so THE HORSE OF MR. VON OSTEN 



sponses from the horse. Often, in both cases, a com- 

 plete absence of any kind of minimal movement had been 

 noted. The accuracy of these observations in the case 

 of Mr. von Osten is attested by Mr. Stumpf and Mr. von 

 Hornbostel, and by these same gentlemen and Prof. F. 

 Schumann in the case of Mr. Schillings and myself. 

 They also found these movements to be most minute in 

 the case of Mr. von Osten. In my case also they pro- 

 nounced them " minimal, and often quite imperceptible ". 

 All other persons who have seen me work with the horse, 

 but who were not familiar with the nature of these move- 

 ments, never perceived them, no matter how closely they 

 observed me. 



Since the doubt was expressed that these movements 

 did not precede but followed closely upon the back-step of 

 the horse (i. e', that an error with regard to the time- 

 element was involved), it became important that time 

 measurements be taken. This was done in the following 

 manner : The questioner asked the horse to tap numbers 

 from 5 to 20, seldom higher. He purposely refrained 

 from pronouncing the number, but recorded it after each 

 test had been completed. This was a matter of indiffer- 

 ence to the horse (see page 42), and had the advantage 

 that the measurement was not influenced by knowledge 

 on the part of the time-keeper. Two observers were 

 required, one watching the horse, the other the questioner. 

 Both observers had fifth-second stop-watches. The larger 

 face of this watch shows the fifth-second and a hand 

 on the smaller face indicates the minute. Bv pressing 

 upon the stem the watch may be set in motion at any 

 moment desired, and by pressing it once more it may 

 be instantly stopped, and the time clasping between 



