December 19, 1913] 



SCIENCE 



895 



TABLE I 



Deviation of Subjects Having Imaginary Maps 



obtained by a compass and marked on the disk. 

 The true north was ascertained later. 



The correct direction from New York, N. T., 

 to the distant points above mentioned was ob- 

 tained from one of the staff of the American. 

 Geographical Society who made the necessary 

 calculations. They were as follows: 



North Pole 0° 0' 



London 51° 10' 



Panama 190° 20' 



'25' 



'59' 



San Francisco . . .281° 

 Albany, N. Y. . . 4° 



(51° 10' east of north). 

 (10° 20' west of south). 

 (78° 35' west of north). 

 (4° 59' east of north) . 



The percentage of individuals having the 

 so-called imaginary map can only be decided 

 by extensive data on the subject, but in order 

 to learn the approximate ratio in a certain 

 class, twenty-seven persons, taken at random, 

 were questioned. The results were as follows : 

 Total number of persons (males) consulted. ... 27 



Those having "imaginary maps" 16 



Those having no ' ' imaginary maps " 8 



Cases that were uncertain 3 



Of the 16 having " imaginary maps " 

 14 were more or less confused when coming 

 out of theaters, subways, etc. 



Of the 8 having no " imaginary maps," 7 

 were not confused when coming from theater 

 and had in general a good " sense of direc- 

 tion." (These ratios are similar to those in 

 Tables I. and III.). 



According to these figures, the number of 

 persons in 27 having " imaginary maps " was 

 about 59 per cent. These statistics are far too 

 few on which to base any general conclusions 

 other than the prevalence and importance of 

 this curious so-called " imaginary map." 



Certain physiological effects connected with 

 this matter are of interest; Yves Delage has 

 touched upon the subject in his " Essay on 

 the Constitution of Ideas." He states that 

 when he is " turned around " or confused in 

 regard to direction, he feels a sensation of ill- 

 ness at the moment of rectification of his no- 

 tions. 



1 Subject is confused as to directions on coming 

 out of theaters and subways. 



2 Subject is not usually confused as to directions 

 on coming out of theaters and subways. 



