Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-04-04
THOUGHT MACHINE.
Invention That Betrays the
Minds lnmost Secrets.
Transmitting Vibrations OF the
Brain New Discovery.

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. April "a Wash
ington scientist has invented Il machine
which will record our most secret thoughts.
1t will be used for the detection of criminals.
The X-ray is a form Of magnetism, and all
bodies possess magnetic power.
The discovery of the N-ray is not as Won
derful, nor calculated to create such II pro-
found impression on the world as the ma
chine which is just about to be put on the
market by II famous Washington scientist,
Mr.. Julius Emnlcr, an electrician OF note,
and one of the holders in the company which
is fighting the Bell telephone patent. This
invention surpasses anything yet made by
man. 1t lifts him out of the plane of the
material and reads his most secret thoughts,
laying bare his mind as ii beneath micro
scope. and recording each idea as it is given
birth in the brain.
The idea of recording thought occurred to
Mr.. Emnler about three years ago. and was
the result of research in scientific work.
The fact that sight and hearing were caused
by the vibrations of light and sound made
him reflect that the force OF thought was
something actual. which cxerted tangible
power by vibrations similar to those oflight
and sound, and that Il machine could be
constructed which would be sensi-
tive to the thought-force, as the
phonograph is to the voice.
The machine, which is now in the hands
OF IL lawyer, 10 u 'thliuSis "pout '''-N
or eight inches long and I'm inch and half
in diameter. 1t is coated with an exceedingly
sensitive chemical, which is easily decom-
posed by the electric current. In front Is Il
line needle of aluminium, coated at its point
with chemicals, and resting on the cylinder.
while the case is set in diaphragm OF
aluminium, IL very thin plate of the latter
being used. In front is large, open
somewhat hornlike arrangement, which
is intended to convey the vibrations direct
to the recorder. The machine is put in ac-
ton by means of small motor, which re-
wolves the cylinder. the thought force caus-
ing the needle to make upon the surface ol
the cylinder impressions which correspond
with the vibrations.
There is, OF course an electric induction
coil connected with the apparatus. The per
son. whose thoughts are to be read IS seated
about three feet in front of the machine
and simply lets his mind pursue any train OF
thought he desires. The motor is set going
and within few moments the cylinder has
done its work and II finer and more delicate
needle is put in place of the recording one,
for the mind is to be read from the impress
sions. Connection is made with the second
ary induction coil and wires leading from
the electrodes are placed at the base OF the
brain of the reader. The ideas which had
passed from the first person into the ma
chine are now transmitted into the mind o.
the second person with absolute fidelity anC
perfect accuracy, the thoughts being re-
reiyed in an unconscious manncr-that IL
not by any sound or any written word. bu
conception frames itself in the mind OF the
second person Just as 1t was given being II
that of the first. 1t is just reproduced again
That the machine will do all that Is claimed
for it has been clearly proven not only FOL
the inventor, but by several other persons
An experiment was tried to show that TINS
force of thought was exerted uncOnsciouslA
by q person, and was unknown to him, anC
to make perfect test, II young lady wa:
placed in hypnotic state and put few
feet away from the machine. She lay be-
fore it, not only not eXerting herself, bu
absolutely unconscious of her rsurrOundings
and without any control over her own mind
which was in a state of semi-coma. or. ~
least, oblivious to the environment. Thel
Mr.. Emnler took the record of mind iron
the cylinder into his own mind and read hel
thoughts finding that her brain had beeI
busy with family affairs all the time.
The Uses to which this invention can bt
put are nlmberless. TO be able to preserve
the record of our own thoughts, which W.
can read Off Mt will. to be able to take down
the thoughts of another when they may b'
unconscious OF the operation. to iathom th'
brain of the poet, to examine the minds o
the insane. to discern the secret workings
of crime in and to trace the workings o
crime in the brain of the criminal and al
fields of unlimited boundaries. operations o
which science has as yet scarcely dreamed