314 Reichenbach and the Psychical Research Society. [June, 
neglected truths their resurrection. Latterly, however, the 
Psychical Research Society have turned their attention to 
this subject, and have submitted Reichenbach’s researches 
to a very careful and impartial revision. 
The preliminary question may be raised, Why should the 
Psychical Research Society engage in an enquiry so purely 
physical ? To this query it is not easy to give a satisfactory 
reply. Still the solution of a difficulty should be none the 
less welcome, by whomsoever it is furnished ; all that we 
have a right to ask being merely — Is the solution genuine ? 
The experiments undertaken by the Society, and described 
in detail at the meeting held in Willis’s Rooms, April 24th, 
if not entirely decisive, have upon the whole an affirmative 
character, and in short justify the public in concluding that 
“ there is something in it.” In other words, our verdict 
must be given in favour of Reichenbach, unless some quite 
unexpected source of error is detected on further experi- 
mentation. The persons chiefly engaged in the research 
were Prof. Barrett, Mr. W. H. Coffin, Mr. E. Gurney, Mr. 
E. R. Pease, Dr. A. T. Myers, Messrs. F. W. H. Myers, 
H. N. Ridley, and W. R. Browne. The experiments were 
made at No. 14, Dean’s Yard, Westminster, in a perfectly 
darkened room. The first point to be considered is whether 
the darkness was truly absolute ? It was asserted that not 
a glimpse of light was perceptible to observers “ even after 
an hour’s immersion in the darkness.” We understand, 
also, that the room was always darkened for a considerable 
time before the experiments began, so as to eliminate error 
from the possible presence of phosphorescent light. This 
precaution is the more necessary since our knowledge of 
phosphorescent bodies is far from exhaustive. From various 
considerations it is* possible that most substances may be 
feebly phosphorescent. Hence the most satisfactory ar- 
rangement for the class of experiments in question would be 
a room permanently darkened. In the dark room was fixed 
an eleCtro-magnet of the power of from 200 to 300 lbs. 
Conducting wires were carried to a commutator in the next 
room, and thence to a Smee battery of sufficient power. 
The room where the commutator was placed was separated 
from the darkened room merely by curtains, so that what 
was said in the one was distinctly heard in the other. In 
this darkened room, where was the magnet, were stationed, 
as we understand. Prof. Barrett, Dr. Myers, Mr. F. W. H. 
Myers, and Mr. Ridley. The commutator in the room on 
the other side of the curtains was in charge of Messrs. W. 
H. Coffin, E. Gurney, and E. Pease. It will be at once 
