Psychometry and thought-transference : with practical hints for experiments / By N.C., F.T.S. And an introduction. By Henry S. Olcott, P.T.S.

Date:: 1887

Credit: Psychometry and thought-transference : with practical hints for experiments / By N.C., F.T.S. And an introduction. By Henry S. Olcott, P.T.S. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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$(a.) Of Form—e. g. Objects, Numbers, Geometric Figures, Pictures, &c. {h.) Of Colour. III. Tlie transference of Sensation. (o.) Plij^sical—e. g., Pain, Taste, Smell. [h.) Mental and Moral—e. g., Anxiety, Fear, &c. ly. The transference of Words, Names, Sentences, Tunes^ Concrete Ideas, such as Historical Scenes, Apparitions [not the partially materialised double, but only the subjective impression of seeing it, caused telepathically by an act of volition on the part of the agent] &c. Y. Abstract Thoughts and Ideas. I. The Transference of directions.—This is one of the simplest kinds of thought-transference, and for that reason it forms a good starting point for persons who have had no previous experience in such experiments. In the form of the willing game it may readily be practised with children, because it is almost certain to be successful and thus to inspire them with confidence, which is a gi-eat point gained, and also because they take great interest and pleasure in the experiments, which will carry them on to such other •trials of skill, as do not to the same extent partake of the nature of a game. The following is the method which w^as adopted by the Odessa Branch of the T. S. It has the advantage of showing what .members of the family are sensitive. The person who is to act the passive part is chosen by those dissembled, and then leaves the room until it has been decided what his task shall be. The agent is also selected by mutual assent, and in this way all the members are tried both as agent and percipient. Contact is made by placing one hand on the neck of the sensitive. The tasks chosen to be accomplished in their experiments were for •the most part of a simple character, such as finding a pin, or other object hidden in some jDart of the room, or discovering an object without knowing what it was; but success was also obtained in -more complicated problems; as, for instance, on one occasion, it was required to take a bundle of seven similar keys out of the pocket of the host, to pick out that belonging to one of the three book-cases standing' in the room, to open it, take a certain book from one of the shelves, bring the book to the table at the other end of the room, and open it at a certain page. This somewhat complicated experiment was successfully performed, the subject being blindfolded and having no previous idea of the sort of thing he was expected to do. He did not manifest the least hesitation, but got through the whole performance in about seven minutes. The members of this branch found that about eighty per cent, of their experiments were completely successful, and only about eight per cent, were total failures. II. The trani^ference of visual impressions.—This is a large and inclusive category. Since sight is the sense which .we use most •extensively in every day life, we are apt to refer everything to *)jght; and no closely is this sense allied to that of thoVight, that,$