Observations placeholder

PSYCHISM Analysis of Things Existing ESSAYS BY PAUL GIBIER, M. D. Director of the New York Pasteur Institute.

In some subjects, from the first moments of pseudo-sleep, abmaterialization is produced, and, simultaneously, the external expansion of the sensorium verum, of the unique sense, is effected. In one of our experiments, at the first sitting, a young hypnotized subject was able to tell the color of two different objects, two sheets of paper, one white, the other blue, which were placed on the top of her head, while her eyes were closed and the eyeballs turned upward.

The subject had her back turned toward our desk, from the drawer of which we took these objects without allowing them to pass before her face.

At the second sitting we held a watch over the top of her head ; after a few seconds of hesitation she told the time exact. Knowing the faculty which hypnotized persons sometimes possess for a quick sense of time, we had retarded the watch twenty minutes. After a few days this subject (i) was able to read, although blindfolded, in the same manner as did a young woman whom we will mention later.

These experiments are beginning to reveal to us facts which are of the utmost importance. They prove at least that sensory phenomena may be independent of the special organs of sense through which they are normally transmitted

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(1) A well-known physician of New York, to whom we presented this subject, was so deeply impressed by what he saw that he spontaneously wrote us the following letter:

228 West 34th Street,

New York, July 20th, 1889.

My Dear Doctor:

"It is with the greatest pleasure that I send you — although unasked for — the following description of an experiment which you kindly showed me yesterday.

"You hypnotized a young girl of about eighteen, and I ascertained that her eyes were strongly attracted towards the median line and upwards in a most exaggerated state of temporary converging strabismus.

"Afterwards, you placed on her closed lids thick cotton pads, and on those, as an additional precaution, you tied a well folded silk handkerchief. The whole prevented her, I am satisfied, of absolutely seeing anything normally.

"Then I chose a volume from among the numerous books accumulated on your desk and book stand, purposely selecting one of a size and cover similar to most of the others. I placed this book on the head of the girl, who, after a few moments' hesitation, at my request read correctly the title printed on the cover. The experiment was tried again with a journal picked up among others, and met with a complete success.

At the same seance, several book titles and papers were read in the same manner.

"During these experiments I remained seated near the subject, and I am convinced that it would have been impossible for her to be cognizant of what she read, otherwise than through the faculty heretofore unknown to me, and of which I witnessed the effects.

"If you deem this letter of any import, I gladly authorize you to use it according to your pleasure.

'Yours sincerely,

GEORGE G. VAN SCHAICK, M. D."