[27] A distinguished French _savant_, writing in the _Revue Philosophique_ for December 1884 has described some ingenious experiments for detecting the indications of telepathic influence—of the transference of thought from mind to mind which may be afforded by the movements communicated to a table by the unconscious pressure of the sitters. Dr. Richet’s investigations, though apparently suggested, in part at least, by those of the Society for Psychical Research, have followed a quite original line, with results of much interest. [28] In a paper on “The Stages of Hypnotism” in _Mind_ for October 1884, Mr. E. Gurney, describes an experiment where this persistent influence of an impressed idea could in a certain sense, be detected in the muscular system. “A boy’s arm being flexed” (and the boy having been told that he _cannot_ extend it), “he is offered a sovereign to extend it. He struggles till he is red in the face; but all the while his triceps is remaining quite flaccid, or if some rigidity appears in it, the effect is at once counteracted by an equal rigidity in the biceps. The idea of the impossibility of extension—_i.e._, the idea of continued flexion—is thus acting itself out, even when wholly rejected from the mind.” [29] M. Taine, in the preface to the later editions of his “De l’Intelligence,” narrates a case of this kind, and adds, “Certainement on constate ici un dédoublement du moi; la présence simultanée de deux séries d’idées parallèles et indépendantes, de deux centres d’action, ou si l’on veut, de deux personnes morales juxtaposées dans le même cerveau.” [30] It is obvious that in an argument which has to thread its way amid so much of controversy and complexity, no terminology whatever can be safe from objection. In using the word _self_ I do not mean to imply any theory as to the metaphysical nature of the self or ego. [31] It is worth noticing in this connection that in one case of Brown-Séquard’s an aphasic patient _talked in his sleep_. [32] “Mirror-writing” is not very rare with left-handed children and imbeciles, and has been observed, in association with aphasia, as a result of hemiplegia of the right side. If (as Dr. Ireland supposes, “Brain,” vol. iv. p. 367) this “Spiegel-schrift” is the expression of an _inverse verbal image_ formed in the _right hemisphere_; we shall have another indication that the _right hemisphere_ is concerned in some forms of _automatic_ writing also. [33] Records of carefully conducted experiments in automatic writing are earnestly requested, and may be addressed to the Secretary, Society for Psychical Research, 14 Dean’s Yard, Westminster. NOTES ON POPULAR ENGLISH. BY THE LATE ISAAC TODHUNTER.