Mysterious Psychic Forces: An Account of the Author's Investigations in Psychical Research, Together with Those of Other European Savants
John Stuart Mill · en
The accompanying cuts (Figs. 4, 5, 6) explain the arrangement. Fig. 4
is a general view, and Figs. 5 and 6 show the essential parts more in
detail. The reference letters are the same in each illustration. A B
is a mahogany board, 36 inches long by 9-1/2 inches wide and 1 inch
thick. It is suspended at the end, B, by a spring balance, C,
furnished with an automatic register, D. The balance is suspended
from a very firm tripod support, E.
The following piece of apparatus is not shown in the figures. To the
moving index, O, of the spring balance, a fine steel point is
soldered, projecting horizontally outwards. In front of the balance,
and firmly fastened to it, is a grooved frame carrying a flat box
similar to the dark box of a photographic camera. This box is made to
travel by clock-work horizontally in front of the moving index, and it
contains a sheet of plate-glass which has been smoked over a flame.
The projecting steel point impresses a mark on this smoked surface.
If the balance is at rest, and the clock set going, the result is a
perfectly straight horizontal line. If the clock is stopped and
weights are placed on the end, B, of the board, the result is a
vertical line, whose length depends on the weight applied. If, whilst
the clock draws the plate along, the weight of the board (or the
tension on the balance) varies, the result is a curved line, from
which the tension in grains at any moment during the continuance of
the experiments can be calculated.
The instrument was capable of registering a diminution of the force of
gravitation as well as an increase; registrations of such a diminution
were frequently obtained. To avoid complication, however, I will only
here refer to results in which an increase of gravitation was
experienced.
The end, B, of the board being supported by the spring balance, the
end, A, is supported on a wooden strip, F, screwed across its lower
side and cut to a knife edge (see Fig. 6). This fulcrum rests on a
firm and heavy wooden stand, G H. On the board, exactly over the
fulcrum, is placed a large glass vessel filled with water, I. L is a
massive iron stand, furnished with an arm and ring, M N, in which
rests a hemispherical copper vessel perforated with several holes at
the bottom.
The iron stand is two inches from the board, A B, and the arm and
copper vessel, M N, are so adjusted that the latter dips into the
water 1-1/2 inches, being 5-1/2 inches from the bottom of I, and 2
inches from its circumference. Shaking or striking the arm, M, or the
vessel, N, produces no appreciable mechanical effect on the board, A
B, capable of affecting the balance. Dipping the hand to the fullest
extent into the water in N, does not produce the least appreciable
action on the balance.