87 



table should be elevated, the person whose hands are placed 

 at that side pushes the table, the person opposite presses 

 downwards and pulls, while those who occupy the other sides 

 force tlie table, by a lateral pressure, in the direction in which 

 it is pushed— 'ill these movements being such as are best cal- 

 culated to effect the object in view, when the hands are so 

 placed as ctbove stated. The result is that the side of the 

 t able is raised where the legs are situated near its centre (so 

 that the centre of gravity is easily displaced) — or that the 

 table is moved along the floor where the legs are situated 

 near the table's margin, especially if the floor is smooth. 



The conclusion, therefore, at which I have arrived is, that 

 the motion of the table is caused by the muscular action of the 

 persons who place their hands upon it ; which action appears 

 to them to be involuntary, on account of its not taking place 

 in immediate consequence of volition. 



It follows, then, that the effect is produced independently 

 of direct electrical, or electro-biological, influence, engendered 

 by the usual contact of hands completing the circle. This is 

 demonstrated by the fact that the motion takes place without 

 such contact of the hands. In fact, similar effects are pro- 

 duced, within the ordinary period of time, by the hands of one 

 operator only. 



In order to demonstrate that the result is effected by 

 muscular action alone, I threw a light cloth over a polished 

 round table. The persons who placed their hands upon it, — 

 not in contact — willed that the table should turn towards the 

 left. In a short time the cloth began to move in front of one 

 person only, becoming tight on the right, and wrinkled on the 

 left of his position ; then the same effect was produced in the 

 case of another. But it was only when the hands of aU the 

 operators were in decided motion from right to left that the 

 whole cloth was moved round equally — the table remaining 

 quite stationary all the time. 



The next experiment was to raise the table entirely from 

 the floor by placing the palms of the hands on the margin of 

 the table, and the thumbs underneath— the operators willing 

 that the table should rise— which was successfully performed 

 within the usual space of time. 



The succeeding experiment was to raise the table by placing 

 the whole hand flat upon the margin,— the operators willing, 

 as before, that the table should rise ; but the hands alone 

 were elevated — the table remaining unmoved, as might have 

 been expected. 



My next deduction was, that this peculiar operation of the 

 will might be applied to any kind of muscular exertion, the 

 truth of which was demonstrated by the following experi- 

 ments : — In the first, two persons took one end each of a 

 piece of twine, and wiUed that the twine should break. 

 Accordingly, their hands began shortly to move in opposite 

 directions, and the movement increased in force until the twine 

 gave way. Then, two persons stood up together, and willed 



