The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-08-15
Electrical Experiment
To Quicken Dull Children
Remarkable Results Have
Been Obtained From Trial
In Sweden. =.

, ton of the board of education"
1t Is estimated that the proper appli-
cation of the currents will necessitate
the expenditure Of $4,000 This mat
ter, however, will be settled later. It
Is thought quite unlikely that a lack
of funds will hinder the work.
The Stockholm experiment with the
electrifying process has been closely
watched by scientists throughout the
United States. The novelty Of the plan
| aroused considerable interest, but
through Mr.. Tesla's services New York
will probably be the first American
city to try it. It is said that this test
will follow closely along the lines of
the foreign experiment.
For the work abroad two sets of fifty
children, each averaging the same age
and physical condition, were placed in
separate classrooms exactly alike ex-
cept for the concealed wires installed
In the walls Of one room. The regular
school work was taken up, and the test
lasted for six months. Frequent OBJ
servations Of the pupils were recorded
to ascertain the effect of the high ten
sion wave on the children under elec-
trical treatment
At the end Of the experimental De-
Rod the children in the magnetized
room, the official report of the tests
says, showed an increase in stature Of
two inches, while in the unmagnetized
room the average increase was only
one and one-quarter inches. The pu-
pills In the electrified room likewise
showed a weight increase and proper
tionate physical development greater
than the children in the other. Then
the investigators looked to the mental
side Of the question.
According to the report, this exami-
nation showed that the children ex-
posed to the electrical waves averaged
81 per cent in their school work, fif-
teen being marked 100 by the teacher,
while In the unmagnetized room the
pupils were credited with an average
Of Is per cent. and only nine obtained
perfect ratings
Benefits Noted.
The electrified children, so the report
says, appeared generally to be more
active during the experiment and less
subject to fatigue than those in the
other room. The instructors likewise
benefited by the treatment, it is said,
and positively attested to the fact that
their faculties were quickened and
their powers of endurance stimulated
by the waves.
Experimental psychologists, how
ever, recommended cautious tests with
the new process. Professor W. c.
Bagley, head of the department of
psychology Of the University Of ILL.,
nois, said on the subject:
"Such tests would certainly need to
be repeated under carefully controlled
conditions before we reached any con-
clusion., Not only this, but one would
necessarily have to wait some years to
see whether there were any deleterious
results with the children subjected
to the experiments. It would be the
height of folly to encourage whole
sale application Of this treatment prior
to a most cautious and prolonged in
vestigation within restricted areas
This statement from Professor Bag
ley was presented to Mr.. Tesla. On
reading it carefully the scientist said:
"After experimenting on myself and
my assistants steadily during the past
ten years, employing my most power
full coil. very much stronger than that
used in the Stockholm test, I noted
absolutely no i'll after Effects