Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-10

the laboratories are equipped for radiopra
ply, microscopy and all manner Of chemical
and physical research work. TO complete
the triangle of three separate linked factors
In the vocational test there are three rooma
One for the subject, who is quite alone:
the second for the operator Of the com.
'pensating apparatus and the third for the
galvanometer recording device and the
trained observer OF it's workings
During the test there is no communica.
ton between these three rooms except by
means OF telegraph key signals
The subject is hoy of fourteen. He an.
pears to be an average normal boy of that
age. Neither DR.. Won David nor his assist.
ant knows him or his family history. They
prefer to begin with the purely scientific
part OF the programme For medical pro.
tessional reasons this subject is anonymous.
Tor present convenience called Tommy"
Tommy is treasured by the statement that
all he has to do is to sit in room by him.
self at small table with two fingers of one
hand in pair of small cups containing a
harmless liquid, and keep his eyes on q
square OF wall In front of him. which at
present is quite blank. That's all right
Tommys satisfied.
The liquid In the cups Is a mercury and
salt solution. providing perfect contact
between the subjects body and the wired
circuit linking him with the compensatins
and recording apparatus in the other two
rooms. The telegraph key near the SUBJ
1ects other hand, as he is informed land as
is fact), is merely to enable him to signal
to the other rooms in case he gets tired or
wants company.
Tommy is expectant. He keeps his eyes.
as directed. on the blank wall in front Of
him. He does not seem to be aware Of any
unusual sensations, yet it presently is an
parent that for the first time in his life the
electric telegraph system OF his brain and
nerves are establishing a connection with
the outside world. For. suddenly, "voca.
tional word is flashed upon the wall It is
one OF system Of a hundred or more words
selected to convey to tho youthful mind an
impression of various familiar vocations
As the words are flashed In alpha bcticai
order, this one happens TO be accountant"
it is evident that Tomny's mind is conceu.
irated on the meaning. OF thar word.
In leisurely succession n,her words AFRO
flashed on Tomnlys vision qna observes
that each of them gets Tomr1y's entire at-
tention. while now and then dppeA.S word
that causes his countenancc to reveal *.
traordinary interest, in his own mental op-
erations. But for definite results ono haa
to seek in the other rooms.
DR.. Won David, in the second room. Is
controlling the compromising apparatus
maintaining perfect balance between the
current within the subjects body and that
from the batteries, which overcomes the
BODY resistance and enables the former to
convey its own messages to the recording
apparatus. The battery current is gradu-
ated, and the right potency established by
means OF the "Wheatstone bridge" con.
nected with instruments which indicate to
the operator when more or less current is
needed TO overcome the subjects resistance
The achievement Of this object is the signal
for him 10 begin the flashing OF the voca.
tional words upon the subjects vision. This
is done by means OF slides bearing these
words successfully inserted in a protector
something like, the familiar magic lantern.
The essential part of DR.. Won David's
work seems like the performance OF
miracle; he is extending the opera tons of
a boys sub.conscious mind beyond his
body. In psychical messages psychically
transmitted over material wires and through
mechanism which translates them into
visible and ineligible lines, curves and
angles.
The feature of deepest interest-a spec.
tacle that is almost uncanny in its effect
upon the unfamiliar beholder-is found in
the third room. Here sits the expert cleo.
trical engineer. Arthur c. NJ Herdling, see.
ing to the perfect operation OF the record.
ing device.
The electrical expert. seated before his
recording apparatus is gazing at a rough
chart on the wall. marked in perpendicular
degrees bearing various symbols. From
rlght TO left across these degrees a point OF
hght is steadily travelling. Finally it re.
mains fairly stationary Tor few seconds
when 1t quickly recedes, to begin the same
steady progress forward again-but not
nearly so far. and receding more quickly.
Again the point of light marches forward
farther than ever. hesitates. falls back a
little, then proceeds slowly as though feel.
ing its way. and finally glows steadily on one
OF the higher degrees OF the chart And this
spectacle continues until Or. Won Davd's
telegraph signal announces an intermission
In Tommy's test.
That point of light represents Tommy's
mind taking hold. with varying degrees Of
intensity. upon the ideas suggested by the
vocational words as they fash successfully
upon his vision. But this is not the per.
manent record. 1t is only means OF as,
surfing the operator that his galyanometer
and recording device are doing their work
properly. for the sensitized film which is
receiving the permanent record is neces.
sarily invisible until it has been removed
ana developed. like photograph negative.
Ihis was later done. and the result is dis.
played at the left OF these pages, with ex.
planatory references-and Dr. Won Davids
analysis in the latter part OF his article
the degree OF a true vocational impulse
IS based upon table of "norms" calculated