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XV. On the Supposed “ New Force ” of M. J. Thore.* 
By William Crookes, F.R.S., Pres. C.S. 
Received May 5,—Read May 26, 1887. 
On February 15 last M. J. Thore communicated to a scientific society at Dax a 
short paper describing some results he bad obtained on the rotation of a delicately 
suspended cylinder of ivory. £o remarkable were these results that in a private letter 
to myself, accompanying a printed copy of his paper, M. Thore said “ they seem to 
demonstrate the existence of a new force inherent in the human organism.” 
Figs. 1 and 2. 
Figs. 1 and 2 are accurately copied from M. Tiiore’s diagram. The following descrip¬ 
tion of the apparatus and the experiments tried with it are translated from the printed 
paper. 
“ It consists simply of a cylinder of ivory, 24 mm. long and 5 mm. in diameter, 
suspended by a single fibre of cocoon silk, so that its axis is accurately in line with the 
suspending fibre. The fibre is fixed to a movable support allowing the cylinder to be 
* ‘ Une Nouvelle Force ? ’ Par J. Thore. Dax, 1887. 
3 M 2 
24.11.87 
