andoft hear m orhand.Themov ementof
thebodyi sani r
regul arsway ingwi tht hef eetast hecent reof
themov ement ;thissway ingi smostr eadi lyrecor dedbyf i
xingt he
recording- pl
ateupont hesubj ect '
shead, andhav i
ngt her ecor ding-rod
heldinasui tableposi ti
onabov eit.Itwasf oundt hatinconnect ion
withthesway ingmov ement st her ewer egener al mov ement stowar dsthe
objectofat t
ent i
on; andsuchmov ement swer easr eadilymadewhen
theobjectwast ot hef r
ont ,
t ot her ear ,ortoei thersi de.To
determi nehowf art hismov ementi st hesamei nheadandhand, i
tis
necessar ytorecor dbot hsimul taneousl y.Fig.15i l
lust r
atest he
correspondenceoft het womov ement s.Itt husbecomescl eart hatt he
sway i
ngoft hebodyasawhol econst i
tutesani mpor tantf actorof
theseaut omat ogr aphr ecords; thatt hemov ement soft hehead( being
fart
herawayf rom t hecent r
eofmot ion)ar emor eext ensi vet hant hose
ofthehand; andt hatbot hheadandhandar esensi t i
veor gansf ort he
expressi onofi nv olunt arymov ement s.Thatt hemuscl e-readeri sawar e
ofthisf actisobv iousf rom t heusual posi ti
onswhi chhemai ntai ns
towardshi ssubj ecti nr eadi ngt hedi recti
onoft hehi ddenobj ect .

[I
ll
ustrati
on: FI
G.16.-
-COUNTINGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Ri ghthandhol dsthepencil
,andlef
thand
holdst herecordplat
e.Dir
ecti
onofmet ronome→.
Subjectfacing→.I ntheuppertraci
ngthesubjectwas
standing;ti
meofr ecord,
90seconds.I nthelower
tr
acingt hesubjectwassitt
ing;ti
meofr ecord,
90
seconds. ]

[
Il
lust
rat
ion:
FIG.17.
--
THI
NKI
NGOFABUI
LDI
NG.
 Righthandhol dspencil
,andl efthandholdsrecord
plate.Subjectfaci
ng↑.I
nt racingI.,di
rect
ionof
theat tent
ion↑;intr
aci
ngII.,dir
ectionofthe
attention↓.Timeofeachr ecord,60seconds.II.shows
respirati
onrecords.
]

[I
llust
rat
ion:FIG.18.
--
COUNTINGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Ri ghthandhol
dspencil
,l
efthandhol
ds
recordplate.Dir
ecti
onoftheat
tent
ionfrom AtoB↑,
from BtoC→, f
rom CtoD↓,fr
om DtoE←.Ti meof
eachpor ti
on,45seconds.]

Toel imi nat et her ecor doft hesway i

ngoft hebody ,wemayexper iment
wi t
ht hesubj ectseat ed; weobt ainadi sti
nct iver ecor di nwhi ch
cert ainphasesoft hef l
uct uat i
onshav eal mostdi sappear ed, and
i
nwhi cht her ecor dappr oximat est oast raightl ine( traci ngI I
.
ofFi g.14) .Onemayal soel iminat et her ecor doft hesway i
ngby
dispensi ngwi tht heaut omat ogr aph, andsi mpl yhol dingt her ecor ding
platei nonehandandt her ecor dingdev i
ceorpenci l int heot her ;
fort hent hepl ateandpenci lswayt oget her ,andnat ur allynor ecor d
ofi tismade.Ther elat i
v elyf inemov ement sthusobt ainedar eshown
i
nFi g.16; thecont rastbet weent hisr ecor dandsuchr ecor dsas
Figs.4, 5, 6,ismai nlyt hecont rastbet weenar ecor di nwhi ch
thegener al sway ingoft hebodyi sr egi ster ed,andonef rom whi ch
i
thasbeenel i
mi nat ed.I ti si nterestingt onot et hati nr ecor ds
thust aken, t
her ei sbutasl ightdi fferencei nther esul twhent he
subj ecti sst andi ngandwhenhei ssi t
t i
ng; whichi saf ur therpr oof
thatt hesway ingoft hebodyhasbeenel imi nated.( Compar et hesewi t
h
Fig.14. )Tr acesofper iodi cosci ll
ati
onsar enot iceabl ei nFi g.16;
thesear eduet omov ement sofr espi ration, andi nt raci ngI I.of
Fig.17, theyar eunusual lydi stinctandr egul ar, aboutt went yt o
themi nut e.I nt hiscaset hef orear m oft hehandhol dingt her ecor d
platewasbr acedagai nstt hebody ,whi let her ecor di nghandwashel d
freef rom i t
;andt hust heabdomi nal mov ement swer er egist er ed.The
mov ement st owar dt heobj ectofat tent i
onappeart hr oughout .Fi g.
17showsamov ementt owar dst her earoft hesubj ect ,aswel l as
towar dst hef ront ;whi chagai nshowst hatundersui tabl econdi tions,
i
nv ol unt ar ymov ement smayber ecor dedi nonedi rect ionasr eadi ly
asi nanot her.Fi g.18pr esent samostbeaut i
fullyregul armov ement
i
nal l fourdi rect i
ons.Ast hemet ronome, t hest rokesofwhi cht he
subj ectwascount ing, wascar riedf rom onecor neroft her oom t o
anot herandsoonar oundt her oom, thehandi nv olunt ar i
lyf ollowed
i
tandr ecor dedanal mostper f
ectsquar e.Sost riki
ngandr egul arand
sov ar i
edani nv olunt ar ymov ement ,inconf ormi tywi thchangesi nt he
direct ionofat tent i
on, onecanexpectt osecur ebutsel dom, andt hen
onlywi thagoodsubj ect .

[I
ll
ust
rati
on:FIG.19.
--
THINKI NGOFABUI LDING.Both
handsholdrecordpl
ates,thepencil
sbeingheldf i
xed
abovethem.Timeofr ecord35seconds.Di r
ecti
onof
theat
tenti
on↓.Subjectfacing↓.I
.,
lefthand:II
.,
ri
ghthand.]

Theoutl
inepresent
edinFig.19wasobt ai
nedinatesti
nwhich
themovement softhehandswer esepar
atel
yrecor
ded,
inor
derto
deter
minethedegreeofcorrespondencebet
weenthem.Theresul
t
showsamar kedgeneralresembl ance,i
ndicati
nginpartacommon
origi
noft hetwomov ement s.Thenextf i
gure,Fi
g.20,showst hat
thi
scor respondenceisdependenti npartuponthesimilari
tyofthe
positi
onsoft het wohands.Thehandt hatisheldawayf rom thebody
mov esmor eextensi
vely
;butt heform ofthemov ement sremainsimilar
.
Ther ecordsreproducedinFi gs.14-22and26wer eobtainedupont he
samesubj ect,t
houghwi t
hsl i
ghtlyvaryi
ngconditi
ons,andar efai
rly
compar ablewi t
honeanot her,andt husil
lust
ratetheanalysi
soft he
resul
tantmov ementsintotheircomponentf actor
s.

[I
ll
ust
rati
on:
FIG.20.
--THINKINGOFABUI LDING.Each
handholdsr
ecordplate.Ti
meofr ecord,35seconds.
Dir
ecti
onoftheatt
ention↓.Subjectfaci
ng↓.I.
,
l
efthandhel
dextendedf arout
.II.
,ri
ghthandheld
cl
osetobody.]

[
Il
lust
rati
on:FIG.21.
--
THI NKINGOFONE' SFEET.Record
pl
ateverti
cal
.Timeofr ecord,45seconds.Directi
on
oftheatt
enti
on↓.II.
,thi
nkingofapoi ntoverhead.
Ti
meofr ecord,45seconds.Recordingplatev er
ti
cal
.
Dir
ecti
onoftheat t
enti
on↑. ]

Involunt ar ymov ement sarenotlimi t

edt othehor izont alplane;
verti
cal mov ement smayber ecor dedbyhol dingt her ecor dingdev i
ce
i
nasl ant i
ngposi tion,andfixi
ngt her ecordpl ateupont hewal l.
Themai nchar act eri
sticofsuchar ecordist hesi nki ngoft hear m
throughf ati
gue; themov ementi sr apidandcoar se( tracingI .of
Fig.20) .Iftheat tent i
onbedi rectedt othefront ,weobt ai
na
resultantoft het endencyt omov et owar dst heobj ectofat tenti
on,
andoft hesi nki ngoft hearm, asappear sint hedi agonal l
ineof
Fig.22.Fi g.21i llustratesaninterest i
ngpoi ntsi milart othat
i
llustrat edi nFi g.14.Whent heat tenti
oni sdi recteddownwar d,the
handf allsr apidl y( tr
acingI.)
;butwhent heat t
ent i
oni sdi rect ed
upwar d, veryl i
ttlemov ementatal ltakesplace, --
thet endencyt o
mov et owar dst heobj ectofattentionconst ant l
ycount eract ingthe
tendencyf ort hear mt of al
l(t
racingI I
.).

[I
ll
ustrat
ion:FI
G.22.--
COUNTINGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Recor dplat
everti
cal.Penci
lhel
din
extendedrighthand.Timeofrecord,20seconds.
Dir
ectionoftheattenti
on←.Subj ectfaci
ng←.]

WhileIhav enotbeenal togethersuccessf ulindet erminingbyt hi

s
met hodt herelati
veef f
ici
encyofdi fferentsense- i
mpr essions
i
nhol dingt heattent
ion, t
hesuccessf ulresultsar eespeci all
y
i
nteresting.InFig.23t het r
acingmar kedI .showst hemov ementof
thehanddur ingthethirty
-fi
vesecondst hatthesubj ectwascount i
ng
thestrokesofamet ronome; traci
ngI I.showst hemov ementwhi le
countingf ortwenty-f
ivesecondst heosci llat
ionsofapendul um.The
l
attermov ementi si
nt hiscasemuchmor eext ensivethant hef ormer,
thusindicat i
ngthatthev isualimpressi onhel dt heat t
entionmuch
betterthant heauditory.Thesubj ectoft hisr ecordi sawel l
-known
writ
erandnov el
i
st;andhi sdescr i
pti
onofhi sownment al processes
ent
ir
elyaccordswit
hthi
sresul
t;heisagoodv
isual
izer
,and
vi
suali
mpr essi
onsandmemory-imagesdomi
natehismental
habi
ts.

[I
ll
ust r
ati
on:FI
G.23.--
I.COUNTI NGTHESTROKESOFA
METRONOME.Aut omat ographrecor
d.Timeofr ecord,
35
seconds.Direct
ionoft heattent
ion→.Subjectfacing
→.I I.COUNTINGPENDULUM OSCI LLATIONS.Aut omatogr
aph
record.Timeofrecord, 25seconds.Dir
ecti
onoft he
attenti
on→.Subj ectfacing→. ]

[I
ll
ust
rati
on:FIG.24.-
-FROM ATOA´ ,READING
COLORS; FROM A´ON, COUNTINGPENDULUM OSCI LLATI
ONS.
Automatographrecord.Timeofr ecor
d,fr
om AtoA´,
35seconds; f
rom A´on, 25seconds.Dir
ecti
onoft
he
att
enti
on→.Subj ectfacing→.]

Wemaynextt ur ntoFi g.24.Thesubj ectwasaskedt ocallt

henames
ofaser i
esofsmal lpatchesofcol orhangi ngupont hewal li
nf r
ont
ofhi m.Hedi dthi swithsomeuncer taintyfort hir
ty-f
iveseconds,
anddur i
ngt hist i
mehi shandont heaut omat ogr aphmov edfrom Ato
A´.Att helatterpoi nthewasaskedt ocountt heosci l
l
ati
onsofa
pendul um; t
hi sent i
relychangedt hemov ement ,thehandatoncemov i
ng
rapidlytowar dt hependul um.Thependul um wasamor eatt
racti
ve
sense- i
mpr essiont hant hecol
or s.Thespeci al pointofinter
estin
thi
sr ecordi s,thatuponexami nationt hesubject 'scolor-v
isi
on
provedt obedef ecti
ve, andthusaccount edf ort hef ai
lur
eoft he
colorst ohol dhisat tention.

[I
ll
ustrati
on:FIG.25.--
COUNTINGPENDULUM
OSCI LLATIONS.Timeofr ecord,35seconds.Therecor
d
fr
om Bt oCiscont i
nuouswi t
hthatofAt oB.
Dir
ect i
onoft heatt
ent i
on→.Subj ectf
aci
ng→.The
subject,achildofelevenyear
s.Recordreducedto⅘
oforiginalsi
ze.]

Ani mpor t
antpr obl
em r elatest othepossi bl
ecor rel
at i
onoft ypes
ofinv ol
untarymov ement swi thage,sex, t
emper ament ,disease,and
thelike.Afewobser vationsuponchi ldrenar eint erestingi nthis
respect.Theyr eveal t
hel i
mi tedcontrolthatchi l
dr enhav eov er
thei
rmuscl es,andt heirdi f
ficult
yt of
ixt heattent i
onwhenand
wher edesired.Thei rinvolunt arymov ement sar el arge,wi thgreat
fl
uctuations, andi r
regularlyt owardstheobj ectofat tention.Fig.
25ill
ust r
atessomeoft hesepoi nt
s;i
nt hir
ty-f
ivesecondst he
chil
d'shandmov edbyl argest epssev eninchest owar dt hependul um,
andt heent i
reappear anceoft heoutli
nei sdifferentf rom t hose
obtaineduponadul ts.

[
Il
lust
rati
on:FIG.26.-
-THINKI
NGOFLETTERO.Penci
l
heldi
nhand; recor
dont abl
e.I
.,
subj
ectst
andi
ng;
I
I.
,subjectseated.
]

Muchat t
ent
ionhasr ecentl
ybeenpai dt oautomat i
cwrit
ing,orthe
unconsci
ousindicat
ionoft he_nature_,notmerelythe_dir
ection_
ofone'
sthoughts,whiletheattenti
oni selsewhereengaged.I
att
emptedthisupont heaut omatographbyaski ngthesubjecttoview
orthi
nkofsomel ett
erorgeomet ri
cfigure,andthensearchingthe
recordforsomet r
aceoft helett
erorf i
gure; butal wayswi tha
negativ
er esult.Whi leunsuccessful
int hi
ssense, therecordsprove
ofvalueinf urnishingasal i
entcontr
astt ot heexper i
ment sin
whichtheat tent i
onwasf i
xedinadef i
nitedi rection.Forexampl e,
thesubjectist hinkingofthelett
erO; hedoesnott hi
nkofi tas
i
nanyspeci alplace, andtherecord(Fig.26)l ikewiser evealsno
mov ementi nanyonedi r
ecti
on.Twor ecor dsar eshownqui t
esimil
ar
i
nsi gni
fi
cance, andi ll
ust
rat
ingaswel lthedi fferencebet weenthe
mov ement swhi lest andi
ngandwhi l
esi tt
ing.

VI

Ther ehav et husbeenpassedi nr ev iewav ar i

et yofi nv ol unt ar y
mov ement sobt ainedi ndi ffer entway s,andwi thbear ingsuponmany
point sofi mpor t
ancet ot hepsy chol ogi st .Theybynomeansexhaust
thepossi bilitiesofr esear ch, ort hededuct ionofconcl usi onsi n
thisf ieldofst udy ;butt heymayser v et oi l
lust ratehowsubt l
e
andi ntricat ear et heexpr essi onsoft het hought st hatl iewi thin.
Thati nv olunt arymov ement sar ebynomeansl imi tedt ot het y peher e
i
llust ratedi seasi lyshown.I nt heexhi bitionsofmuscl e-readi ng,
thechangesi nbr eat hing, thef lushi ng, thet remoroft hesubj ect
whent her eaderappr oachest hehi di ng- place, andt her elative
relaxat ionwhenhei sont hewr ongscent ,ser veasv aluabl ecl ues;
tobor r
owt heaptexpr essi onof" hi deandseek, "t heper for mer
grows" hot "and" col d"wi thhi ssubj ect .Then, too, thet ent ativ e
excur sionsi nonedi rect i
onandanot her, todet er mi nei nwhi cht he
subj ectf ollowswi thl eastr esi st ance, presentanot herv ariat i
on
oft hesamepr ocess.Thehushedcal m oft heaudi encewhensuccess
i
snear , t
her est l
essnessandwhi sper i
ngdur ingaf alsescent ,ar e
equal lywel comesuggest ionswhi chacl ev erper formerf r
eel yut ili
zes,
ther ebyaddi ngt ot heécl atofhi sexhi bition.Whenacombi nat ion
ofnumber sorofl ettersi nawor di st obeguessed, theoper ator
passesov erwi tht hesubj ectt hesev eral digi tsort heal phabet , and
not esatwhi cht het ell-
talet remorormar kofexci tementoccur s,
andsoagai nper for mst hef eatont hebasi soft hei nv olunt ar y
cont r actionst hatexpr esst hesl ightchangesofat t
ent ionori nter est
whent hecor r ectnumberorl et teri si ndi cat ed.I nmucht hesame
wayweunwi ttinglybet rayourf eel ingsandemot ions, ouri nt erestor
distract i
onorennui ; thecor r ecti nt er pret ationoft hesei not her s
andt hei rsuppr essi oni none' ssel ff or m par toft hear tificial
compl exityofsoci al intercour se.Buti nt hel ineofexper i
ment al
demonst rational so, anot herf or m ofi nv olunt ar ymov ementhasbeen
broughtf or war di nr ecenty ear sbyt hei nv est igat i
onofHansenand
Lehmannupon" i
nv olunt ar ywhi sper i
ng. "Thi si nv est igat ionbr i
ngs
outt hef actt hatmanyofus, whenwet hinki ntent lyofanumber ,
tendt oi nner v atet hemechani sm appr opr iatet oi tsut t erance.Wedo
notact uallyspeakorwhi spert hewor dorsound, butwei nitiat e
thepr ocess.I foneper sont hinksofanumber ,--
sayf rom onet o
ten, orf r
om onet oonehundr ed, --andt heot herr ecor dsanynumber
whi chatt hesamemomentsuggest si tsel ftohi m, itmayr esul tt hat
thepr opor tionofcor rectorpar tiallycor r ectguessesexceedst hat
whi chchancewoul dpr oduce; andar gument sf ort elepat hyhav ebeen
basedonsuchr esul ts.I nt heser iesofexper i
ment si nquest iont hese
"i
nv ol unt arywhi sper ings"wer enotsev er elysuppr essed, --muchasi n
theaut omat ogr apht est sonemi ghtdet er mi net ol ett hegl assmov eif
i
twoul d.I tmustbeunder stoodt hatt her ewasnot ruewhi sper ing
noranymov ementoft hespeaki ngmechani sm whi chaby standercoul d
detect ;andy eti tseemsl ikelyt hatt heonepar ticipantwas
i
nf l
uencedi nhi sguessi ngbyt hev aguebuty etr eal, subconsci ous,
embr yonicar ti
culationoft heot her .Thepr oofoft hisliesmai nl
y
i
nt heanal ysisoft hesuccessesander rors; fort heconf usionsar e
stri
kingl ybet weennumer al sofsomewhatsi mi larsound, -
-asbet ween
four t
eenandf orty,orsi xt
yandt hi r
t y,orsixandsev en.Ifthe
twoper sonsar eseat edi nt her espect ivef oci oft woconcav esur faces
whi chcol l
ectt hesound( thusi nameasur epar allelingt heexal ted
sensi bil
ityofspeci al l
ygi f
tedorhy pnot i
zedsubj ect s),thechances
ofsuccessseem t obei ncr eased.Whi l
et hei nv est i
gat i
oni sbot h
compl exandi ncompl ete,yett hegener alt rendofi ti ssuffici
ent ly
cleart omakei tprobabl et hat" i
nv ol untarywhi sper i
ng"ser vesmor e
orlessf requent l
yasasubconsci ousandi nv olunt aryindication
ofthought .Itshowsagai nt hatbel owt het hreshol dofconsci ous
acqui sit
ionandi ntent ional expr essi onlieaconsi der ablerangeof
activiti
es, whi cht hought heybl ossom unseendonotqui t
ewast etheir
fragrance, butcomewaf t
edov eri nv agueandsubt leessence.The
fall
ingofadr opofwat erisunhear d, butt hesoundoft her oar i
ng
torrentisbutt hesoundofmy riadsofdr ops.Theboundar ybet ween
theconsci ousandt heunconsci ousi sbr oadandi ndef i
nit
e; andv ague
i
nf l
uences, i
fnotdi rectmessages, passf r om onesi det otheot her .

Thegener albearingoft hestudyofi nvoluntarymov ement sI

haveindicatedatt heout set;
andnoel abor atecommentont he
practi
calsignif
icanceoft heresultsdescr i
bedseemsnecessar y.
Theycer t
ainlyfacil
it
at et heappr eciati
onoft her eali
tyoft he
subconsciousandt hei nv ol
untary;andi nconnect i
onwi t
hexpl anati
ons
ofmuscl e-
readingort elepathy,theyi l
l
ust r
atehownat urallya
neglectofthisrealm ofpsy chological acti
vitymayl eadtof al
se
conclusi
ons.Theybr ingast r
ikingcor roborationoft heviewt hat
thoughtisbutmor eorl esssuccessf ullysuppr essedaction, andasa
well-
knownmuscl e-readerex pressesi t,al
lwilli
ngiseitherpushi ng
orpulli
ng.

THEDREAMSOFTHEBLI
ND

Mani spr edomi nant l

yav i
sual animal.Tohi m seeingisbel i
ev i
ng,--
a
sayingwhi chi ncani nepar lancemi ghtreadi l
ybecomesmel l
ingi s
beli
ev i
ng.Wet eachbyi l
lust r
ations,model s,andobject-l
essons,
andr educecompl exrelationst othecurv esofthegr aphicmet hod,
tobr i
nghomeandi mpr essourst at
ement s.Ourevery-daylanguage,
aswel last heimager yofpoet ry,
aboundsi nmetaphor sandsi mi l
es
appealingtoi mageswhi cht heey ehast aughtust oappr eciate.
Theey eisal sot hemedi um ofi mpressionsofæst heti
caswel l as
ofintell
ectual value;andonegr anddivi
sionofar tislostto
thosewhocannotsee.Theey e, t
oo,formst hecentr
eofemot ional
expression, andr evealstoourf ell
ow-ment hesubtil
ev ari
ationsi n
moodandpassi on,asiti stot hephy si
cianadel i
cateindexofour
well
-bei
ng.Therearereasonsf orbeli
evi
ngthatitwast hefuncti
on
ofsi
ghtasadi stance-
senset hatl
edtoitssupremacyi ntheli
ves
ofourprimit
iveancest
ors.What everi
tsori
gin,t
hegr owthof
ci
vil
i
zationhasser v
edtodev elopthi
seye-mindednessoft herace,
andtoincreaseanddiversi
fythemodesofi tscult
ivati
on.

Theey e,thusconstantlystimulat
edi nwaki ngli
fe, andat t
ract
ingto
i
tssensat ionsthef
ocusofat tent
ion, possessi
ng, asi tdoes,i
nthe
reti
nalfoveaaspeci alanduni queaidt oconcentrat i
veat t
enti
on,
doesnoty i
eldupit
ssupr emacyi nt hewor ldofdreams.Thev i
sual
centressubsidebutslowl yfrom theirday'ssti
mul ation;andtherich
stockofi mageswhi chthesecent reshav estoredupi scompletelyat
theserviceofthefancyt hatguidesourdr eams.Indeed, thedream
i
tselfisspokenofasav i
sion.

Though, asar ace,wear eey e-mi nded, i

ndividuallywedi ffermuch
withr egardt otherôlet hatsi ghtpl aysi nourpsy chiclife.In
onedi r
ectionagoodi ndexofi tsi mpor tancei stobef oundi nt he
per f
ect i
onoft hevisual i
zingf acul t
y ,
ofwhi chMr .Galtonhasgi ven
ani nterestingaccount .Heaskedv ariousper sonst odescr i
be, amongst
othert hings, thevivi
dnessoft heirment alpi
ct urewhencal l
ingt o
mi ndt hemor ning'
sbr eakf ast-table.Tosomet hement al scenewas
ascl earandasnat ural asr ealit
y ,l
acki ngnoneoft hedet ai l
sof
form orcol or ;tootherst her esul t
ingment alimagewast olerably
distinct,witht heconspi cuousf eat ureswel lbroughtout ,butt he
restdi m andi l
l-
defi
ned; whileat hirdgr oupcoul donlypi ece
toget herav eryvague, fragment ary,andunr eliableseriesofi mages,
withnodi stinctorconst antpi cture.

Similardi f
ferencesar eobser v abl ewi thr egardt omemor ies.Some
personsf i
rmlyr etainwhatt heyr ead, whi lethememor yforteof
othersi sinwhatt heyhear ;andpat hologysuppor t
sthissubdi visi
on
ofthesense- memor iesbyshowi ng, f
orexampl e,thatallremembr ance
forseenobj ect smaybel ostwhi let hatforsoundsr emai nsi ntact .A
case, remar kabl einsev eral aspect s,isrecor dedbyM.Char cot .The
subjecti nquest ioncoul daccur at elycal lup, i
nf ul
ldetail
,all
thescenesofhi smanyt ravel s, coul dr epeatpagesofhi sf av orite
author sfrom t hement alpict ur eoft hepr intedpage, andbyt hesame
meanscoul dment all
yaddl ongcol umnsofnumber s.Themer ement i
onof
ascenei napl ay ,orofaconv ersat i
onwi thaf ri
end, i
mmedi ately
broughtupav i
v idpictureoft heent i
reci rcumst ance.Through
nervouspr ostrat i
onhel ostt hi sv isual memor y.Anat t
emptt osket ch
afami liarscenenowr esul t
edi nachi ldishscr awl;her emember ed
l
itt
leofhi scor respondence, for gott heappear anceofhi swi feand
fri
ends, andev enf ai
ledt or ecogni zehi sowni magei nami rror.Yet
hisey esightwasi ntactandhi si ntel l
ectuni mpai red.Inordert o
remembert hingshehadnowt ohav et hem r eadaloudt ohi m, andt hus
bri
ngi nt oplayhi sundi sturbedaudi torycent re--t
ohi m anal mostnew
exper i
ence.

Thef unct
ionofv i
sionindr eamsi sdoubtlesssubjectt osimilar
i
ndividualvar
iati
ons,thoughpr obablytoal essext ent.Seei
ng,
withrareexcepti
ons, constit
utesthetypicaloperat i
onindreams;
i
tisthissense,too,that,undertheinfl
uenceofdr ugsorof
otherexci
tement ,i
smostr eadil
ysti
mul atedint
omor bi
daction,and
mosteasilyfurni
shest hebasi sofdelusionsandhal l
ucinat
ionstoa
disor
der edmi nd.Thedependenceoft henat ur
eandcont entofdreams
upont hewaki ngexper iencesi ssocl ear l
ypr oventhatitwoul dbe
surpri
singnott ofindi nt hem thei ndividual characteri
sticsofour
ment alpr ocesses; andi fAr i
stotleisrightinsay i
ngt hatinwaki ng
l
ifeweal l haveawor l
dincommonbuti ndr eamseachhasawor ldof
hi
sown, wemayl ookt ot heev i
denceofdr eam- l
if
ef orindicati
onsof
unrestrainedanddi sti
nct ivepsy chologi caltrai
ts.

I
I

Wi t
hr egar dtot hebl ind,muchofwhathasbeensai dabov ei
s
entirelyirrelevant .Howev eri nti
mat elyweappr eci
atethefuncti
on
ofsighti nourownment al dev el
opment ,i
tisalmostimpossi bl
eto
i
magi nehowdi fferentourl ifewoul dhav ebeenhadwenev erseen.
Buther e,att heout set,afundament aldisti
nctionmustbedr awn
betweent hosebl i
ndf r
om bi rthorear lyinfancy,andthosewhol ose
theirsighti ny out horadul tlife.[
13]"Itisbettertohaveseen
andl ostone' ssi ghtt hannev ertohav eseenatal l
,"i
squit
e
ast rueast hesent imentwhi chthisform ofst atementparodies.
Expr essedphy siologically
, thismeans, thattohav ebegunthegener al
brain-bui l
dingpr ocesswi t
ht heaidoft heey einsuressomef urther
self-
dev elopmentoft hev isual centre,andt husmakespossi blea
kindofment alpossessi onofwhi cht hosebor nblindarei
nev it
ably
depr i
ved. [14]

Af actofpr imeimpor t
ancer egar dingt hedev el
opmentoft he
sight-cent reistheageatwhi chi tseducat ionissuffi
cient l
y
compl etedt oenabl eittocont i
nuei t
sf unct i
onwithoutf urther
object -
lessonsont hepartoft her eti
na.I fweacceptast het est
ofthei ndependentexi stenceoft hesi ght -
centr
eitsaut omat ic
excitationi ndreams, t
hequest i
oncanbeanswer edbydet er mini
ngt he
ageoft heonsetofbl i
ndness, whi chdi vi
dest hosewhodonotf rom
thosewhost i
llr
etaininthei rdr eam- li
fet heimagesder i
vedf rom
thewor ldofsi ght.Thedat athatenabl emet oanswert hisquest ion
wer egat heredatt heInstituti
onsf ortheBl i
ndinPhiladelphi aand
Balti
mor e.Nearly200per sonsofbot hsexeswer epersonal l
yexami ned,
andt hei ranswer st oquiteal ongser iesofquest i
onsr ecor ded.All
datesandageswer ev er
ifiedbyt her egisteroftheinstituti
on, and
thedegr eeofsi ghtwast ested.

Begi nningwi thcasesof_ total

_bl i
ndness( incl udingundert hishead
thoseuponwhom l ighthassi mpl yagener al subj ective"heat -effect,
"
enabl i
ngt hem t odistinguishbet weenni ghtandday ,betweenshadeand
sunshi ne, butinducingl i
tt
leornot endencyt opr oj ectthecauseof
thesensat ionintotheext ernalwor ld),Ifindonmyl istfif
ty-eight
suchcases.Oft hese, thi
rty-
twobecamebl indbef oret hecompl etion
oft heirfif
thy ear,and_ notone_oft hisgr oupoft hir
ty -
twosees
i
ndr eams.Si xbecamebl i
ndbet weent hef ifthandt hesev enthy ear:
oft hese, fourhav edreamsofseei ng,butt wooft hem dososel dom
andwi thsomev agueness; whiletwonev erdr eam ofseei ngatal l.Of
twent yper sonswhobecamebl i
ndaf t
ert heirsev ent hy ear_ all_hav e
"dream- v i
sion"-
-asIshal lter
mt hef acultyofseei ngi ndr eams._ The
periodf rom thef if
thtot hesev enthy eari sthusi ndicat edast he
crit
ical one._Bef orethisaget hev isual centrei sunder goingi ts
element aryeducat i
on; i
tslif
eiscl oselydependentupont heconst ant
food- supplyofsensat ions; andwhent hesear ecutoffbybl i
ndness,
i
tdegener at esanddecay s.Ifbli
ndnessoccur sbetweent hefi
fthand
thesev enthy ears,thepr eser v
ationoft hevisuali
zingpowerdepends
ont hedegr eeofdev el
opmentoft heindivi
dual .I
fthefacultyi
s
ret
ai ned, i
tisnei therstabl enorpr onounced.I fsi
ghtislost
aftert hesev enthy ear,thesi ght-
centrecan, inspiteoftheloss,
mai ntainitsf unction;andt hedreamsofsuchani ndivi
dual maybe
hardlydi sti
ngui shablef r
om t hoseofaseei ngper son.

Itwasav eryunexpect eddi scov ery ,tof ind, af t

erIhadpl annedand
partlycompl etedt hisi nvest i
gat i
on, thatIhadapr edecessor .So
l
ongagoas1838, Dr .G.Heer mannst udiedt hedr eamsoft hebl ind
witht hev iewofdet ermi ningt hissamequest ion, thephy siologi cal
signi fi
canceofwhi ch, howev er,wasnott hencl ear lyunder stood.
Her ecor dst heanswer soff ourteent ot all
ybl i
ndper sonswhol ost
theirsi ghtpr ev i
oust ot heirfifthyear ,and_ none_oft hesehas
dream- vision.Off ourwhol ostt hei rsightbet weent hef ift
hand
thesev ent hy ear,onehasdr eam- v ision; onehasi tdiml yand
occasi onal l
y ;andt wodonotdef i
ni telyknow.Oft hirt
y-fivewho
becamebl indaf t
ert hei rsev enthy ear_ all
_hav edr eam- visi
on.The
twoi ndependentr esear chest husy ieldt hev erysameconcl usi on.Dr.
Heer manni ncludesi nhi sl i
stmanyagedper sons, andf r
om t hei r
answer sisabl etoconcl udet hat ,gener all
yspeaki ng,thosewho
becomebl indi nmat urel i
fer etaint hepowerofdr eam- v i
sionl onger
thant hosewhobecomebl i
ndnear erthecr itical ageoff i
v etosev en
year s.Her ecor dst wel vecaseswher edr eam- visionst i
llcont i
nues
afterabl indnessoff rom t ent of i
ft eeny ears, f
ouroff rom f i
fteen
totwent yy ear s,f
ouroff rom t went yt ot went y -f
iv eyear s,andone
oft hirty-fi
v ey ears.I nonecasedr eam- v i
sionwasmai ntainedf or
fif
ty-two, andi nanot herf orfifty-f
oury ears, butt henf aded
out.[15]

Wi thr egar dt ot he_ par ti

ally_bl ind, thequest i
onmostanal ogoust o
theper sistenceofdr eam- visionaf t
ert otal bl i
ndness, iswhet her
ornott hedr eam- visioni sbr ight erandcl ear erthant hatofwaki ng
l
ife; whet hert hesi ght -cent remai ntainst hef ullnor mal power
towhi chi twaseducat ed, orwhet hert hepar t
iallossofsi ght
hasessent iall
yal t
er edandr eplacedi t
.Tot hi srat herdi fficult
quest i
onIhav ef ewerandl esssat i
sfact oryanswer st hant othe
formeri nqui ry;butt heev i
dencei sper fect lyi naccor dwi tht he
prev iousconcl usi ons.Oft went y -threewhodescr ibet heirdr eam- visi
on
as_ onlyascl ear _aswaki ngsi ght ,_all_becamebl ind_ not
l
at er _thant hecl oseoft hei r_ f
ifthy ear_ ;whi leoft went y-four
whosedr eam- v isioni smor eorl essmar kedl y_clear er _t hant heir
par tialsight, _all_l ostt heirf ullsi ght_ notear l
ier_t han
thei r_sixthy ear _ .[
16]Theaget hatmar ksof fthoset owhom t otal
blindnesscar rieswi thi tthel ossofdr eam- v i
sionf rom t hosewhose
dream- v i
sioncont inues, i
st hust heageatwhi cht hesi ght -
centrehas
reachedasuf fici entst ageofdev elopmentt oenabl ei tt omai nt
ain
i
tsf ullfunction, whenpar tiallyort otallydepr i
vedofr etinal
stimul at i
on.Thesameagei sal soassi gnedbysomeaut horit
iesast he
l
imi tingageatwhi chdeaf nesswi l
lcausemut eness( unl essspeci al
pai nsbet akent opr eventi t);whi lel atert hev ocal or gans, t
hough
trainedt oact ionbyt heear ,canper formt hei rdutieswi thout
thet eacher '
sai d.Thi s, too, isassi gnedast heear l
iestageat
whi chwehav ear emembr anceofour sel ves.Thi sl astst atementIam
ablet ot estbyonehundr edanswer s,col l
ect edamongt hesebl i
nd
persons, tothequest i
on, "Whati sy ourear l
i
estr emembr anceof
yoursel f?"Theav erageaget owhi chthesememor i
esgobacki s5.2
years; sev enty-ni
nei nstancesbei ngincludedbet weent hethi r
dand
thesixt hy ears.Att hisper iodofchi lddev el
opment -
-t
hecent reof
whichi sataboutt hecl oseoft hef i
ft
hy ear --
t her
eseemst obea
gener aldecl arati
onofi ndependenceoft hesense- centresf rom their
food-suppl yofsensat ions.Mr .Sullyfindssense, i
magi nat i
on, and
abstract iontobet heor deri nwhi cht hepr ecoci t
yofgr eatmen
revealsi tself
;andt hecr i
ticalper i
odwhi chwear enowconsi dering
seemst omar kt hepoi ntatwhi chi maginat ionandabst racti
onas
permanentment alpower sor dinaril
ycomei nt oplay.M.Per ezl i
kewise
recogni zest hedi sti
nctivechar acteroft hiser aofchi ldhoodby
maki ngt hesecondpar tofhi s"Chi l
dPsy chol ogy"embr acet heperiod
from thet hir
dt othesev ent hyear.

I
II

Thegener al factt husbr oughtt ol ight--thatt hemodei nwhi cha

brain-cent rewi l
l funct i
ondependssol ar gelyuponi tsinitial
educat i
on, butt hat ,thi
seducat i
ononcecompl et ed,thecent r
ecan
mai nt ainit
sf unct i
on, t
houghdepr ivedofsense- stimulat i
on- -
is
sufficientlyimpor tantt omer itfur therillustration. [
17]Thi s
fact,t houghv er ycl earandev identwhenst atedf rom amoder npoint
ofv i
ew, hasnotal way sbeenr ecogni zed.Soi ngeni ousat hi
nkeras
ErasmusDar wi ni nf err
edf rom t wocases( theoneofabl i
ndman, t
he
otherofadeaf -
mut e)inwhi cht hewant ingsenseswer eal soabsent
i
ndr eams, thatt heper ipher al sense- or ganwasnecessar yforall
percept i
on, subj ect iveaswel l asobj ectiv e;andent i
relynegl ected
theageatwhi cht hesensewasl ost.Suchnot edphy siol ogistsas
Reil,Rudol phi ,Har tman, War drop( whosay s, "whenanor ganofsense
i
st ot all
ydest roy ed, theideaswhi chwer erecei vedbyt hator gan
seem t oper ishal ongwi thitaswel l
ast hepowerofper cept i
on")
,
mor eorl essdi stinct l
yfav oredt hisv iew; whilesomet eacher sof
thebl indandt hephy si
ologi stsNasseandAut ent r
eit
hr ight l
ydrew
thedi stinctionbet weent hosebor n,andt hosewhobecame, bli
nd.
Anexper i
ment al demonst rationoft heor i
ginal dependenceoft he
percept i
veandemot i
onal power suponsense- impr essionswasf ur
nished
byBof f
iandSchi f f,
whof oundt haty oungdogswhoseol factorybulbs
hadbeenr emov edf ail
edt odev elopanyaf fect i
onf orman.

Whati strueoft hev isual,isdoubt lessequal lytrueoft heot her

perceptivecent r
es.Thedr eamsoft hedeaf -mut eof feranat tr
activ
e
andunt ouchedf ieldf orsuchst udy .[18]Thef ewaccount sofsuch
dreamst hatIhav emetwi t h,failtogi vet heageatwhi chdeaf ness
setin;i
nonecase, howev er ,i
nwhi chdeaf nessoccur redatt hirt
y
years,thepant omi michadr eplacedt hespokenl anguagei nt hedreams
ofthirt
yy earslater.Simi l
ar ly,cri
ppl esdr eam oft heirlostl imbs
formanyy earsaf t
ert heirloss; insuchcases, howev er,st imul at
ion
ofthecutner v esmaybet hesuggest i
v ecauseofsuchdr eams.Aman
offorty,whol osthisr ightar m sevent eeny earsbef ore, stilldreams
ofhav i
ngt hear m.Theear liestageofl osinganddr eami ngabouta
l
ostl i
mb, ofwhi chIf indar ecor d,i
sofaboyoft hirt
eeny ears
whol ostal egatt heageoft en;thisboyst i
lldreamsofwal king
onhi sfeet.Thosewhoar ebor ncrippl esmustnecessar i
lyhav etheir
defect
sr epresent
edintheirdr
eam consciousness.Heer
mannci t
esthe
caseofamanbor nwit
houthands,for
earms, feet,
orl
owerlegs.He
al
way sdr eamtofwalki
ngonhi sknees;andall t
hepecul
iar
it
iesof
hismov ement swerepresenti
nhisdream- l
i
fe.

Thedr eamsoft hosebot hbl indanddeafar eespeci allyinst ruct i

ve.
ManyofLaur aBr i
dgman' sdr eamshav ebeenr ecor ded; andan
unpubl i
shedmanuscr iptbyDr .G.St anl eyHal lplacesatmyser vi
ce
av aluabl eaccountofhersl eepanddr eams.Si ghtandhear i
ngwer e
asabsentf r
om herdr eamsast heywer ef rom t hedar kandsi lent
wor ldwhi chal onesheknew.Thet act ual -mot orsensat ions, bywhi ch
shecommuni cat edwi thherf ellow- bei ngs, andt hr oughwhi chal most
allheri ntellect ual f
oodr eachedher ,alsof or medhermai nst ayi n
dreams.Thi saccount sf ort hesuddennessandf rightwi thwhi chshe
oftenwakedf rom herdr eams; shei sper chancedr eami ngofanani mal,
whi cht ouswoul df irstmakei tselfseenorhear d,butt oheri s
presentonl ywheni tt ouchesandst ar tlesher --
forshel acksany
anticipat orysense.Languagehasbecomesoal l-i
mpor tantaf actor
i
nci vi
li
zedl i
f e, thati tnat urallyisf requent lyr epr esent edi n
dreams.Wenotonl ydr eam ofspeaki ngandbei ngspokent o, butwe
actual l
yi nner v atet heappr opr i
at emuscl esandt alki noursl eep;
thisLaur aBr i
dgmanal sodi d." Hersl eepseemedal mostnev er
undi sturbedbydr eams.Agai nandagai nshewoul dsuddenl yt alkaf ew
wor dsorl etter swi thherf i
nger s,toor api dl yandt ooi mper fect ly
tobei ntelli
gi ble( j
ustasot herpeopl eut teri ncoher entwor ds
andi nar ticulat esoundsi nsl eep) ,butappar ent lynev ermaki nga
sent ence. "[
19]So, too, allthepeopl ewhoent eri nt oherdr eams
tal
kwi tht hei rfinger s.Thi shabi thadal readypr esent edi tsel fat
theageoft wel v e, f
oury ear saf terherf irstl essoni nt heal phabet .
"Idonotdr eam t ot alkwi thmout h; Idr eam t ot alkwi thf i
nger s."No
prettieri l
lustrat ioncoul dbegi venoft hewayi nwhi chherf ancy
builtuponherr eal exper iences, thant hef actr ecor dedbyChar les
Dickens, thatonpi ckingupherdol lhef oundacr ossi tsey esagr een
bandsuchassheher sel fwor e.Theor gani csensat ionsor i
gi nat i
ng
i
nt hev iscer a, thoughof tenpr omi nent lyr epr esent edi ndr eamsof
normal persons, seemedespeci allypr omi nenti nherdr eams.Shet ells
off eelingherbl oodr ushabout ,andofherhear tbeat ingf astwhen
suddenl ywaki ng, muchf ri
ght ened, from adi stressi ngdr eam.One
suchdr eam shedescr i
besas" har d,heav y,andt hi ck;"ter mswhi ch,
thought ousgl ar ingl yinappr opr iatei nr ef er encet osof airy -l
ikea
structur easadr eam, for m anaccur atedescr iptioni nt hel anguageof
herownr ealisticsenses.I nshor t,herdr eamsar eaccur at el ymodel ed
upont heexper iencesofherwaki ngl i
fe, repr oduci ngi ndet ail
allthepecul i
ar itiesoft houghtandact ionwhi chav eryspeci al
educat i
onhadi mpr esseduponhercur iousmi nd.

Ihavehadt heoppor t
unityofquestioningabl indanddeafy oung
manwhosel ife-
hi storyoffersastri
kingcont rasttothatofLaura
Bri
dgman, andi ll
ust rateswithall
thef orceofanexper i
mental
demonstrationt hecr it
icaleducati
onal impor t
anceoft heearlyyear
s
ofli
fe.Hewas, att het i
meofmyquest ioninghi m, t
wenty-
three
year
sofage, andwasear ningacomf ortablel i
v i
ngasabroom- maker.
Hehadanact ivei nterestintheaffairsoft hewor l
d,anddisl
iked
tobeconsider edi nanywaypecul i
ar .Hisey esi ghtbegantofail
him
i
near l
ychil
dhood; andi nhisfi
ft
hy earthesi ghtofoneey ewas
enti
rel
ylost,whi lethatoft heotherwasv erypoor .Aft
eraless
gradual l
ossofhear ing, hebecamecompl etelydeafi nhi sni nth
year.Attheageoft wel vehewas( practically)tot all
ybl ind,deaf ,
andnear lymut e.Thesmal lremnantofar ticulatingpowerhasbeen
culti
vated;andt hosewhoar eaccustomedt oitcanunder standhi s
spokenl anguage.Heal socommuni cat esasLaur aBr idgmandi d,andhas
afurtheradv ant ageov erheri npossessi ngav eryacut esenseof
smel l
.Her emember st hewor l
dofsi ghtandhear ingper f
ectly,andin
alitt
lesketchofhi slifewhi chhewr ot eformev iv i
dlydescr i
bes
thesightsandsoundsofhi splay-
day s.Heusual lydr eamsofseei ng
andhear ing,thought heexper i
encesofhi spr esentexi stenceal so
enterintohisdr eams.Someofhi sdr eamsr elatet oflower swhi chhe
smel l
edandsaw; hedr eamtofbei ngupseti naboat ;shor t
lyaf t
er
hisconf i
rmat i
onhedr eamtofseei ngGod.Whenhedr eamsofmaki ng
brooms, hisdr eam isent i
relyi
ntermsofmot ionandf eel i
ng, not
ofsight.Hishi storythusst r
onglyemphasi zest hei mpor tancewhi ch
av ari
etyofev idenceat tr
ibutestotheper i
odofchi l
dhood, and
perhapsespeci all
ytot hatf rom t
hethi rdtot hesev enthy ear.

Ther emar kabl epower swhi chHel enKel lerhasexhi bit

edt hroughouther
phenomenal educat i
ongi vet oanaccountofherdr eam l i
feanespeci al
i
nt er est.Iam f or tunat ei nbei ngabl et opr esentherownaccount
asshepr epar edi tatmysol icitat i
on.Theweal thandbr il
li
ancyof
heri magi nat i
onf r
equent l
yl eadt omodesofexpr essi onwhi chseem t o
brusquel ycont r adi cthersi ght lessandsoundl esscondi t
ion.Buta
car ef ulobser v at i
onofherment al act i
vitiesbr ingsoutt hev erbalor
l
iter ar ychar act erofsuchal l
usi ons, incer t
ai ncasesessent i
ally
aidedbyassoci at ionswi t
hi mpr essionsoft hesensest hatr emai nt o
her .Insuchcasesherf ami liarity ,t
hr oughl iter atur eandt hrough
i
nt er cour se, wi tht heexper i
encesoft hehear ingandseei ngandwi t
h
theemot ional andi ntellect ual associ at i
onst hator dinaryper sons
mi ghthav ewi thdef initescenesoroccasi ons, enabl eshert or eali
ze,
andherv ividi magi nat iont oconst ruct ,asomewhati deal i
zedaccount
ofherv icar iousexper iences, thoughper hapsr eal emot ions.Herdr eam
l
ifeseemsi ncompl eteconcor dancewi thherwaki ngcondi t
ion;but
thisi magi nat ivef act ormustbeconst ant lybor nei nmi ndi nr eading
herr epor tofherdr eam l if
e.Thei ntrinsici nter estoft hishuman
document , andt hechar m oft henar rative, pr esentsol ifeli
keand
almostconf ident i
al apor tray al ofherwor l
dofdr eams, thatany
elabor atecommentwoul dbeunnecessar y.I tshoul dber emember edthat
Hel enKel l
erbecamet ot all
ybl indanddeafatni net eenmont hs;that
heri nst ruct ionbeganatt heageofsev eny ear s; thatshel ear ned
tospeakor allyf rom herel ev ent hy ear ;t
hatatpr esentshespeaks
oral l
yal mostexcl usi v ely,al t
houghv er ypr of i
ci enti nt heuseof
thef ingeral phabet ; t
hatshei sabl et ounder st andwhati ssai dto
herbypl aci ngherf inger supont hel ipsandt hr oatoft hespeaker ,
butt hatt hemor eexpedi tiousandcer tainmodeofcommuni catingwi t
h
heri sbymaki ngt hel et tersoft hef inger -alphabeti nt hepal m of
herhand.Thi sl at termet hodsheusesent irelywi thhert eacherand
withal lwhoar econv ersantwi t hit.Thi saccountofherdr eamswas
prepar edi nAugust , 1900, whenshewast went yy ear sofage; i
twas
wr i
tt enof f-handbyheronat ype- wr it
er ,andi spr esent edi ni ts
origi nalf orm.

MYDREAMS
"I
tisnoexaggerationtosaythatIl i
vetwodist
inctl
i
ves,-
-onein
theeverydayworldandt heotherintheLandofNod!Likemostpeopl e
Igenerall
yfor
getmydr eamsassoonasIwakeupi nthemor ni
ng;but
Iknowt hatwhenIdr eam Iam justasacti
veandasmuchi nt
erest
ed
i
nev er
y t
hing-
-t
rees,booksandev ent
s--
aswhenIam awake.

"Mydr eamshav estr

angel ychangeddur i
ngt hepastt wel
v ey ears.
Beforeandaf termyt eacherf irstcamet ome, theywer edev oidof
sound, orthoughtoremot ionofanyki nd,exceptf ear
,andonl ycame
i
nt heform ofsensat i
ons.Iwoul dof tendream t hatIranintoa
sti
ll
,darkr oom, andt hat,whileIst oodt here,Ifeltsomething
fal
lheav i
lywithoutanynoi se, causingt hefloortoshakeupand
downv i
olentl
y; andeacht i
meIwokeupwi thaj ump.AsIl ear ned
mor eandmor eaboutt heobj ectsar oundme, thisstr
angedr eam ceased
tohauntme; butIwasi nahi ghst at eofexci t
ementandr eceiv ed
i
mpr essionsv er yeasil
y.Itisnotst ranget hent hatIdreamedat
thatti
meofawol f,
whi chseemedt or ushtowar dsmeandputhi s
cruelt
eet hdeepi nt
omybody !Icoul dnotspeak( t
hefactwas, I
couldonlyspel l wit
hmyf ingers),andIt ri
edt oscr eam;butno
soundescapedf rom myl ips.Itisv eryli
kelythatIhadhear dthe
storyofRedRi dingHood, andwasdeepl yimpr essedbyit.Thi sdream,
howev er,passedawayi ntime, andIbegant odream ofobj ectsout si
de
ofmy self.

"Ineverspelledwithmyf inger
sinmysl eep; butIhav eoften
spoken, andoneni ghtIact ual
lylaughed.Iwasdr eami ngofagr eat
froli
cwithmyschool mat esatthePer ki
nsI nst i
tut
ion.But,ifI
donotuset hemanual alphabetinmydr eams, myf r
iendssomet i
mes
spelltome.Thei rsentencesar ealway sbr i
efandv ague.Iobt ai
n
i
nf ormationinav erycuriousmanner ,whi chi ti
sdiffi
cultto
describe.Mymi ndact sasasor tofmi r
ror ,
inwhi chf acesand
l
andscapesar erefl
ected, andthoughts, whicht hr
ongunbi ddeninmy
brain,descri
betheconv ersati
onandt heev ent sgoingonar oundme.

"Irememberabeaut i
fulandst ri
kingillustr
ationoft hepecul i
ar
modeofcommuni cati
onIhav ejustment i
oned.Oneni ghtIdr eamed
thatIwasinal ovelymansi on,allbuiltofleav esandf lower s.My
thoughtsdeclaredthef l
oorwasofgr eentwi gs,andt hecei li
ngof
pinkandwhi teroses.Thewal lswer eofr oses, pinks,hy acinths,
andmanyot herfl
ower s,l
ooselyar rangedsoast omaket hewhol e
struct
urewav yandgr aceful.Hereandt hereIsawanopeni ngbet ween
theleaves,
whi chadmi tt
edt hepur estair.Ilearnedt hatt heflowers
wer ei
mperishable,andwi thsuchawonder f uldi
scov eryt hri
ll
ingmy
spiri
tIawoke.

"Idonott hinkIhav eseenorhear dmor et hanoncei nmysl eep.

Thent hesunl i
ghtf l
ashedsuddenl yonmyey es,andIwassodazzl ed
Icoul dnott hinkordi sti
ngui shany t
hing.WhenIl ookedup, some
onespel l
edhast i
lytome, '
Why , y
ouar el ookingbackupony our
baby hood! 'Ast othesoundIhear d,i
twasl ikether ushingofa
mi ghtycat aract,andr emindedmef orci
bl yofmyv isitt
oNi agara
Falls.Iremember edasi fitwerey esterdayhowIhadcomev erycl
ose
tot hewat erandf el
tthegr eatr oarbypl acingmyhandonasof t
pil
low.Now, howev er,IknewIwasf arawayf rom thepl acewhence
thesoundcame, andt hev ibrat
ionfellclear ,t
houghnotl oud,upon
myear drums; soIconcl udedi nmysl eept hatIreallyheard.What
happenednextIhaveenti
relyf
orgotten;
butinthemorningIwas
deepl
yimpressedbytheonlyinstanceinwhichIhaddreamedof
heari
ng,andIwishedIcouldgobackt oDreamland,
justtoheart
hat
far
-of
f,i
nspir
ingsound.

"Occasionall
yIt hi
nkIam r eadingwi t
hmyf i
ngers, eit
herBr aill
eor
l
inepr i
nt,andev entranslatingal i
ttl
eLat i
n, butalway swithan
oddf eeli
ngt hatIam touchi ngf or
biddenf ruit
.SomehowIf eel t
hat
thespirit
sofsl eepar edispleasedifanyt houghtsofl i
terature
crossmymi nd.St i
l
l Iam freet oenjoyev erythi
ngel se--
Icanwander
amongf l
ower sandt reesandbewi thmyf r
iends, especiallythosewho
l
iveatadi stancef r
om wher eIhappent obe.Somet imesIam wi th
mymot her,andatot hertimeswi t
hmysi sterMi l
dr ed.Myt eacher
scarcelyeverappear sinmydr eams; butIknowshewoul dveryoften
i
facr uel f
ateshoul dtearherawayf r
om me.Ishal lneverf orget
themor ningsev enorei ghty earsago, whenIdr eamedt hatmydear
fri
end,BishopBr ooks, wasdy i
ng.Af ewhour slaterIf oundt hatmy
dream wasat erri
blerealit
y .I
tisprobabl ethatIthoughtofhi m
atthev erymomentwhenhewaspassi ngaway ,andIcer t
ainlyweptin
thesamemannerandi nt hesamepl acewhi l
eIdr eamed, thatIdid
after
war ds!

"Ihar dl yev erdr eam ofany thingt hathashappenedt hedaybef ore,

althoughIsomet i
meshav esev er aldiff erentdr eamsont hesameni ght;
nordoIdr eam oft hesamet hingsof t
en.Howev er,Idr eam of tenest
oft heunpl easantandhor ri
ble, nomat terhowhappyandsuccessf ul
thedaymayhav ebeen.I ndeed, Ihav ef oundi tunadv isabl et or ead
terriblest or iesort ragedi esof ten, orint heev ening.Theyi mpr ess
mesopai nf ul l
y ,andr etainsof i
rm ahol dofmyi magi nat i
ont hat
theysoonerorl aterf or cet hemsel vesi nt omydr eams.Aboutt woy ears
agoIr ead' Si xtyYear saQueen' thest or yoft heawf ul massacr e
atCawnpor e, whi cht ookpl acedur ingt heI ndi anMut iny .Itfi
lled
mewi thahor r
ort hathaunt edmeper si stent lyforsev eral day s.At
l
astImanagedt obani sht hesedi sagr eeabl ef eeli
ngs; butoneni ght
af ri
ght ful di stor ti
onoft hesel f
samest or yappear edbef oremy
mi nd.It houghtIwasi nasmal lpr i
son.Atf irstIonl ynot iceda
skel etonhangi ngupononeoft hewal ls; thenIf eltast range, awf ul
sound, li
keheav yironbei ngcastdown, andt hemosthear trendi ng
criesensued.Iwasi nformedt hatt went ymenwer ebei ngputt odeat h
witht heut mostcr uel ty.Irushedmadl yf r
om oner oom t oanot her,
and, aseachr uf f
iancameout , Ilockedt hedoorbehi ndhi m, i
nt he
hopet hatsomeoft hev i
ctimsmi ghtt her ebybesav ed.Al lmyef forts
wer ef util
e, andIawokewi t
hasi ckeni nghor rorwei ghi ngdownon
myhear t.Ihav eal sof anciedt hatIsawci t
iesonf i
re, andbr av e,
i
nnocentmendr aggedt oaf i
er ymar tyr dom.Onei nst antIwoul d
standi nspeechl essbewi lderment ,ast hef lamesl eapedup, dar kand
glaring, i
nt oabl acksky .ThenextmomentIwoul dbei nt hemi dstof
theconf lagr at ion, tryingt osav esomeoft hesuf ferers, andseei ng
i
ndi smayhowt heysl ippedawaybey ondmypower .Atsucht imesIhav e
thoughtmy sel ft hemostwr etchedper soni nt hewor ld; butint he
mor ningt hebr ightsunshi neandf r
eshai rofourowndear ,beaut i
ful
wor ldwoul dchaseawayt hosehor r
iblephant oms.

"Onthewhol
e,mydreamsar econsi
stentwi
thmyf eeli
ngsand
sympathi
es;
butonceIthoughtIwasengagedinagr eatboat
-r
ace
betweenYal
eandHarvard.Now,inr
ealit
yIam al
way sonHarvard'
s
sideinthegr eatgames; butatt hattimeIdr eamedt hatIwasa
thoroughYal eman!Per hapst hisinconsistencyar osefrom thefact
thatalongt i
meagoIhaddecl ar edhowgl adIwasofHar vard'
s
fail
uretowi nacer t
ainboat -
race, becauset heYal emenr owedwi t
h
theAmer icanst r
okeandt heHar vardmenhadl earnedtheEnglish
stroke.Atanyr ate,
sleepi ngorwaki ng,Il
ov emyf ri
ends,andnev er
thinktheychangeorgr owunki nd.Fr om t
imet otimeImakef r
iends
i
nmydr eams; butusual lyIam t oobusyr unni ngar oundandwat ching
otherpeoplet ohaveanyl ongconv ersati
onsor' reveri
es.'

"Iam of tenl edintopr ettyfantasies, ofwhi chIwi llgi

v ean
i
llustration.Const ernationwasspr eadev erywher ebecauset henews
hadbeenr eceivedofKi ngWi nter '
sdet erminat i
ont oest ablishhi s
ruleper manent l
yint het emper atezones.Thest ernmonar chf ulfi
l
led
histhr eatal lt
oosoon; for,al
thoughi twasmi d-summer ,yett he
whol eoceanwassuddenl yfrozen, andal lt
heboat sandst eamer s
wer est uckf astinthei ce.Commer cewasr uined, andst ar
v ationwas
unav oidabl e.Thef l
ower sandt reesshar edint heuni v ersal sorrow,
andbr avelyst r
ovet okeepal i
vet hrought hesummer .Finally,
ov er
comebyt heintensecol d, theydr oppedt heirleav esand
blossoms, whichtheyhadkeptf reshandspot l
esst ot helast .Slowly
thef l
ower sflutt
ereddownandl ayatKi ngWi nt er'
sf eet ,
sil
ent ly
suppl i
cat i
nghi mt oshowmer cy ,butallinv ain.Theyf rozeunheeded,
andwer echangedi nt opear l
s, diamonds, andt ur quoises.

"Anothert i
meIt ooki ti
ntomyheadt ocl imbt othest ars.Isprang
upi ntotheai r
,andwasbor neupwar dbyast rongimpul se.Icould
notseeorhear ;
butmymi ndwasmygui deaswel l
asmyi nterpr
eter
.
Higherandhi gherIr ose,untilIwasv er yclosetothest ars.Their
i
nt enselightprev entedmef rom comi nganynear er;soIhungon
i
nv isi
blewi ngs,fascinatedbyt heroll
ingspher esandt heconst ant
playofl i
ghtandshadow, whi chmyt hought srefl
ected.Al latonce
Ilostmybal ance, Iknewnothow, anddown, downIr ushedt hrough
empt yspace, til
lIst r
uckv i
olent l
yagai nstat r
ee,andmybodysank
tot heground.Theshockwakedmeup, andforamomentIt houghtall
myboneswer ebr okentoat oms.

"IhavesaidallthatIcanr ememberconcer ni
ngmydr eams; butwhat
real
lysurpri
sesmei sthis;somet i
mes, i
nthemi dstofanightmar e,
Iam consciousofadesi ret owakeup, andImakeav i
gorouseffort
tobreakthespel l
.Somet hi
ngseemst oholdmysensest ightl
y,andit
i
sonl ywithaspasmodi cmov ementthatIcanopenmyey es.Ev enthen
Ifeel
,orIthinkIfeel,arapidmot i
onshakingmybedandasound
ofli
ght,swiftfootst
eps.I tseemsst r
anget omet hatIshouldmake
suchanef forttowakeup, insteadofdoingitautomati
call
y."

Thisfait
hfulanddr amat icsket chisreplet
ewi thspeci fi
cas
wellaswi t
hgener i
ccor r
obor ationsofthedi st
inctiveresultsof
thepresentinquir
y.Thedi ffer encesbetweent hedr eam experiences
ofHelenKel l
erbefor eandaf tereducat i
onar equi teconsistent
withcompar ableresultsi nthecasesofot herdef ectiv
es--al
though
dreamsofheruneducat edper i
odseem t ooccurr ar el
yifatall
, and
i
tisnotpossi blet
odet ermi nehowsoonaf t
ershebegant ospeak,
suchspeech- communi cationmadei t
sappear ancei nherdreams.I ti
s
i
nteresti
ngtonot et hator alspeech, whenonceacqui r
ed,speedi l
y
supersededmanual t
alking, andt hatautomat i
ct alkingaloudinher
sleepappear ed;t
hef ingeralphabetbecameal mostobsol et
einher
wakinglife,andli
kewi sei nherdreams.Yettheper si
stenceofearl
y
acquiredhabi t
sisstrikinglyshowni nheroccasionalunconsci
ous
tendencyt otalktoher selfbyformingthelet
terswithonehand
againstthepal m oftheot her.Theseprocessessheseemst outi
l
ize
quiteautomat i
callyandunconsci ouslyasaidstocomposi ti
onorto
"thi
nkingaloud."

Inr egar dt ot hesour ceandcont entofherdr eams, themor er eal i

sti
c
epi sodesr ef lectt hei rper cept ional origini nt act ileandmot or
exper iences; suchar et heat tackoft hewol f, thef allfr om a
hei ght , ther ecept ionofi nf ormat i
ont hrought hepal m, readi ngt he
raisedpr int,--whi ledr eamsoff lyingnat urallypr esentt hesame
elabor at ionofsensor yel ement sasi nnor mal lyequi ppedi ndi viduals.
Thedr eamsofseei ngandhear ingpr obabl yr ef l
ectf armor eof
concept ual i
nt er pr et ationandi magi nat i
v einf er encet hanoft r ue
sensat ion; y ett heyar ei npar tbui ltupuponasensor ybasi s, -
-in
thef or mercase, thatoft heheatsensat i
onsr adi atingf rom a
brilli
anti llumi nat ion( witnesst hef l
amesoft heconf l
agr ation,
the" i
nt ensel ight "oft hest ar s),int hel at terofv ibrat i
onal or
j
ar ringsensat i
onscommuni cat edt ot hebody( asi nt het or rentof
Ni agar a) .But ,ont hewhol e, thedi rectsensor yt oneofherdr eam
l
ifei sweak; whi lef ort hisv er yr eason, possi bly ,thei magi nat ive
and" transf err ed"component sar eunusual l
ydomi nant .Theassoci at i
ve
elabor at ionoff anci esi ndr eam l i
fei sr ar elycapabl eofsi mpl e
anal y sis, andcommonl yr ev eal sresul ts, andnott hepr ocessesor
stagesbywhi cht her esul tswer er eached.Dependent , asHel enKel ler
i
ssol ar gel y ,upont hecommuni cat ionofot her sf orherknowl edge
ofwhati sgoi ngonabouther ,itisnat ur al t
hatt hi st ransf erred
communi cat ionshoul dbei mpor tanti nherdr eam knowl edge.Thather
consci ousnessoft hepr ocessofsuchacqui si ti
onshoul dbev ague
anddi fficul tt oexpr essi snat ural; andt hephr ases" myt hought s
decl ar ed, "" mymi ndact sasasor tofmi rror,
"" Iwasi nf or med, "
areassat isf act or ypsy chol ogi callyascoul dbeexpect ed.I tis,
howev er , indr eamsnotofext er nal incident si nv olvingv aguel y
transf err edordi rect lycommuni cat edi nf ormat i
on, buti nt hef r ee
roami ngsofcr eat ivei magi nat i
on, thatt hedr eam l i
feofHel enKel l
er
fi
ndsi tsmostsui tabl e_ mét ier_; i
ti si nt hisdi r ect i
ont hatt his
dream nar rat i
v e, ref lecting, asi tdoes, herr ichemot i
onal nat ur e
andent husi ast ical lysy mpat het ict emper ament ,pr esent si tsmost
dist i
nct iveandat tract i
v easpect .

I
V

Returningt othegeneraldataregar di ngt hedr eamsoft hebl i

nd,the
questiont hatnextsuggestsitselfiswhet herandhow, incases
wherebl i
ndnessensuedaf t
erar emember edper i
odofv i
sion,the
pre-
blindnessper i
odisdisti
ngui shedf rom t hepost -bl
i
ndnessper iod
i
ndr eam- imagery.I
twasnot iced, fori nstance, thattheblindand
deafy oungmanment i
onedabov e, thoughseei ngi nhisdreams, never
thussawt heshopi nwhichhewor ked.I tiseasyt oimaginet hatt he
mor eorlesssuddenl ossofsi ght ,
t hei mmer sionintoast rangeand
darkwor ld,wouldforatimel eav ethei ndividualli
vingentirely
upont hepast .Hisremember edexper iencesar er i
cherandmor ev i
vi
d
(wear esupposi nghisbli
ndnesst ooccuraf terchil
dhood)t hanthose
henowhas; hei slear ninganewl anguageandt ranslatesev erything
backi ntot heol d.Hi sdr eamswi llnat urallycontinuet obet hoseof
hisseei ngl i
fe.Ashi sexper iencesi nhi snewsur roundi ngsi ncrease,
andt hememor yoft heol dbegi nst of ade, t
het endencyofr ecent
i
mpr essi onst oar isei nt heaut omat i
sm ofdr eami ngwi ll bringt he
event soft hepost -blindnessper iodasf actorsint ohi sdr eams.I
fi
ndi nmyl istonl ysev enwhodonothav esuchdr eams; andi nt hese
thebl indnesshasbeenont heav er ageofonl y2.8y earsst anding.
Theav erageageof" blindi ng"oft hesev enisf i
fteeny ears, maki ng
i
tpr obabl ethatt headapt ati
ont ot henewenv ir
onmenthasher ebeen
asl owone, andt hatsuchdr eamswi lloccurl ateron.Ont heot her
hand, casesoccuri nwhi ch, aftert hree, two,orev enoney ear '
s
bli
ndness, whent heper sonssoaf fli
ctedwer ey oung, ev ent shappeni ng
withint hatper iodhav ebeendr eamedof .Heermannci tesacaseofa
manofsev ent ywhonev erdr eamedoft hehospi tal inwhi chhehadbeen
l
ivingf oreight eeny ears, andt owhi chhewasbr oughtshor t
lyaf ter
hisbl indness.Thi sandot hercasessuggestt hatt hemor emat ur eand
settledt hebr ain-
tissue, themor edi ffi
cul tisi
ttoi mpr essupon
i
tnewcondi t
ionssuf ficient l
ydeepl ytohav ethem appeari nt he
automat icli
feofdr eams.

Whet hert hereisadi ffer enceinthev ivi

dness, oranyot her
characteristicwhichsi ghtwoul dlend, i
nt hedr eamsofev entsbefor e
andaf terbl i
ndness, i
saquest i
ont owhi chIcoul dobt ainf ew
i
ntelli
gentandsat isfact oryanswer s; but,asf arast heygo, t
he
tendencyoft heser epliesi stoshowt hatwhenbl indnessensuescl ose
upont hecr i
ti
calper i
odoff ivetosev eny ear sofage, thepower
ofv i
viddr eam- v
isionismor eexclusi velylimitedtot heev entsof
they earsoff ullsi
ght ;and, asHeer mannpoi ntedout ,thispoweri s
oftensubj ecttoacompar ati
velyear lydecay .Similarl
y, Ifi
ndt hat
thosewhol osetheirsightneart hecr i
ti
cal agear enotnear l
yso
aptt oretaincolori nthei rdream- vi
sionast hosewhobecomebl i
nd
l
ateron.Theav erageageof" bli
nding"oft went y
-fourper sonswho
hav ecolor eddream- vision, i
s16. 6y ears,incl udi
ngonecasei nwhich
bli
ndnessseti nasear lyast hesev enthy ear .Allwhoseeenought o
seecol or,hav ecoloreddr eam-vision.

Ialsoaskedt hosewhobecamebl indi ny outh,orlater,whet herthey

wer ei nthehabi tofgi vingimagi nar yfacest otheper sonst hey
metaf tert heirbli
ndness, andwhet hert heyev ersawsuchi ntheir
dreams.Someanswer edinv eryv aguet erms, butsev eralundoubtedly
makegooduseoft hispower ,probabl ysomewhatont hesamebasi sas
wei magi net heappear anceofemi nentmenofwhom wehav ereador
hear d,butwhosef eat ureswehav enev erseen.Whenwer ememberhow
erroneoussuchi mpr essionsof tenar e,wecanunder standhoweasi l
y
i
tmaymi sleadt hebl i
nd.Suchi magi naryf acesandscenesal so
ent erintot heirdreams, buttoal essext entthanintot hoseof
thesi ght ed.Dr .Kit
to[20]quot esal etterf r
om amusi cianwhol ost
hissi ghtwhenei ghteeny earsol d, butwhor et
ainsav erystrong
visualizingpowerbot hi nwaki ngl i
feandi ndreams.Thement i
onof
af amousman, ofaf ri
end, orofascene, alwayscarrieswi thita
visual picture, complet eandv i
vid.Mor eov er,t
heseimagesofhi s
fri
endsar erepor t
edt ochangeast hef riendsgr owol d;andhef eel
s
himsel fint el
lectuall
yi nnowaydi fferentf rom theseei ng.

Thi
sleadsnat
ural
l
ytot
heconsi
der
ati
onoft
hepoweroft
he
i
magi nat i
oni nt hebl ind.I tisnotdi f
fi
cul ttounder standt hat
theyar edepr i
v edofonepower fulmeansofcul tivatingt hisf aculty,
thattheey eisinonesenset heor ganoft hei deal .Theirknowl edge
i
smor er eali
sticandt angi ble,andsot hei rdr eamsof t
en, though
bynomeansal way s,lackal lpoeticalchar act eristics,andar ev ery
commonpl ace.Ghost s,el ves,fair
ies,monst er s,andal lthehostof
stranger omancet hatcommonl ypeopl edr eams, arenotnear l
ysowel l
represent edasi nt hedr eamsoft hesi ght ed.Whati salmostt ypical
i
nt hedr eamsoft hel at terisunusual int hedr eamsoft hebl ind,
especiallyoft hoseear lyblind.Manyobser vet hatsuchdr eamsgr ow
rareast heyout growt hei ry outh,
[21]whi chi spr obabl ytrueoft he
sighted.Whent hebl inddr eam ofghost st heyei therheart hem, and
thatusual lynotunt iltheyar ecloseathand, ort heyar eact uall
y
touchedbyt hem.Abl indman, describingadr eam i nwhi chhi sfriend
appear edt ohim, said: "ThenIdr eamtt hathet r
iedt of r
ight enme,
andmakebel iev ehewasaghost ,by_ pushi ngmedownsi deway s_,"et
c.
Bysomet heghosti shear donl y;ithasar oughv oice,andi tsbones
rattl
e;oritpur suest hev ictim,hummi ngandgr oani ngasi truns.

Cont r
ar ytotheopi nionsofsomewr iters,If i
ndhear i
ng,andnott he
groupoft actual-mot orsensat ions,tobet hechi efsensewi tht he
bli
nd, bothinwaki ngandi ndr eams.Thathear i
ngowesv erymuchof
thi
ssupr emacyt oitsbei ngt hev ehicleofconv ersat i
on,goeswi thout
saying.Manyoft hebl i
nddr eam al mostexcl usi velyinthissense, and
i
tisqui t
egener allyspokenofast hemosti mpor tant.Event hose
whoseeal itt
le,of t
enr egar dhear i
ngast hei rmostusef ulsense;
thosewhoseewel lenought oseecol or,al mosti nvari
ablyclaimf or
thei
rpar t
ialsightani mpor tanceexceedi ngt hatofhear i
ng.Nexti n
i
mpor t ancet ohear ingi sthegr oupofsensat ionsaccompany ingmot i
on.
Animpor tantitem i nthedr eamsoft hesi ght edi sf ur
nishedbyt his
compl exofsensat i
ons, andt hesamei st rueoft hebl i
nd;almost
allr
emembersuchdr eams, andsomemaket hist hei
rmosti mpor tant
avenueofsensat ion.Yetsuchapur elyar tif
icialmov ementasr eadi ng
theraisedt ypewi ththef ingeral mostnev eroccur sindreams.The
boysdr eam ofpl aying, r
unni ng, j
umpi ng, andsoon; t
hemenof
broom- making, piano- t
uning, teaching, andsi mi larwor k;thegirlsof
sewing, f
ancywor k,househol dwor k, andt hel i
ke.

Ther eisof t
enascr ibedt othebl i
ndasomewhatmy sti
cal sense, by
whi chtheycant ellthepr esenceandev ent henat ureofobj ects,
andcanf eelthei rway .Asf arassuchapowerexi sts,itdepends
uponacompl exgr oupofsensat ions, andincl udest hecul tiv at
ion
oft heirradiationsense, whichweal lpossess.I tisnotatal l
diffi
culttot ellwhet heral argeobj ectiswi t
hi naf ewi nchesof
thehand, bythef actt hatitmodi fiest heaircur rentsandheat
radiati
onsr eachi ngt hehand.Thi sisespeci al l
yt hecasei ft he
temper at ureoft heobj ectbesomewhatdi fferentf r
om t hatoft he
room, ori fitbeanobj ectl i
kemet al,whichrapi dlyexchanges
i
tsheat .Insunl ightt heshadowsofst onesandpost scanbet hus
detected; andt heillumi nati
onofar oom, bothast oi t
ssour ceand
extent,canbej udged.Thi ssenset hebl i
ndcar efull
y,thoughof t
en
unconsci ously,cultivate,andIhav ehear ditspokenofbyt hem as
"facialper ception,"becauset hef aceseemst obemostsensi t
iveto
thiskindofchange.Manyment iont hatthepowerf ail
st hem undert he
i
nf l
uenceofaheadacheorsi milarner vousness.Thequest ionwhet her
theposi t
ionofadoor ,whet heropenedorcl osed, couldbet oldata
dist
ancewasvar
iouslyanswered;abouthalftest
if
iedthattheycoul
d
dosomainlybytheaidofthi
sf aci
alpercepti
on.Thisentersina
vaguewayint
otheirdreams,
butsel dom play
sani mportantrôl
e.

Thest oriesat tr
ibut ingt ot hebl i
ndr at herwonder ful not ionsof
col orhav e,oncar ef ul exami nation, beenr eadi lyexpl ainedbynat ur al
means; theuseofwor dsr eferri
ngt ocol ori sof tenmer elyv erbal
(oft hi sbot hLaur aBr idgmanandHel enKel lerfur ni shmanyexcel lent
exampl es) ,whi let heknowl edgeoft hecol or sofspeci al object si s
obt ainedbyi nf erence, basedupont ext ure, appr opr iateness, and
simi larchar act eristics.Theanal ogi esbet weencol orandsound
hav ebeenf requent lydescr ibedwi t
hi nr ecenty ear s.Mr .Gal tonhas
recor dedmanycasesi nwhi chthesoundsoft hev owel s, ofwor ds, of
musi cal not es, andt hel ike, i
mmedi atel ysummont ot hement al eyean
appr opriatecol or, of tenwi thapecul iarout li
neandshadi ng.One
per soncoul dact ual lyr eadsoundsoutofawal l-paperpat tern, or
wr itet hesoundsi nt hename_ Fr anci sGal ton_i ncol ors.I tseemed
possi blet hatt hebl indmi ghtobt ai norr ecei v esomedi m not ionsof
col orbyasi mi l
arpr ocess; andDr .Kitt oandt hebl indt eacher ,
Friedr ichScher er, ment i
ont hatsuchi st hecase, thought oav er y
slightext ent .Thel at tercal l
smusi cal inst r
ument st hebr idgeacr oss
whi chcol orcomest ohi m.( Hebecamebl indwhent woy ear sol d.)The
fl
ut ei shi ssy mbol ofgr een, theswel lingor gant onesofbl ue.The
trumpeti sr ed, thehunt er'
shor ndar kgr eenandv iol et,agener al
conf usionoft onesi sgr ay ,whilepi nkandcr imsonar eassoci at ed
wi tht hef eel i
ngofv elv et.Inmyl istoccur st her ecor dofay oung
mant went yy ear sol d, andbl i
ndf ort hr eey ear s.Hesawcol orson
hear i
ngcer tainsoundssoonaf t
erhi sbl indness, andcl ai mst hathe
i
st husabl et okeepal i
v ehi snot ionsofcol or .Tohi m anal tov oice
i
sgr ay ;asopr ano, whi te; at enor, yellow; abass, bl ack.Myown
voi cesuggest edadar kbackgr ound.Af ewwor dsar eal socol oredt o
him; thesoundof_ Smi th_seemsy el l
ow.Theseanal ogi es, howev er ,
are
fanci ful andr are.Theybel ongt oar egi onofment al phenomena, of
greatcompl exi ty,inwhi chassoci at i
onsandi diosy ncr aci eshav ef ree
play ,andseem asl ittl
ecapabl eofdef initeexpl anat ionasmuchof
thest ufft hatdr eamsar emadeof .

Abr iefselectionofi nstancesf rom t hecol l

ect i
onofdr eamsand
partsofdr eamswhi cht hesebl i
ndpeopl ehav eputatmycommand,
mayser vet oreinf orcet hesev eral f
actorsoft hedream- lif
eoft he
bli
ndwhi chhav ebeencomment edupon.Manyoft hedr eamspr esent
nospeci al dif
fer entiati
onf rom thoseoft heseei ng,butthemost
carefull
yr ecordedonesusual lyrev ealsomet racesofadef ectiveor
pecul i
arapper cept i
on.Abl indboywi t
hmor et hanusual imagi nati
on
dreamedt hathewasi nabat tl
einwhi chAl exandert heGr eatput
theGaul st oflight; hehear dthet hunderoft hecannon, butsawno
fl
ash.Ay oungmandr eamedt hathi smot herwasdead; thi sheknew
byt hecol dtouchofherbody .Henexthear dthechant i
ngoft he
Massatherf uner al.Thi syoungmanatt imesi mprovisesai r
si nhis
dreams.Apar tiall
y -
sightedgi rldreamsr epeat edlyofawi der i
v er
,
andi saf r
aidofbei ngdashedacr ossit,whileanxi oust osecur ethe
fl
ower sont heopposi t
ebank, whi chshedi ml ysees.Aboydr eamedof
beingpi ckedupbysomemy steriousagency ,
andt hensuddenl yall
owed
tofallfrom at remendoushei ght.Her eheawoke, andf oundhi shead
atthef ootoft hebed.Anot herdr eamedoft heJudgmentDay ,mai nl
y
i
nt ermsofhear ing.Hewasdr awnt oheav enbyar ope, clingingto
apol eusedf orexer cisi
ng; hehear dt het rumpet ssoundi ng, andt he
voicessi ngi ng, andsoon.Onedr eamedt hathewasonast eamboat
whi chsuddenl ysank, wher euponhequi etlywal kedashor e.Anot her,
thathisf at hersawsomewi ldpeopl ei nt hewat er,andswam outand
rescuedt hem; anot her ,ofal argeconf l
agr at
ion, ofwhi chhesaw
nothing, butwasconst ant l
yreceivingr epor t
sf rom theby stander s.
Agi rldreamedt hatshewassentbyherauntt ogetal oafofbr ead
from thecel lar,andwascaut ionednott ost ept oof ardowni nthe
cell
ar ,becauset herewaswat erther e;uponar r
ivingatt hedanger ous
placeshest oodst i
ll,andcal l
edf orheraunt .Anot herdr eamedof
chivalry,ast her esultofr eading"Ivanhoe; "anot herofv i
siti
ng
Lincolnandbei ngmuchi mpr essedwi t
ht hest rangenessoft hepl ace;
anot herofherexami nationi nphy sics--shepl acedapi eceofgl ass
onherf i
nger ,andshowedi t
scent reofgr av i
ty ,whent hegl assf ell
andbr okewi thacr ash; onanot heroccasi onshedr eamedt hatshewas
sick,wentt ot hedoct or ,andr ecov eredherf ul l
sight ,
andt hings
l
ookedst rangeandunf ami li
arwhencompar edwi ththeknowl edgeshe
hadder i
vedf rom t ouch.

Thest udyoft hedr eamsoft hebl i

ndt husemphasi zesmanypoi nts
ofinterestint henat ureanddev elopmentoft hecor ti
cal cent r
es
ofthehumanbr ai n;itgr aphicallyill
ust r
atest heexpl anat ory
poweroft hemoder nv iewoft heirfunct i
ons; anditpresent sina
newaspectcer t
ai nchar acteri
st i
csoft heirconst it
uti
on.I tshows
beyondaquest i
ont hatt hepowerofapper ceivingsight -
imagesi s
i
nnot ruesensei nnat e, butist hepr oductofsl owdev elopment
andlongt r
ai ning.Thatt hesamehol dst rueofot hercent resi s
provedbyamassofev i
dencegat heredf rom manyquar ters;wit
h
regardt othemot orcent r
es,itisev enexper iment all
ydet er mined
bytheobser vati
ont hatst imul ati
onoft hecent ralconv olutionsof
thebr ainsofpuppi esf ailstoexci t
et heappr opriat
emov ement s
ofthel egs, unlesst hepuppi esar eal readyni neort enday sold.
Thesef actswi llbeut i
li
zedi nt hef ormul ationofani mpor tant
development al l
awappl icableal iketophy siologicalandt o
psychol ogical processes.

The" criti
cal peri
od,"r evealedbyt heabov er esear ch, mustnotbe
under stoodasmar kingt hepointatwhi cht hev isual cent r
ebegi nsits
l
ife; thisindeedoccur satamuchear l
ierage, andt hiscent ref rom
theout setandcont inuousl yincreasesi ncompl exi tyandst abilit
y.
Norwast hest atementmadet hatt herewasnodi ffer enceher e
relevant ,bet weent hel ossofv isionatdi fferentagesbef oret he
criti
cal per iod.Thatachi ldwhohasseenupt othef our th,ort he
third, orev ent hesecondy earoflife,probabl yretainssomet races
ofv isual i
zingnotat tainablebyt hosewhoat tendedt heschool of
visionf orashor tert i
meornotatal l
,i
sbel ievedonev idenceof
agener al, butnotasy etofaspeci f
icnatur e.Amongot herfact sit
i
si ndi catedbyt heinf luenceoft heageofbl i
ndingont hef utur e
dev elopmentofnot edbl indpersons.Si mi l
ar l
y,aftert hecr itical
per i
od, thesamepr ocessesofgr owt handassi mi lationcont inue, as
i
sev idencedbyt hev aguechar acterandcompar ativel year l
ydecayof
thedr eam- v i
sionoft hosebecomi ngbl i
ndcl oseupont heendoft he
sev ent hy ear.Themor etimespenti ngat heringi nt hepr ovisions,
thelongerdotheyhol dout.Thesignif
icanceoft hecriticalperi
od
l
iesinitsdemonst rat
ingapoi nti
nthegr owthoft hehigher
sense-cent
res,atwhichadi vorcefr
om sense- i
mpr essionisnol onger
fol
lowedbyal ossoft heirpsychi
calmeani ng;apointatwhi ch
i
magi nati
onandabst racti
onfindasuf fi
cientl
yextendedandf i
rml
y
knitcoll
ect
ionofexper i
encest oenablethem tobui l
dupandkeep
ali
vetheiri
mpor tantf
unct i
ons;apointwher etheschol ardispenses
withtheobject-
lessonandl i
vesoffhiscapi t
al;apointatwhi ch
thescaffol
dingmaybet orndownandt heedifi
cewi llstand.

Theindicationofsuchaper i
odi nt hedevelopmentoft hehuman
mindbr ingsclearl
yintov i
ewt hedependenceoft hehigherment al
processesupont hebasisf urnishedt hem byt heexperiencesof
sensati
on; itst
ronglysuggest sar ati
onalorderandpr opor ti
on
i
nt hetrainingoftheseveral facultiesofthechi l
d'smind; and
fi
nall
y,itpreventstheformat ionandsur vi
val offalsenotions,by
substi
tut i
ngcertaindefi
nitethoughi ncompl eteknowledgef ormuch
i
ndefini
tet houghv er
ysy stemat i
cspeculation.

FOOTNOTES:

[13]Anotedblindt
eacheroft hebli
ndsays:"Wennwir.
..den
Einfl
ussderBli
ndheitaufdiegeist
igeThäti
gkei
tdesBli
nden
beobachten,sohabenwi rBl
indgeboreneundBli
ndgewordene.
..st
reng
auseinanderzuhal
ten."

[14]Thi sappl i
esmai nlytoi nt
el l
ect ual acqui rement s.The
emot ional l
ifeoft hosewhohav el ostt hei rsi ghti sof t
en, and
wi thmucht ruth,regardedassadderandmor edr earyt hant hatof
thecongeni tal
lybl i
nd; t
hef ormerr egr etf ullyappr eci atewhatt hey
hav el ost ;thel att
erl i
veinadi fferentandmor emeagr ewor ld,but
hav enev erknownanyot her.Itisi nterest i
ngi nt hisconnect iont o
tracet hei nfluenceoft heageof" blinding"( _ sitv eni aver bo_ )on
thement aldev elopmentofemi nentbl i
ndmenandwomen.Ofal i
st
of125bl i
ndper sonsofv eryv ariousdegr eesoft alent, whi chI
hav ebeenabl et ocol l
ect,theageofbl indi ngwas( approxi mat ely)
ascer t
ai nabl ein114cases.Oft heseabout11ar er eallyv ery
distingui shed, and10oft hem ( theexcept i
oni st hewonder ful
mat hemat ician,Ni cholasSaunder son)becamebl indei theri nadv anced
yout h, mi ddlel if
e,orst il
llater
; oft hegr oupnexti nemi nence
(about25)t heav er ageageoft heonsetofbl indnessi sinear ly
yout h( atni neort eny ears);andt hoseear l
iestbl i
ndar egener ally
musi cians, whol eastofal l
requi resi ghtf ort hei rcal l
ing.The
av erageageofbl i
ndingoft her estoft hel i
st --
whoseachi evement s
woul df ort hemostpar tnothav ebeenr ecor dedhadt heynotbeen
thoseofbl i
ndper sons--i
sasl owassev eny ear s, whi l
et hatoft he
musi cians( about15i nthegr oup)i sl i
ttleov ert hr eey ear s.Al l
thisspeaksst rongl yfortheper manenti nt ellectual impor t anceof
sighti near lyeducat i
on.

[15]Dr.Heermann'sobservat
ionsalsoenableustotracet he
anatomicalconditi
onsunderl
yingthepowerofdream- v i
si
on.Fr om ten
casesinwhi chpost-mort
em examinati
onswer ehel
d, heconcl udest hat
,
all
owingformuchi ndivi
dualdif
fer
ence,aft
erabouttwent yyear s
theopticnervesdegenerat
e,andof t
enasfarbackast hechiasma.
Thisshowst hatthenerveisnotnecessar
yf ordr
eam- visi
on,andt hus
goest oprovet
hattheprocessisdependentoncer
ebralorgans-
-a
val
uablepieceofevidencefi
ft
yyearsago.Esqui
rolr
ecordsacase
ofsight-
hall
uci
nat
ionsinablindwoman, agai
nindi
cati
ngthesame
conclusi
on.

[16]Af urtheri nt erestingquest i

onr egar dingt hedr eam- visionoft he
par ti
allybl indi s,Howmuchmustt heybeabl et oseei nor dert o
dr eam ofseei ng?I nanswer ingt hi squest ion,thebl indgivet hename
"seei ng"t owhati sr eall
yacompl exofsensat ionsandj udgment s,and
thissamecompl exmayent eri ntot heirdr eams.Casesoccuri nwhi ch
ther eisonl ythesl i
ght estr emnantofsi ght ,andy etthisfor msa
fact orindr eam- l
if
e.I tisav eryi mper f
ectki ndofv i
sion,and
act smor easagener alsenseofi ll
umi nat ion,andasanant i
cipatory
sense.Gener allyspeaki ng, t
hosewhoknowcol orhav emor ef r
equent
andbr ight erdr eam- vi
siont hant hosewhodi stinguishlightand
shadeonl y .Forexampl e, oft hosepar tiallyblindf rom birth, such
asseecol ortol erablywel l(therear esixt eensuch)hav er egul ar
dr eam- vision--ofcour se, nocl earert hant heirbestday sofsi ght.Of
elev enwhohav esomef aintnot ionofcol or,threehav edr eam- visi
on
regul arly
; sixhav ei trarely,whi l
et wo( al mostnev eror)nev erhav e
i
t .Ofel ev enwhocanseenocol oratal l, t
enhav enodr eam- visi
on,
andonehasi toccasi onal ly.

[17]Thatev enacompar at i
velysl ightdi st urbanceofv i
sion,
affect ingonl yasmal lpor ti
onoft hev isual exper i
ence,canl eav e
aper manentt raceupont hesi ght -cent rei smadev eryprobabl ebya
case( r
ecor dedbyDr .McCosh, _ Cogni tivePower s_,p.106)ofay oung
manwhosedef ectconsi stedi nhi sseei ngev ery t
hingdoubl e,-
-adefect
whi chasubsequentoper at i
onr emov ed." IfIattempt ,
"hewr i
tes,
"tor ecall scenest hatIsawwhi l
emyey eswer eoutofor der ,I
i
nv ar iablyseet hem ast heyappear eddur i
ngt hattime, althoughI
mayhav eseent hem manyt imessi ncet heoper ation.Fori nstance,in
thecaseoft hemi nisterint hepul pi tathome, Iseet woi magesof
him, nomat terhowmuchImayt ryt ogetr idofoneoft hem. ..
.My
recol lecti
onoft heof fi
cei nwhi cht heoper ati
onwasper formed,
asal soofev erythinginit, i
sdoubl e, althoughIsawi tonly
twicebef or ether estorationofmysi ght ,andmanyt imesaf ter.The
object swhi chIhav eseensi ncet heoper ationar ealway ssi nglewhen
recal led."

[
18]Ihavegatheredconsider
abledatainr
egar
dtothedr
eamsoft
he
deaf
,buttheyarenotreadyfordefi
nit
efor
mulati
on.

[19]Fr
om Dr .Hal
l'
smanuscr i
pt.Dr .Hal
l hadtheoppor t
unit
yof
observi
ngherdur i
ngt hr
eeshor tnaps,andhasi ncorporat
edapart
ofhismanuscr i
ptintoapaperonLaur aBr i
dgman, r
epubli
shedin
his_AspectsofGer manCulture_,pp.268-270.From thismanuscri
pt
Itakethefoll
owingill
ustr
ati
onsofherdr eams,andhermet hodof
descri
bingthem.Theyar erecordedv erbati
m.

"_Quest i
on._'Doy oudr eam often?'_Answer.
_'Veryoften,many
things.'_Q._'
Didy out hinkhardy est
erdaytorememberdr eamsf or
me? '_A._'Ididtry,butIalwaysf orgetver
ysoon.'_Q._'Didy ou
everdr eam tohear ?'[
Heri di
om f or'
thatyoucouldhear .
'
]_ A._
'
Onl ytheangel splayingi nheaven.'_Q._'
Howdi ditsound? '_A.
_
'
Ver ybeaut i
ful.
'_Q._'Likewhat? '_A.
_'Nothi
ng.'_
Q._'Wasi t
l
oud? '_A._' Yes, v ery .
'_ Q._'Whati nstrument ?'_ A. _'Piano. '_ Q._
'
Howdi dt heangel sl ook? '_A. _'Beaut i
ful.'_Q. _'Hadt heywi ngs? '
_A._'Icoul dnotknow. ' _Q. _'Wer et heymenorwomen? '_A. _'Don't
know. ' _
Q. _'Cany oudescr i
bet heirdr ess? '_ A._' No. '_Q._'Was
themusi cf astorsl ow? '_A. _'Icannott ell.
' Onanot heroccasi on
shewasasked, '
Di dy ouev erdr eam t osee? '_A. _'Icoul dseet he
sun.'_ Q._'Howdi di tlook? '_A. _'Gl or
ious. '_ Q._' Whatcol or ?'
_A._'Icannott ell'[wi t
hasi gnofgr eati mpat ience] ._ Q._'Was
i
tv erybr ight ?' _A. _' Yes. '
_ Q. _'Di dithur ty ourey es? '_A. _
'
Yes, theyached. '_ Q._'Whatwasi tli
ke? '_A. _'Not hing.Isawi t
withmyey es' [muchexci ted, br eathinghar dandf ast ,andpoi nting
toherr i
ghtey e].Someday sl ater ,aftersomepr ompt ingsf rom her
attendant s, sher enewedt hesubj ectofherownaccor d, asf oll
ows:
'
Irememberonceadr eam.Iwasi nav eryl argepl ace.I twasv ery
glori
ousandf ull ofpeopl e.Myf atherandmot herwer est andi ngby .
Thegl ori
ouspi anowaspl ay i
ng.WhenIhear dt hemusi cIr aisedup
myhandso' [st andi ngandpoi nt i
ngi mpr essi velyupwar dandf orward
witht hei ndexf inger ,
ast hel et tergi smadei nt hedeafanddumb
alphabet ]'tomyheav enl yFat her .It r
iedt osayGod. '_ Q._'Wi t h
yourf inger s? '_A. _'Yes. '_Q. _'Wher ewasGod? '_ A._' So' [
poi nt i
ng
asbef ore]._ Q. _' Faraway ? '_A. _'No. '_Q. _'Coul dy out ouchhi m? '
_A._'No. '_Q. _' Howdi dy ouknowhewast her e? '_A. _'Icannot
tell
.'_Q._'Howdi dy ouknowi twasGod? '_A. _'Icannotexpl ain.'
_Q._'Whatwashel ike? '_A. _[Af terapause]' Icannott el l
every t
hingt oev er ybody '
[hal fpl ay ful
ly,whi ppi ngherr i
ghthand
withherl eft, andt ouchi ngherf or eheadsi gni ficant ly, t
oi ndi cat e
thatshewasunabl eadequat elyt oex pr esswhatwasi nhermi nd]._Q.
_
'
Coul dhet ouchy ou? '_A._' No.Hei saspi ri
t .
'_ Q. _'Didhesee
you? '_A._' Heseesev erythi ng.Seehowmel anchol yIl ookbecauseI
donotf eel int er est ed.' Onanot heroccasi onshesai d,'Ioftendr eam
thatDoct orHowei sal i
v eandv er ysick, 'butnodet ai l
scoul dbe
eli
cited.Agai n, af terimi tatingt hegai tofdi f f
er entpeopl e, she
said, '
Idream of tenofpeopl ewal king.Idr eam manyt hings, butdo
notr ememberwhatIr eallydr eam.Iusedt odr eam ofani mal srunning
aroundt her oom, andi twokeme. '"

Iti
sevidentthatherdr eamsofhear i
ngandseei ngwereei t
her
merelyverbal,orthesubstit
uti
onandel aborat
ionofkindred
sensati
ons( senseofj arandheat)whichsheexper i
enced.Forfur
ther
examplesofherdr eamsseeher_ Lif
eandEducat ion_,byMrs.Lamson,
pp.88,154,166- 168,218,223,224,226,286,290,303,304.

[
20]_ TheLostSenses_ ,byJohnKi tt
o.Dr.Ki
ttodrawsani ngeni
ous
i
nf erencefrom thesonnetaddr essedbyMi l
tontohisdeceased
(second)wi fe,whom hemar ri
edaf tert
heonsetofhi sblindness.Fr
om
thel i
nes,"Itr
usttohav e|Ful
lsightofherinHeav '
nwi thout
restraint
,"and"Thefacewasv eil
ed,yett
omyf anci
edsi ght,
"etc.
,
hear guest hatthepoetwasunabl et oi
maginet hefaceofhi swife,
whi chhehadnev erreal
lyseen,andsosawt hefacev eil
ed;buthoped
i
nt hef uturewor l
dtohav e"
fullsi
ghtofherwi t
houtrest r
aint.
"

[21]Ihaveev
idencetoindicatethatamongt hebli
nd( asprobably
amongstpersonsatlarge)womendr eam mor eext
ensivelythanmen,that
i
s, t
heyhavemor e"fr
equent"andf ewer" occasi
onal
"dr eamer st
han
men.Theper i
odfrom fi
vet oniney earsi
sr i
cherindreamst hanthe
periodfr
om t
ent ofourt
eeny ears,andf r
om thenonasl i
ghtdecrease
withageoccurs.Itistochi
ldhood,theperi
odofl
iv
elyimagi
nat i
on
andofahighlytingedemot i
onalli
fe(andtowomen,whopr esent
thesechar
acteri
sticsmorepr ominentl
ythanmen)
,thatdr
eam- l
ife
bri
ngsitsr
ichesthar v
est.

I
NDEX

Al
chemy,18,171;
probl
emsof ,19;
modernformsof ,20;
typeofoccult
ism repr
esent
edby
,20.

Analogy,asappl iedinpseudo-science,23,43,44,267,268;
asalogicalpr ocess,237,267, 272;
thenaturalhi
st oryvi
ewof ,236sqq. ,271;
ascharacteri
st icofpri
miti
vet hought-habi
ts,239,241,247;
i
nchildren,251;
seealso,Met aphor,My t
h,Number s,
Superstiti
on,Symbolism,
Unusual.

Ani
mal
Magnet
ism;
seeMesmer
.

Apper
cept
ion,
il
lust
rat
edbydi
agr
ams,
283-
295.

Astr
ology,18,171,
266-
269;
i
nteresti
n,23;
l
ogicunderlyi
ng,
23.

At
tent
ion,misdi
rect
ionof
,121,
124;
expectant
,294.

Aut
omat
icwr
it
ing,
333.

Aut
omat
ogr
aph,
309.

Bear
d,Dr
.G.M.
,229.

Beli
ef,f
ixati
onof,40,104,
105;
occult
,seeOccult;
psychologyof
,38,60.

Ber
nhei
m,-
--
-,230.

Ber
trand,
---
-,201.

Besant
,Mr
s.,
10.

Bi
net
,--
--
,157.

Bl
avat
sky
,Mme.
,7,
8,9,
10.
Bl
i
ndness, 340;
tot
al,341;
part
ial,343,344;
indream- l
if
e,361-363,367,368;
ageofonsetanddr eam-v i
sion,341-
344,
369,
370;
andt heimaginati
on,363, 364;
andspeci alsensi
bil
it
ies,365-367.

Br
aid,James, 205;
hisear l
yobser vat
ions,206,207;
hishistori
cal posi
tion,207,208;
hismet hod,207;
histheories,209,211;
hisrelati
ontophr enology,209,210;
hislaterwrit
ings,211;
detectionofunconsci oussuggestion,
211,
212;
hisstatus,213.

Br
and,
---
-,241.

Br
idgman,
Laura,
366;
dreamsof,
347-350.

CensusOf
fi
ce,
301.

Char
cot
,J.M.
,69,
228,
338.

ChristianSci ence,26,44;
originof ,27;
princi pl
esof ,27-
30, 31,
32;
text -bookof,28;
extr avaganceof ,30,31,32;
ant agonism tosci ence,33.

Cl
air
voy
ance,14,223,
226;
seePuységur.

Cl
ocquet
,--
--
,214.

Cl
odd,
Edwar
d,241,
242,
244,
245,
248,
265,
272.

Coinci
dences,
81,83,
88,
90;
andchance,84,
97.

Col
or,
associ
ati
onwi
thsound,
366,
367.

Conj
uri
ng;
seeDecept
ions,
conj
uri
ng.

Cont
agi
on,
ment
al,
132-
134.

Dar
li
ngi
sm,
224.

Dar
win,
Erasmus,
346.
Dav
ey,
---
-;seeHodgsonandDav
ey.

Deaf
ness,
inr
elat
iont
odr
eams,
347.

Deception, asdependentuponobj ecti

vecondit
ions,
109;
asdependentuponhabi t,111;
l
ov eof ,111;
hist
or i
cal aspectof, 112;
conjuring,113, 114-117, 120-128;
asimi tati
onofr eal
i
ty ,116-118;
asdependentuponsubj ectivecondit
ions,
118,120-128;
andt echni calknowledge, 13,128,148;
analysisof ,129;
asinfluencedbycont agion,132-134;
l
iabil
ityto, 150;
seeal soI l
lusi
on.

Del
euze,
J.P.F.
,217.

Desl
on,
183,
184.

Di
ckens,
Char
les,
350.

Di
gby
,Si
rKenel
m,261.

Dor
man,
---
-,240,
246,
249.

Dr
awi
ngs,
equi
vocal
,286-
295.

Dr
eams,
sensoryfact
orsin,
364,365;
oft
hebli
nd;seeBli
ndness;seeOmens.

Dupot
et,
---
-,202,
224.

Dy
er,
---
-,256,
258,
264.

Eccent
ri
copi
nions,
2.

Eddy
,Mar
yBakerGl
over
,27.

El
ect
ro-
biol
ogy
,219.

Engl
i
nton,
---
-,146.

Esdai
l
e,-
--
-,215.

Fari
a,Abbé,
200;
hi
suseofsuggest
ion,
201.

Fol
k-medi
cine,
260,
265.

Fox,
Mar
gar
etandKat
ie,
138.

Fr
azer
,--
--
,254.
Fur
ness,
Hor
aceHowar
d,142-
144,
158,
163.

Gal
ton,
Franci
s,338,
366.

Gassner
,JohannJoseph,
179,
180.

Gr
eat
eri
ckorGr
eat
rakes,
Val
ent
ine,
176-
178,
180.

Gr
egor
y,Wi
l
li
am,
222.

Hal
l
,G.St
anl
ey,
347,
348.

Hal
l
uci
nat
ions,
71.

Hansen,
---
-,229.

Heer
mann,
Dr.G.
,342,
343.

Hodgson,
Richar
d,8,147,150;
andDavey
,129,149,151-
157.

Hol
l
eri
th,
---
-,301.

Houdi
n,Rober
t,121,
122.

Husson,
---
-,202.

Hy
pnot i
sm, 67,171;
histor
yof ,172sqq.,203,227,231-235;
beforetheAcademi es,202-205;
extravagancesof,214,217-227;
asappl i
edt omedici
ne, 202,204,214;
lessonsof ,231-
235.

Hy
pot
hesi
s,i
tsl
ogi
cal
stat
us,
100,
101.

I
ll
usion,109,
110;
opti
cal,
282,284;
ofambiguousoutli
nes,
286sqq.
;
seealsoDecepti
on.

I
mages,
thei
rusei
nmagi
c,244.

I
ner
ti
a,ment
al,
296,
297-
300.

I
nterest
,ascreati
ngcoinci
dences,88-92;
asinf
luenci
ngpercepti
on,119;
i
nPsy chi
calResear
ch,56-58,63,65.

I
nvolunt
aryMovements,307;
i
l
lustr
ati
onsof,
312-321;
i
nfl
uenceofbodil
yposit
ionupon,
322-
330;
 analy
sisof
,322-330;
var
ieti
esof,334;
eff
ectsofobjectofatt
enti
onupon,
331-
333;
seealsoSubconscious.

I
nvol
unt
arywhi
sper
ing,
335,
336.

James,
Wil
l
iam,
39,
41,
43.

Kel
l
ar,
Har
ry,
122,
140,
150.

Kell
er,Hel
en,366;
heraccountofherdream-l
i
f e,
353-358;
hermentaltr
ait
s,351,352,359,360.

Ki
tt
o,John,
363,
366.

Kner
r,Dr
.,141,
142,
145.

Lang,
Andr
ew,
14,
21,
66,
166,
176.

LeBon,
---
-,134.

Lewi
s,Pr
of.Car
vil
l
,146.

Li
ebaul
t,A.A.
,216.

Logi
c,asappli
edtotheoccult
,3,
13,
19,
23,
30,
31,
39;
l
ogi
cali
tyandrat
ional
i
ty,45.

Lubbock,
SirJ.
,242,
252.

Magi
c,242,257,265;
sympatheti
c,240,241,246,
254,261-
263,
273;
corr
espondencesin,266;
seealsoImages,Names, Numbers.

Mahat
ma,
8,10.

Mar
ti
neau,
Har
ri
et,
221,
222.

McCosh,
Dr.
,346.

Medi
cine;
seeFol
k-medi
ci
ne;
seeal
soSuper
sti
ti
on.

Ment
alCommuni
ty,
80-
83.

Ment
alTel
egr
aphy
;seeTel
epat
hy.

Mesmer,Fr
iedrichAnton,
14,25,
36,
43,
180;
histheor
ies,181,189;
hispract
ices,181,190,
191;
 hisParisi
ancar eer,
182-189;
thecommi ssi
ont oexamine,185-
187,192,193;
hisatti
tude,187;
cari
caturesof,188;
hisstatusinregardtoHy pnoti
sm,191,192.

Met
aphor
,inr
elat
iont
oanal
ogy
,248,
264,
270.

Mi
nd,
itsi
nfl
uenceov
erbody
,26,
37,
38;
mort
al,
28,29.

Mi
nd-
readi
ng;
seeMuscl
e-r
eadi
ng.

Mi
racl
es;
seeSuper
nat
ural
.

Muscl
e-r
eadi
ng,
308,
324.

My
th,
inr
elat
iont
oanal
ogy
,270.

Names,
thei
rusei
nMagi
c,243-
245,
257.

Nancy
,School
of,
230.

Numbers,i
nMagic,
258;
i
nrel
ati
ontoanal
ogy,
259.

Obser
vat
ion,
def
ect
sof
,87,
153-
155.

Occult,natureof,3;
mot i
vest hati
nclinetothe,4,39,40,
43;
conditi
onst hatfavorthe,5,57;
persi
stenceof ,46;
anti
dot etothe,46.

OccultHeali
ng,25,26,33, 34;
var
ieti
esof,34,35;
byabsenttreat
ment, 36;
ext
ravagancesof,35, 37.

Od,
225.

Omens,243,253;
bycontrar
ies,250;
indreams,255-257.

Oudet
,Dr
.--
--
,204,
215.

Pal
mi str
y,18;
i
nteresti
n,23;
l
ogicunderly
ing,
23.

Percept
ion,106,108,110;
asdeterminedbyinter
est,
119;
 andexpect
ati
on,
120.

Per
sonal
int
erpr
etat
ionofev
ent
s,17,
40-
42,
56,
84.

Péteti
n,-
--
-,197,198;
histr
ansposit
ionofthesenses,
199.

Phrenology
,18,171;
i
nteresti
n,23;
l
ogicunderly
ing,
23.

Phy
siognomy
,18.

Podmor
e,Fr
ank,
10,
162,
164,
167.

Pr
epossessi
on,44,120,126,
127,130,131,
151,
162-
166,
296,
297-
300;
anoteworthyi
ll
ustrat
ionof
,301-304.

Pseudo-sci
ence,5,20,21,24;
temperof,22;
pract
ical
aspectof,18,21,25;
vari
eti
esof,35.

Psychi
cal Research,theprogrammeof ,50;
t
hetrendof ,51,62, 75-
77;
i
nter
estscont ri
butingto,56-58,63,
65,66;
t
hepr oblemsof ,67;
r
elat
iont oPsychology ,
seePsy chol
ogy.

Psy chology,scopeof,51;
relati
ont oPsychicalResear
ch,
52-
56,
58-
61,
64,
65,
76;
diffi
culti
esinteaching,298.

Puységur,
Marqui
sA.M.J.Chastenetde,194;
hi
sdiscover
yofsomnambuli
sm, 194,195;
hi
sv i
ewsandstat
us,196,
197.

Quacker
y,25.

Rei
chenbach,
Bar
on,
225.

Ry
dber
g,-
--
-,266,
267.

Sal
pêt
ri
ère,
202,
228,
231.

Scher
er,
---
-,366.

Science,
thespir
itof
,48;
thenatur
eof,49;
anderrorof
,69.

Sensat
ion,
andper
cept
ion,
106,
107.
Sey
ber
tCommi
ssi
on,
140,
141,
158.

Si
dgwi
ck,
Mrs.
,141,
157.

Si
ght
;seeVi
sion.

Si
gnat
ures,
doct
ri
neof
,264.

Si
nnet
t,A.P.
,10,
11.

Sl
ade,
Henr
y,139,
140,
141.

Somnambul
i
sm,
art
if
ici
al,
197,
198.

Spir
itual
ism, 12,27,44,125;
mani f
estationsof,13,128,131;
ori
ginof ,
14, 15,137,166,167;
doctri
nesof ,15,161,165;
presentstatusof ,
16,18,169;
fr
auddi sclosedin,140,141,142-
145,
146,
157,
159.

Spi
ri
tual
i
sts,
temperof
,16,
17.

St
ati
sti
cs,
inr
elat
iont
oment
alpr
obl
ems,
84-
86.

Subconsci
ous,
70,
79,
92,
108,
128,
129,
308.

Suggesti
on,230;
unconsci
ous,68,
174,
186,
199,
211,
233.

Sul
l
y,James,
111,
345.

Super
natur
al,di
ver
gencebet
weenr
epor
tandf
act
,153,
155,
158;
conf
li
ctwit
hscience,
174.

Super
sti
ti
on,252,254,
258;
i
nrel
ati
ont oanal
ogy,253;
i
nmedicine,259.

Sur
viv
als,
240,
248,
269,
274.

Sy
mbol
i
sm,
inr
elat
iont
oanal
ogy
,248,
249,
270.

Sy
mpat
hy;
seeMagi
c,sy
mpat
het
ic.

Telepathy, 72,73,78;
l
ogi calstatusof,74;
evidencef or,96-98,103;
vali
dityasanhy pothesis,
99;
i
ncl i
nationtowar d,104.

Theosophy,
7,27;
Mr.Hodgson'
sinv
esti
gati
onof
,8,
9;
al
legedmir
acl
esof,9,10;
 doct
ri
nesof
,11,
12.

Thought
-habi
ts,
inchi
l
drenandsav
ages,
251,
271,
272.

Tr
ipl
ett
,Nor
man,
117,
123.

Ty
lor
,--
--
,167,
240,
242,
250,
253,
256,
267,
270,
273.

Ty
ndal
l
,--
--
,135.

Unconsci
ousnessofdef
ect
s,79,
80;
seeal
soSubconsci
ous.

Unknown,
att
it
udet
owar
dthe,
49.

Unusual
,i
nrel
ati
ont
oanal
ogy
,250,
260.

Vi
sion,it
snature, 276, 337;
subjectiv
eandobj ective,276;
subjectiv
efact ori n,277, 279,280,283,288-
295;
interpr
etati
oni n, 285, 286-295;
educat i
onoft hev isualcentre,341,345-
347,369,
370;
itsfuncti
onindr eams, 339.

Vi
sual
i
zingpower
,338.

Zöl
l
ner
,--
--
,139.

TheRiv
ersi
dePr
ess
_
Elect
rot
ypedandprint
edbyH.O.Houghton&Co.
_
_Cambri
dge,Mass.
,U.S.A.
_

* * * * *

Tr
anscr
iber
'sNot
e:

Obvioust
y pogr
aphicaler
ror
swer
erepair
ed,butper
iodspel
l
ingsand
hyphenat
ioninconsist
enci
eswer
eret
ained.

EndofPr
ojectGut
enber
g'sFactandFabl
einPsy
chol
ogy
,byJosephJast
row

*
**ENDOFTHI
SPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKFACTANDFABLEI
NPSYCHOLOGY*
**

**
***Thi
sfi
leshouldbenamed48869-
0.t
xtor48869-
0.zi
p***
**
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sandall
associatedf
il
esofv
ari
ousformatswil
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n:
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tp:
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enber
g.or
g/4/
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