542 The Needle Ordeal in Witchcraft. [September, 
same result has been obtained in some parts by pressure 
upon the nerve-stems. . , . , , 
In these topographic investigations it has been found that 
the heat-sense is less developed than the cold-sense, both 
extent and in intensity. The temperature-points possess an 
exceedingly fine sense of locality. If two of them aie irri- 
tated simultaneously, individual pairs of points can be 
recognised as twofold at very small distances, even to less 
than i millimetre. Such minimal distances diffeientiate 
tOP 0°ifttanai y ogous application of pressure to certain points, 
certain such points of the skin have been found especial y 
sensitive to pressure. The investigation was effected by 
means of an instrument consisting of a spiral spnng sup- 
porting a needle, in which was fixed a small plate of co , 
as well as a pencil to identify the points. 1 hese pomts can 
also be found by means of weak induttion-currents. I hese 
points are not alone prominently sensitive to slight mecha- 
nical irritation, but they are at the same time the seat of a 
specific feeling for pressure ; hence they may be chaiadter- 
is P ed as pressure-points. This specific feeling is distinguished 
from that of the intervening skin by the distinct, acute, 
sensation of point-pressure ; by the diredt appreciation o 
the gradations of pressure ; by the painfulness of stiong 
irritation ; and lastly, by means of their very distinft sense 
of locality. By means of a pair of compasses it was ascer- 
tained that adjacent points of pressure were felt as double, 
even at such small distances as o*i millimetre. 
The pressure-points display the same type of arrangement 
as the temperature-points, but they generally stand much 
more closely together. They likewise are arranged in chains 
which radiate out from certain points, and quite especially 
from the hairs. At these parts there is often an agglomera- 
tion of pressure-points, and in parts which are little sensitive 
to pressure the immediate vicinities of the hairs alone possess 
pressure-points. In hairless places there are corresponding 
symptoms of radiation which in position correspond with 
those of the temperature-points. As regards their sense o 
locality, the remarkable phenomenon has been observed that 
pairs of points belonging to different chains have, in genei a , 
a more strongly developed sense of locality than those be- 
longing to one and the same chain. 1 his admits of the 
inference that the points belonging to one chain are in more 
intimate anatomical connection than those ol dmeient 
chains. 
