Apparent Diminution of Weight in certain circumstances. 225 



surprise and that of his bearers, he rises with the greatest facility, 

 as if he were no heavier than a feather. On several occasions I 

 have observed when one of the bearers performs his part ill, by ma- 

 king the inhalation out of time, the part of the body which he tries 

 to raise is left, as it were, behind. As you have repeatedly seen the 

 experiment and performed the part both of the load and the bearer, 

 you can testify how remarkable the effects appear to all parties, and 

 how complete is the conviction, either that the load has been light- 

 ened, or the bearer strengthened by the prescribed process. Major 

 H. declared the experiment would not succeed if the person were 

 placed on a board and the strength of the individuals applied to the 

 board. He conceived it necessary that the bearers should commu- 

 nicate directly with the body to be raised. I have not had an op- 

 portunity of making any experiments relative to these curious facts, 

 but whether the general effect is an illusion, or the result of knouTi 

 or of new principles, the subject merits a careful investigation." 



Upon reading the above, my curiosity was sufficiently excited to 

 induce a repitition of the experiments with a view merely to satisfy 

 myself whether the whole affair was, as is above suggested, an illusion 

 or an inexplicable fact. For this purpose and with the aid of some 

 friends, the trials were varied and continued at different times, until 

 all were satisfied " that the load had been lightened or the bearers 

 strengthened by the prescribed process." As the results we obtain- 

 ed may throw some light on the subject, I subjoin them for the cu- 

 rious. The " load" was represented by a young gentleman weigh- 

 ing about 120 lbs., who was placed on a table with the bearers, two 

 on each side, so that they could respectively apply one hand to each 

 shoulder and leg. The terms " more difficulty" and '' more ease" 

 refer to the exertion requisite to lift the load under ordinary cii'cum- 

 stances. 



1st. Lifted simultaneously, by signal, without preparation to as- 

 certain what resistance was to be overcome. 



2nd. Repeated the first. 



3rd. Used the method prescribed by Sir D. B., but not acting in 

 unison, felt no relief. 



4th. Repeated third, more successfully and evidently lifted with 

 more ease. 



5tli. Repeated fourth, with same result. 



6th. Repeated the first. 



Vol. XXVII.— No. 2. 29 



