GENERAL PAPERS 113 
by the numerous changes that political methods always bring 
about, is positively essential. In those States where such con- 
ditions exist, and where scientific and medical experts have been 
allowed to work out these problems conscientiously, there has 
been the greatest measure of success and genuine progress. 
WIRELESS TRANSMISSION OF MESSAGES IN THE 
OLDEN TIME 
Francis E. NipHER, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, St. Louis 
The system of wireless transmission of messages which is 
row in use, and which is attracting attention as a modern won- 
der, is a modification of methods which have been in use since 
the dawn of history. They were, in fact, used, not only by, 
primeval man, but by other animals of that time. These earlier 
methods are still in use by descendants of those animals, 
An illustration may serve as an introduction to a discussion 
of this subject. At our summer home at the northern end of 
Lake Huron, one of the companions of my grandchildren is a 
very intelligent dog. When we leave for our St. Louis home, 
the dog has for several years been escorted to the home of a 
farmer who lives among the hills and trees, about a mile from 
our lakeside home. 
Last fall, when we were preparing to leave, and when some 
of the window blinds were being put in place, on the day before 
we closed the house, this dog began to express his disapproval. 
He had a mental record of previous events of a similar char- 
acter. He had the ability of a prophet. He knew what was in 
store for him. After expressing his displeasure by many plain- 
tive and prolonged sounds, he suddenly disappeared. There 
had been no attempt to train this dog to do what he did. He 
acted on his own initiative. He had received a wireless mes- 
sage, transmitted to him by means of ether waves acting upon 
certain nerves leading from his eyes to his brain, and thence 
to him, and he decided to act on the information which he had 
received. His young companions finally learned, on visiting 
the home of the farmer, that this dog had already retired 
along some of the Indian trails, to his winter home, without 
waiting for their services as guides. 
