1872.) ; Notices of Books. 76 
some intelligence. But to the conclusions of the sub-committee, 
the objection was taken that possibly their senses were deceived 
—that they were themselves in the condition to which the absurd 
and non-scientific name of Electro-Biology has been given, and 
that they saw and heard only what the medium willed them 
to see and hear. Improbable as was this explanation, it was not 
absolutely impossible, and it was to test it beyond doubt that 
Mr. Crookes devised the mechanism described in former numbers 
of this journal. Wood and metal at least were not capable of 
being biologised, whatever that may mean; these materials 
were not subject to the influence of fear or wonder, but could 
record only the impression actually and physically made upon 
them. ‘The reader already knows the result of the experiments 
made with these passionless agents ; they are on all-fours with 
the results obtained by the forty experimental meetings of the 
Investigation Sub-Committee. Two or three of the tests 
employed by the Committee are worth recording, to show the 
care and ingenuity with which those tests were applied. 
So long as there was actual contact with the table, even by a 
single finger, there was no absolute certainty that muscular 
force was not the motive power. The attention of the Com- 
mittee was therefore directed to obtaining, if possible, motion 
without contact. In this they were entirely successful—not 
once only, but so frequently as to place the phenomenon beyond 
doubt. The experiment was contrived thus :—The backs of the 
chairs were turned to the table, and the party knelt upon the seats, 
thus precluding possibility of contact with the feet. The arms 
were laid on the backs of the chairs with the hands extended 
over the table, in full light, so that the slightest motion of any 
person would be visible to all the others. The hands were thus 
held at first at a distance of 6 inches from the table—a heavy and 
large dining table. It moved several times over a space of from 
4to7 inches. The hands were withdrawn successively to dis- 
tances of g, 12, 18, and 24 inches from the table: still it moved 
as before, and the sounds came from it. Then the party stood 
round it at a distance of 3 feet from it, holding hands, and in 
this position the table moved over a space of 2 feet at one 
lurch, and frequently over lesser spaces. This did not occur on 
one evening only, but the experiment was repeated again and 
again with the same results. It must be observed that the 
psychic was not a paid or professional medium, but one found in 
private life whose uprightness was beyond question. 
The Committee of the Society limited their investigation to 
the testing the reality of the phenomena. It was no part of their 
duty to inquire into the causes, and therefore being completely 
satisfied, although entirely sceptical when they commenced their 
labours, they contented themselves with reporting the results, and 
the minutes of each meeting as they were verified by the signa- 
tures of those present are published in the Appendix. 
