i88i.] 
The Transfer of Sensation, 
543 
or, if you prefer the word, conception — of the picture, and 
of the many, though minute and trifling, objects going to 
form its entirety, is really startling.” 
We have already mentioned the manner in which Mrs. 
Croad’s friends communicate with her, by writing, so to 
speak, with the finger on her forehead. This the author 
does not think very remarkable, all that is requisite being a 
heightened sensitiveness of the nerves of the face. But her 
daughter communicates with her in a different manner. 
Miss Croad does certainly move her fingers over and about 
the face of her mother, but — unlike visitors and friends — 
forms few, if any, letters or words. “ As a rule it was 
simply requisite that she put herself in a close or personal 
contact with her mother, to convey to her what was 
wished.” 
Mrs. Croad is also said-— indeed Dr. Davey gives an in- 
stance from his own experience — to have the power “ of 
detecting, as it were, by sympathy or by a community of 
ideas and feeling, any letter written by a friend of hers, and 
put into her hands by a third party.” We should be rather 
disposed to refer this power, if it really exists, to an intensi- 
fication of the sense of smell, as in the case of Julia Brace. 
There are other features of the case for which Dr. Davey 
does not personally vouch, but which are much more inex- 
plicable. Thus : — “ It is said by those near and dear to her 
that such is Mrs. Croad’s prevision that she has been known 
to have foretold my own visits to her : what I mean is, that 
on my approach to the house she occupies, but when still at 
a distance from it, and unseen by anyone about her, — in fadl 
not within sight, — she has said ‘ Dr. Davey is coming ; he 
will be here directly. ’ ” This is, indeed, very difficult to 
believe, and we shall take the liberty of referring it to that 
great group of occurrences, real or supposed, on which we 
suspend judgment. The author mentions, however, that his 
friend Dr. Maclean had, in the earlier part of his practice, a 
hysterical patient who displayed “the same lucidity.” 
“ But this is clairvoyance,” will be' the exclamation of many, 
“and, if clairvoyance, delusion ! ” What it is to be called 
seems, however, to us a very subordinate question. The 
first consideration is, Are the details above given, of the 
perception of pictures and photographs with the fingers, a(5tual 
fa(5ts ? We must avow that we see no reason to doubt it. 
The woman is pronounced blind, not merely on current 
report, but on substantial medical authority. The precau- 
tions taken, in case she still possessed any remnant of sight, 
seem fully sufficient, especially if we call to mind that on two 
