The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
Nervousness of
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Holmes reaatns tie Bile.

In this laboratory, besides the new instru-
ments for psycho-neural measurements. there is
q complete set of instruments for measuring &C
cording to the Bertillon system. and o compari-
son Of the measurements of the external man by
this system and the psychic mar by that of
Macdonald have shown some remarkable re-
suits. Tho most important of these instru-
ments Is the kymographion. BY this instru-
ment. which is quite simple. the breathing OF a
man and the effects upon this breathing of diff
ferent motions-love. fear. hate. horror-are
accurately determined and recorded on a
smoked cylinder. The recording apparatus oon-
sists of a brass cylinder moved by a clock mech
anism. which turns 1t once in every minute.
Upon the cylinder Is a sheet of smoked paper,
which, after the operation. Is glazed to preserve
the marks made by the recording needle. Be-
side the stand upon which this cylinder revolves
there is a brass rod. which supports the record
ing mechanism. The person to be experimental
on is seated in a chair beside the table upon which
these instruments rest. Around his chest Is
passed a tape line. the ends of which are at
tached to small hooks in the rubber-covered
ends of q little nickel cylinder. To this cylinder
Is attached q long rubber tube, leading to the
brass rod holding the needle. At every inhala-
tion of the breath the tape line is drawn taut.
the rubber heads Of the cylinder are pulled out.
and the cylinder is filled with rsrifed air.
As tho breath Is exhaled the rarihed
air 10 sent through the rubber tubing to
another similar arrangement connected with
the recording needle. which moves 1t vertically
at right angles to the movement OF the brass re-
yolving plate in an exact, proportion to the
depths OF inhalation and eXhaiation. The clock
10 started. the needle is placed against the car
breath moves the needle. which makes n record
on the cylinder by removing the. carbon and
barring the white paper beneath. II the person
In the chair were In a normal condition. as in
sleep, for instance. the regularity of the heaving
wavy line. the depressions and crests OF which
would be uniform. In this case the record made
by the small needle would be a certain and posi-
tive index Of perfect mental repose. On the
other hand, abnormal. excited. and exaggerated
emotions. or intellectual activities or efforts, will
Here. then. is the study to which DR.. Macdonald
has applied himself, with this instrument. He
people. to high school children. persons OF both
the upper and lower middle classes, criminals,
persons Of the leisure class. and others in all
The subject Is made to 20 through several
mental processes. There Is given him a passage
of Schopenhauer to read, then a passage of
Scripture. and finally a revolving picture to look
At He IL told to concentrate his mind upon
some person whom he loves. and during this
mental process the cylinder is made to revolve.
He Is subjected to the same tests with hate.
Instrument, accurate to the thousaudth part OF
an inch, records the effect OF these emotions
upon the breathing.
of sensibility to pain. This instrument is DR..
MacDonald's own Invention, ana is constructed
spring, or ice, scales, the spring, instead of re-
resisting q pail. resists the opposite action. At
plate. which is pressed gently upon the temple
Of the subject The pressure Is Increased until
Is removed. A scale on the side. at which a small
pointer remains. gives the actual figures OF SEN
sibility. He has made experlments on young
" HON he found at the watering places In sum-
mer. and compared them with similar expert
army OF the unemployed. He found that the
unemployed were only half AS sensitive as the
among the criminal classes he has found il
necessary to have an instrument made which
will measure jn:t Twice the amount Of pressure;
lower. There are other instruments for record
ing the trembling OF the hand and tongue. also
SMOKED paper. There are still others for meas
urinR the sense Of hearing. sight and smell. An
bility OF the brain consists of two dials.
one to regulate the pressure OF the
tEo b P9.Hs for on sss ISrS" IN comparison sne aS Dd'e the 9s
other TO indicate the force OF the current The
sensibility OF persons 70 suggestion is tested by
another instrument, the continuance of DIR.
Scripture OF Yale. IL consists OF n bare copper
wire, 10 which a battery Is attached, The cur
The person Is permitted to see the operation of
closing the circuit. This is done several times,
the person being asked to touch the wire and
say whether II Ia getting warm or not; then tho
operator simply preLends that the circuit is
closed and the person Is questioned again. Ono
very susceptible 70 suggestion or a good hyp-
motto subject will answer that the wire 10 get
ting warm, but the person governed by his own
senses will reply In the negative. Most OF the
contrivances are as simple as this ono. but they
reveal surprisingly interesting facts which sup
plrment the readings OF the kymogrADhion.
The recuperatiye power OF a person is tested
by an instrument from the laboratory OF Prof.
MassO, in Italy. II consists OF n long frame in
held IiRtd, while 20 the free nnEer Is attached a
four-pound weight. which the subject Is re-
Quired 70 pull up and down until he can move
tho nnger NO longer; The line on the smoked
that there 10 practically no movement In the
ringer. The subject is urged then 10 make an
other EFFORT TO move the weight, and the line on
the smoked paper becomes irregular and almost
W and down AS rapidly as ever. The physical
energy OF the subject has been exhausted, but
he gets new energy from the brain, and the
smoke paper accurately records the recupera-
these instruments at his disposal. Or. Mac
Donald can get a fairly good diagram OF a mans
personal equation. There IL u lack Of accuracy
In some Instances where the persons become too
caAos, affects the breathing and makes a record
on the smoked cylinder which Is not easily de-
cipherRblo. DR.. Macdonald has seen 80. many
or these diagrams, however, all OF which no has
understands them and can analyLe the emotions
which cause the waves with some accuracy.
DIR. MAcDOnald's studies OF criminals during
the Last few ys1Tsc however, have been the most
pOnitentiSrles. and with the assistance OF the
supsrintendents got complete measurements OF
some Of the worst murdereTs and thieves. A
fhSi. a S%s oShS a t tni sHsiSt Won s SI h na n IN
Government 70 take all possible measurements
OF ths criminal d.. Macdonald hoped " b.