110 
BAUER. 
of “research ’ 7 in the scientific sense than are the standard 
encyclopedias. Their illustrations of the use of the word 
are usually neither apt nor sufficiently comprehensive. 
How May We Sharpen Our Senses? 
Of the senses, sight plays the greatest part in investigation. 
To this organ we have thus far devoted most attention to 
supplement and increase its natural powers by mechanical 
means — the telescope, microscope, etc. Next would rank 
the sense of hearing ; but the appliances for increasing our 
sensations in this respect are comparatively few, and still 
more is this the case with regard to the senses of taste, smell , 
and touch. 
Yet what truly wonderful powers of touch are developed 
by the blind, and how extraordinary are the capabilities of 
certain animals for foretelling the distant approach of a 
deadly foe by the means of hearing or of smell I 
Might not Man also, to his advantage, increase or stimu- 
late his less-used senses in some manner, to the same degree 
or approximately so, as that of sight? If he did, is it not 
possible that thereby he might have perceptions which would 
materially assist him in solving some of the vexed riddles 
of the universe? May he not for lack of proper development 
of these senses be in much the same plight as the “six blind 
men of Indoostan who went to see the elephant, though all 
of them were blind” ‘l 
If there is some possibility in this direction, how about 
the power of stimulating or interpreting our muscle sensa- 
tions, the sensations of heat and cold, of pain, of pleasure, 
etc.? 
Efforts have been made, as you know, to trace a definite 
connection between certain atmospheric phenomena and 
bodily sensations, or between the sensations to commit sui- 
cide or other crimes and certain meteorological conditions. 
Likewise are there attempts by well-known men of science 
to sharpen and interpret the psychic sensations. 
There is revealed here a field of research but little explored 
