80 



SLUIOP AND OJ8I0AMS. 



tonclicd at all. It sliould also bo stated, that in spite of 

 hints to the contraiy, conversation went on in the room, so 

 that (on tlio supposition of "shamming"), the subject might 

 have gathered information. 



Mr. Edmund Gurney (late Follow of Trinity College, 

 Cambridge, Hon. Sec. to the Society for Psychical Re- 

 soai-ch), arrived about 9 o'clock, and suggested that Conway 

 .should bo tried with "community of taste." Accordingly 

 Mr. Smith stood as before behind him, whilst Mr. Edmund 

 Girrncy Inmded him small quantities of powdered condi- 

 ments and drugs. As Mr. Smith placed these on his own 

 tongue, tho sensitive was asked what he tasted. Ho was 

 occasionally right, but on the whole it was not considered 

 satisfactory. 



Tlirough tlie kindness of Mr. Leonard I attended another 

 seance, at which the subject went through still more ex- 

 ti'aordinary pranks, but gave me the idea of " acting a part," 

 but on this hypothesis he must have been a splendid 

 comedian. One thing which he did appeared very strange. 

 Tlio mesmerisor, in this case Mr. Leonard, told him he was 

 a Dutch clock, and ho became immediately stifF and rigid, 

 and struck the hour when told to. Whilst in this condition 

 he was placed with his head on one chiiir and his heels on 

 another. He remained in this trying posture for 4| minutes, 

 and resisted pressure made upon his body. His pulse was 

 cpiickoned, but there was no other sign of excessive muscular 

 cffoi't. 



Dr. Cromen, of Cork, records a case of morbid somnolence 

 in a patient who passed into asomewliat similar ciondition to 

 the mesmeric one whilst in tho hospital He continued in 

 this state sometimes for four days. When placed with his 

 lioad (HI one stool and tho heel of one foot on another, witli 

 tho other log elevated at right angles, he snpported a weight 



