318 Reichenbacli and the Psychical Research Society. [June, 
it will not have arisen de novo as a creation of energy, but 
will be a work of transformation. In the case of the electro- 
magnet we have no difficulty : we have electricity converted 
into magnetism, and need feel little surprise if the molecular 
disturbance occasioned in the metal of the magnets, or in 
the air immediately in proximity to them, expresses itself as 
light, or as some other form of energy not yet known. Prof. 
Fitzgerald, F.R.S., refers to the well-known faCt that the 
gases of the atmosphere differ in their magnetic relations, 
oxygen being strongly magnetic, whilst nitrogen and carbonic 
acid are decidedly diamagnetic. Hence a process of mole- 
cular disturbance in contact with a powerful magnet is to be 
expeCted. Again, it is well known that the atmosphere 
holds in suspension minute solids, which have also their 
magnetic relations. To determine whether either or both, 
or neither, of these relations come here into play, he pro- 
poses an experiment to which we shall shortly refer. 
But whilst these or some kindred theory may probably 
account for the luminosity over the poles of an electro- 
magnet in full accord with the great truth of the conserva- 
tion of energy, the case might seem at first glance dubious 
with a permanent magnet. But here the question is raised 
whether there is not a very slow loss of magnetic power 
gradually and constantly at work, the energy thus lost re- 
appearing as light, or, if anyone prefers the term, as od. 
The “ Reichenbach Committee ” of the Society for Psy- 
chical Research promise that, when the simple faCt has been 
fully established, they will proceed to a further examination 
of the nature and properties of od. With all due submission 
we doubt whether the simple faCt will ever be accepted as 
established until some progress has been made with these 
investigations. Prof. Fitzgerald, in order to test his own 
suggestions, recommends observations with a magnet in a 
medium approaching as nearly as possible to a vacuum. To 
this might be added experiments in air freed from suspended 
solids*by filtration through cotton-wool ; in pure hydrogen, 
in oxygen, in carbonic acid, and in other gases and gaseous 
mixtures. Further points are the passage of the od-light 
through lenses of power and nature unknown to the sensi- 
tive observer, its reflection from plane and concave mirrors, 
by which means all possibility of trickery could be obviated. 
Not less important is the speCtroscopic, polariscopic, and 
photographic examination of the light. 
It does not appear that the Committee have asyet attempted 
to verify Reichenbach’s original experiments with crystals, 
and on a number of other bodies. Thus there is indeed a vast 
