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London expert. The next kind of rhythm was the one specially referred 

 to, and to which he had given the title of the rhythm of progress. In the 

 examination of this he had found it best to use a binocular microscope, 

 ■with Ziess's objective 3in. to 5in. and a very intense illumination by the 

 concentration of the light of a lamp upon the paper by means of a 

 powerful bull's-eye. The idea was that in the act of writing the co- 

 ordination of the muscles, being the result of a nervous wave, was 

 rhythmical, and produced an effect upon the paper of a wavy or moniliform 

 appearance, and it was claimed by the writer of the article referred to that 

 this varied characteristically in the handwriting of different persons. That 

 it did so he could affirm positively. The third kind he had called the 

 rhythm of pressure, some persons making a thick downstroke and a thin 

 upstroke, and others not making much variety. He proposed, therefore, 

 to formulate these three rythms— of form, progress, and pressure — and 

 he thought it would be readily seen that when they all combined in the 

 same manner in the specimens of handwriting under examination it 

 amounted to a moral certainty that they were written by the same hand. 

 He thought from this slight outline of the principles of his system the 

 members of the Club would be able to follow it up, and he hoped they 

 would be induced to study it. For his own part he wanted as much in- 

 vestigation as was possible, being much more concerned for truth than for 

 victory, and he was also desirous that people should know that science 

 was of some more use than merely for amusement. 



The Chairman said that having heard this subject introduced by Dr. 

 Wythe, no doubt there would be a desire to ask him some further questions 

 upon it. To most of them it would probably be new, and would, therefore, 

 possess some additional interest on that account. He would, therefore, 

 invite observations upon it, for although they were promised the oppor- 

 tunity of some day reading the description in full, yet as they had that 

 evening the author amongst them in propria persona they could question 

 him, whereas the paper itself would be dumb. 



Mr. J. J. Kern asked if it made any difference in the character of the 

 curves when the pen was held in different ways. 



Dr. Wythe said that if the pen was held very slopingly there would be a 

 difference in the appearance of the stroke, and the lines would show a 

 ragged edge. They could easily tell how the pen was held by the marks it 

 made, but the rhythm would be the same notwithstanding. 



Mr. Waller inquired if the texture of the paper would not make a con- 

 siderable difference. 



Dr. Wythe said it had been suggested that the second rhythm was pro- 

 duced by irregular absorption due to the nature of the material written 

 upon. No doubt this did have some effect, but though the texture of the 

 paper would make some difference, it did so only to a comparatively slight 

 extent. 



Mr. Karop said that from a physiological point of view one would 

 naturally suppose that such an effect as that described by Dr. Wythe would 

 take place. Writing was a muscular act, and, like all muscular actions, was 

 made up of a series of impulses, or waves. 



Dr. Wythe said that the first crucial test, to which he was put by the 



