390 Experimental Investigation of Table-Moving. [1853. 



only because it seems to be new or strange. Persons do not know 

 how difficult it is to press directly downward, or in any given 

 direction against a fixed obstacle, or even to know only whether 

 they are doing so or not; unless they have some indicator, 

 which, by visible motion or otherwise, shall instruct them: 

 and this is more especially the case when the muscles of the 

 fingers and hand have been cramped and rendered either 

 tingling, or insensible, or cold by long-continued pressure. 

 If a finger be pressed constantly into the corner of a window- 

 frame for ten minutes or more, and then, continuing the 

 pressure, the mind be directed to judge whether the force at 

 a given moment is all horizontal, or all downward, or how 

 much is in one direction and how much in the other, it will 

 find great difficulty in deciding ; and will at last become 

 altogether uncertain : at least such is my case. I know that a 

 similar result occurs with others ; for I have had two boards 

 arranged, separated, not by rollers, but by plugs of vulcanized 

 rubber, and with the vertical index : when a person with 

 his hands on the upper board is requested to press only 

 downwards, and the index is hidden from his sight, it 

 moves to the right, to the left, to him and from him, and in 

 all horizontal directions ; so utterly unable is he strictly to 

 fulfil his intention without a visible and correcting indicator. 

 Now, such is the use of the instrument with the horizontal 

 index and rollers : the mind is instructed, and the involuntary 

 or quasi involuntary motion is checked in the commencement, 

 and therefore never rises up to the degree needful to move 

 the table, or even permanently the index itself. No one can 

 suppose that looking at the index can in any way interfere 

 with the transfer of electricity or any other power from the 

 hand to the board under it or to the table. If the board tends 

 to move, it may do so, the index does not confine it; and if 

 the table tends to move, there is no reason why it should not. 

 If both were influenced by any power to move together, they 

 may do so, as they did indeed when the apparatus was tied, 

 and the mind and muscles left unwatched and unchecked. 



I must bring this long description to a close. I am a little 

 ashamed of it, for I think, in the present age, and in this part of 

 the world, it ought not to have been required. Nevertheless 

 I hope it may be useful. There are many whom I do not 



