1885.] Psychology. 207 
thoughts to another ; and to go further, we might say that until 
we can fully explain the phenomena of electricity we have no 
right to attempt to define the bounds of possibility in nature. 
Electricity has been known and utilized for years, but we are no 
nearer to a definite idea of what it really is than we were in the 
time of Volta and Galvani. There is ample material to enable us 
to form a good working hypothesis, and so also by a parity of 
reasoning there is quite sufficient to enable us to affirm that there 
is more in thought transference than those unacquainted with the 
phenomena have been willing to allow. In the second report of the 
committee on thought reading, or, more properly, thought trans- 
ference, it is taken as established that “ much of what is popularly 
known as ‘thought reading’ is in reality due to the interpreta- 
tion by the so-called ‘reader’ of signs, consciously or uncon- 
sciously imparted by the touches, looks or gestures of those 
present, and that this is to be taken as the prima facie explanation 
whenever the thing thought of is not some visible or audible 
object, but some action or movement to be performed,” and also 
that “there does exist a group of phenomena * * * which 
consist in the mental perception, by certain individuals at certain 
times, of a word or other object kept vividly before the mind of 
another person without any transmission of impression through 
the recognized channels of sense.” The evidence the society is 
able to offer is fairly conclusive, and is certainly of such a char- 
acter that it must be fairly met before its assumptions can be 
pooh-poohed in the orthodox manner. 
coincidence, when the chances against success were fifty to one, up- 
wards of forty per cent of the guesses were right, if the second’ 
and an occasional third response are admitted; but if the tests are 
confined to the first guess only the percentage is twenty-one, 
when, according to the laws of chance, the correct answers would 
