36 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
acting downwards at k, and which, in like manner, will be ob- 
viously magnified at b, but, in this case, the end B must fall. 
But, since the whole system is originally in equilibrium, that 
is to say, has its weight compensated by supports, it is virtu- 
ally a lever without weight ; so that, theoretically, an infinitely 
small displacement, and practically, a very small one, would 
be sufficient to cause a perceptible motion at the end b. The 
value, therefore, of the scientific reasoning which would ascribe 
these so easily producible effects to an unknown Psychic Force 
may be easily appreciated. It is not the mere fact of placing 
the fingers or even the whole hand in the bowl which neces- 
sarily displaces its centre of gravity, and so it was found that 
at first no effect was noticed, but it was only after some little 
time that motion was observed. There is nothing stated as to 
the surface of the water in the bowl being absolutely level and 
at rest during the experiment, and yet it is evident that this is 
a point of vital importance, since the slightest lateral vibratory 
movement would be equivalent to a powerful discharge o 
Psychic Force. It must also be borne in mind that in such a 
delicately-balanced instrument the mere touching of the side 
of the vessel, whether accidental or otherwise, would produce 
great effects. This then is experiment No. 1, the conclusion 
of which is thus naively stated, that 44 Contact through water 
proves to be as effectual as actual mechanical contact” — a con- 
clusion to which we cordially agree. 
Experiments Nos. 2, 3 and 4 were then tried, to see whether 
any effect would be produced by Mr. Home placing his fingers 
on the stand of the apparatus, a short distance away from the 
end a of the board. As might have been anticipated, it was 
found that effects were produced, but as any tremor communi- 
cated to the stand on which the knife edge rested would affect 
the delicately-poised board, these experiments are not worth 
much. The results obtained with this apparatus — which is 
certainly much more delicate than that formerly employed 
(although it is open to the objections we have raised) — are much 
less marked than those obtained with his first rough experi- 
ments, for instead of a downward fall of 61bs. we only read of 
one of 5,000 grains, about llozs. Thus it appears that, in 
proportion as the extraneous disturbing forces are eliminated, 
so does the disturbance ascribed to Psychic Force similarly 
diminish. Should we then be considered unreasonable if we 
assumed that with the complete disappearance of extraneous 
forces Psychic Force would vanish also ? 
Mr. Home now disappears from the scene for a time, and 
another person, a lady possessing similar 44 psychic ” powers, is 
found, and for her a new set of apparatus is designed. The 
same difficulty which formerly occurred in fully describing the 
