316 Reichenbach and the Psychical Research Society. [June, 
once obscured if these objects were held between the mag- 
nets and the eyes of the “ sensitives.” If, as we understand, 
this interception was effected without their knowledge, — as 
would be quite possible in a dark room, — we have here valu- 
able evidence of their good faith. 
The most decisive proof is, however, the following : the 
sensitives always proclaimed that the light had disappeared 
whenever the current was interrupted. In a series of test 
observations made upon Smith, which lasted for more than 
an hour, contact was made or broken for fourteen times in 
succession. The intervals were intentionally varied from a 
few seconds to several minutes ; yet, as the operators in the 
other room testify, Smith’s exclamations, “ It’s there ” and 
“ It’s gone,” coincided exactly with the movements of the 
commutator. Hence it seems legitimate to conclude Smith 
saw the light when the current was established, but ceased 
to see it on interruption. 
If this was not the- case we must have either casual coin- 
cidence or indications obtained in some other manner. The 
supposition of casual coincidence Prof. Barrett disposes of 
very satisfactorily. There are in an hour 3600 seconds, in 
each of which there was an equal antecedent chance of the 
circuit being formed or interrupted. Hence the probability 
of even a single right guess is very small. But the chance 
against hitting fourteen right moments in succession, with- 
out a miss intervening, is so many millions to one that it 
may be practically dismissed as out of the question. 
The more important consideration is whether the conduct 
of the experimentalists and observers, or any circumstances 
connected with the experiments themselves, might furnish 
the sensitives with a clue to what was taking place. On 
this subject we prefer to quote the exaCt words of Professor 
Barrett, in the “ Philosophical Magazine.” He says : — 
“ Among such indications the so-called ‘ magnetic tick ’ at 
once suggested itself. Knowing precisely what to listen for, 
and therefore more keenly alive to the sound than Smith, 
who presumably knew nothing of this molecular crepitation, 
I failed to deteCt the faintest sound on the making of the 
circuit, and a barely audible tick on breaking contact was 
heard only when my ear was in close contact with the mag- 
net or its support. This was due to the massive character 
of the magnet and .stand, which also prevented any other 
discernible movement when the magnet was excited. Fur- 
ther I satisfied myself that, at the distance at which Smith 
stood from the magnet, it was impossible to discover when 
the circuit was completed by the attraction of any magnetic 
