1883.] Reichenbach and the Psychical Research Society. 315 
perceived that the three last-mentioned gentlemen could, by 
making and breaking the current at such intervals as they 
thought fit, alternately create and annul the power of the 
magnet. Hence if a light was produced over the poles of 
the magnet on making circuit, and disappeared on interrup- 
tion, it might be fairly concluded that the magnetism and 
the luminosity were causally connected. 
The next point relates to the observers. Unfortunately 
not all persons are capable of perceiving this light. Of 
forty-five subjects tested, three only were able to perceive 
anything. Of these three the most successful were a Mr. 
G. A. Smith and a boy, Frederic Wells. It is right to add 
that both these had been to some extent engaged in mes- 
meric operations. It is, however, expressly stated that 
“ both of them were entire strangers to these experiments, 
and disclaimed any knowledge of Reichenbach’s work. In 
the first instance they were not told what to look for, but 
merely to note if they perceived anything amid the darkness, 
and if so, what, and where.” 
The English version of Reichenbach’s work, by the late 
Prof. Gregory, is, we believe, out of print, and rarely to be 
met with. From the circumstance, however, that Dr. Ash- 
burner repeated Reichenbach’s experiments, the work is 
perhaps more known amongst persons who dabble in mes- 
merism than it is elsewhere. Hence, without pronouncing 
Smith and Wells to be tainted with imposture, we think it 
would be well if the experiments could be repeated with 
subjects not conversant with mesmerism. 
We turn now to the experiments themselves, and consider 
in how- far they demonstrate the reality of the phenomena 
sought for, and, as a necessary condition, how far they eli- 
minate the possibility of trickery or collusion. 
The operators being. placed in charge of the commutator, 
and the observers being posted in the dark room, the sensi- 
tives, Smith and Wells, were introduced,- — as it appears 
separately,— -and after some time each declared that he saw 
a faint light or a luminous vapour. Each declared that this 
appearance was over the poles of the magnet, the one — the 
so-called north pole, or rather north-seeking pole — being the 
brighter of the two. The light was pronounced to be in the 
form of wavering cones, running to a point where touching 
the magnets and growing wider upwards. A current of air 
— e.g., the breath — was said to drive the flame aside, but 
not to extinguish it. Various substances — such as a board, 
or a piece of velvet if laid in a flat position over the poles of 
the magnet — seemed not to affedt the light, but it was at 
