New-York tribune., 1875-12-09
MR.. EDISON'S "NEW FORCE
LETTER FROM DIR. C. NJ. BEARD.
REsuLr or rHlsIoLoGicM AND o1nER EArLI0

Sm: On reading the account of the alleged
discovery ny Alr Edison Of new force occurred 20
me that Il would be well to submit II 10 physiological
tests have spent several nights with SIR Edison and
his assistant, John Bachelor. experimenting in thcir
laboratory and have also cxpermented with Prof. j. Z
Smith in the establishment Of Mr. Chester and also in
my office. may say that studied the phenomena
without any theory Tor against the claim
of Mr. Edison. The results of the physolo gical expert
ments follows:
/. The force is conducted by the human body. This
proved by taking hold OF the conductor-a wre'
iron bar. gas-ppe-that in connection with the
apparatus evolving the force by hand. and with
the other touching the blade of knife to stove, Or
/ block OF metal; sparks appeared though somewhat
smaller than when the force did not traverse the body
In experiments. which tried on sew
era individuals, the body insulated 10y large block
parane six inches thick. When the distance for the
force travel through the body reduced onehaf by
making the the back OF the neck or Ia the
mouth somewhat larger spark produced than when
the whole resistance Of the body from hand 70 hand was
included IL clear therefore. that the body con-
Quoted the force thou not well a. metals person
standing on insuator, with the conductor IN hand
does not dropping the conductor give any eNF
dcnce of being char he give sparks 10 any
other person any metal l have also found II in
possible to charge metals.
The force in passing through the body produces no
deaonstrable physiological effects. While have tho
OF sparks that the force traversng The
body yet wherever directed sensation, not
the tip OF the tongue muscular contraction
anywhere no tremOr erection OF the nar flashes
of light taste, dzNness-in short none Of the
usual phy sol0gical reactions OF the different forms OF
electricity. Mr.. Edison had supposed that in bis own
contraction of the muscles Of the tongue was pro-
ducod when ne applied the tip the conductor, and his
head did really mp and down az though the mus
ces were affected, but my breaking the connec-
ton unknown him. his tongue kept moving before
synchrOn0usly with the respiration. 10 case OF
mind acting body; ne expected some effect aud uncon-
sciously produced It himself MI Edison and two ~ hts
cooborators taken sick IN various ways one night
and 70 supposed that the illnesses caused by Tie
force but in this also they probably mistaken;
mind acting body condolences may account Tor
their symptoms. L. II certain that have experimental
many hours several occasions with this force ana
a considerable portion OF the time 1t passing through
me or into me and not uniavOrahiv affected. nor
were any Of those employed IN the establishment uciud
ing Mr. Edison and the Others WHO fanced their Illness
was caused by H.. What effect force evolved from a
much more powerful apparatus. and passed through OF
into the body FOR long time, may have primarily "
secondariy cannot say some who tested The matter
thought that very slight tngng sensation was expert
enced the tongue but closer examination did not con-
firm this
3. Tie force passed through a galvauoscopic frog
either caused very slight contraction or none The
gayanoecopc frog test for electricity N exceeding
deicacy. Dr wilkinson estimates t a. 5000" unlcr
more delicate than tlc sensitive condensng electro
seopo This experiment repeated several times l7 db
also Mr Edison aud Mr. Bachelor. We tested the ios
used in these experiments and found it 80 sensitive '1
one clectropoon cell. placed in circuit having resist
anoe OF 400 900 0hms nearly $4,000 miles OF telegraph
vIre. CAUSED contraction and yet it did not contract
when thi- force wa. passed through H. That the force I'D
these experiments passed through the frog (Which was
insulated proved BY the spark that appeared 81 the
di.tal end IL this experiment the result OF which was
most remarkable ana unexpected, al conceivable ele-
ments Of error seemed 10 ne excluded subsequently
with o different apparatus, RuhmkOrhs coil, con
traction Of the muscles Of the frog obtained The
experiment was made the establishment oil Mr
Chester The same experiment repeated IN Ncw-foh
gave the same result Nj Edison suggests that nduo-
ton from the battery may explain the Inconsistency of
the results.
I'm .ubseaucut seri rs Of experiments made with Mr
Edison c0ntraCtious were obtained In the Ifos' lrs'
although the apparatus thoroughly Insulated
As gayanuscopiC HOGS are susceptible 10 mechanlc'i
irritation IL wns suggested that possibly the vibrations
from the apparatus communicated through the wire
caused cOntTacons, aud using the Key instead of
the ,cfybrator the force caused contlacuons
Returning u the sefyiDratOr, couracions appeared
when the wire connecting the apparatus With the frog
was shortened the cOntacuons increased ID lsor lhat
/ the frog was susceptible 10 vibrations shown 10y
striking very tungfork and touching 10 the
.ciac nerve aud sometimes contractons appeared when
the vibrating fork did not touch he nerve, but IS helh
At distance of oueha tnreeqaarters Of an inch om
it, The conceivable element Of error from Induction had
been excluded ny perfect insulation; when the yibra-
lions through the wire were excluded no contraction was
seen: in proportion as the wire connected with the VI
brating apparatus shortened IN that proportion The
contract ons increased ia There no apparent
escape from Jha that this force - then and
there produced although il gave very distinct sparks
and could long distances and overcome SIe
resistance yet did affect the galyanoscopic frog On
testing tins frog by the galvanic current 10 was FOUND
that one clccrOpo0n cell. after going through resist
ance OF over million oGms, about $1,000 miles ot
telegraph wire, easily caused contraction These eNpei-
mont. made la the presence and with the coopca
ton the weiknowu expert in practical acoustics Nj
/ Robert Spice
The appartua for generating this force consists simply
of larqe ,rlfyihrting electrO-magnct, run by several
! from to 2O eectropoion cells. Considerable but
not enormous battery power is needed The force can be-
obtained nom ANY -clfN bfatng ccctro-magnet on nom
an electloma-Ilct operated Oh hy kew. All that L.
necessary wire TO the core ot inasuti or
any metal in connection with IL 10 may DE generated
by piece OF cadmium a copper rod surrounded by .
hciA OF wire. placed battery circuit aEd interrupted
by key. Cadmium in this arrangement seems 70 give
somewhat better sput tnan any OtAtr metal Dul IL "a
NOT necessary to use 10. Tie RuluukoG coil wi an-
/ swcr very well. and IL used in The experiments
/ at the establishment OF Nj. Chesteri hut in
ductiye electricity Is thrown out from 10 10
q degree that may cOupicate the experiment lhc
ordinary batteries used hy y-eans not sufficiently
strong % give the spark at least according 10 any
! experiments thus far. Very fine iron wire, rubbed
against rough iron, stove flle gas-ppe, or rusty
knife brings out largest sparks. The batteries
and ali the appliance. should be- well insulated 10 guard
aea, po-shlo error from indueye electricity. To see
The ,rark readily when II not large the room should De
somewhat daILcnCd. or hat the Dasd may oe held
over the place where 8, looked for; but large sparks
may be seen in the light Sparks are obtained by the
i.a M ruiir or tc end OF lead pencil drawn lightly