The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-10
106

be new or strange. Persons do not know
how difficult it is to press directly down.
ward, OF in any given direction against
fixed obstacle; or even to know only
whether they are doing so or not; unless
they have some Indicator which, by visi-
bic motion, or otherwise, shall instruct
them, and this is more especially tha case
when the muscles Of the finger and hand
have been cramped, and rendered either
tingling or insensible, or cold by long con-
tinued pressure.
If finger be pressed constantly into
tho corner of window frame for ten min
utes or more, and then, continuing the
pressure, the mind be directed to Judge
whether the force at given moment is
all horizontal, or all downward, or how
much is in one direction, and how much
in the other, it will find great difficulty in
deciding; and will, at last, become alto
gether uncertain-at least such is my
case. l know that similar result occurs
with others for have had two boards
arranged, separated, not by rollers, but by
plugs of vulcanized rubber, and with the
vertical index; when a person with his
hands on the upper board is requested to
press only downward, and the index is
hidden from his sight, it moves to the right
to the left, to him and from him, and in
all horizontal directions; so utterly unable
is he strictly to fulfil his intention, without
a visible and correcting Indicator. Now
such is the use of the instrument, the hori.
zontal index and rollers; the mind is in
structed, and the involuntary or quasi in
voluntary motion is checked in the COM
mencment, and therefore rises up to the
degree needful to move to move the table,
or even permanently the index itself. Nc
one can suppose that looking at the index
can in any way interfere with the transfer
OF electricity or any other power from the
hand to the board under it or to the table
II the board tends to move, it may do so
the index loes not confine it and if the
table tends to move, there is no reason
why it shoald not. If both were influenced
by any power to move together they may
do so-as they did indeed when the ap
Paratus was tied, and the mind and mus
cles left unmatched and unchecked.
must bring this long description to q
close. | am a little ashamed of it, for
think, In the present age, and in this part
OF the world, it ought not to have been
required. Nevertheless, hope it may be
useful. There arc many whom | do moi
expect to convince; but may be allowed
to say that | cannot undertake to answer
such objections as may be made. | stat,
my own convictions as an experimental
philosopher, and find IL no more necassar,
to enter into controversy on this poin
than en- any other in science, as the ma
ture Of matter, or inertia, or the magneti
zation OF light, on which may differ
from others. The world will decide soon
er or later in all such cases. and I have no
doubt very soon and correctly in the pres
ent instance. Those who may wish to see
the particular construction Of the test ap-
paratus which l have employed, may have
the opportunity at Mr.. Newman's, No.
l22 Regent st. Further | NAV say,
have sought earnestly for cases of lifting
by attraction, and Indications in any form,
but have gained no traces of such effects.
Finally, beg to direct attention to the
discourse delivered by d.. Carpenter, at
the Roya, Institution on the 18th of March,
1852, entitled, "On the Influence of Sur.
gestion in Modifying and directing Mus.
eular Movement independent of Voltion:"
which, especially in the latter part. should
be considered in reference to table moving
by all who are interested in the subject.
NJ. FARADAY.
Royal Institution, June 27.