unreasonably sceptical.

He says, rather oracularly, We have doubts of results derived from observations on the sick. Why should he doubt? As if sickness had not its laws, which would enable an observer of tact to discriminate and classify, as well as health. If this be not so, of what value is the so called science of medicine? Besides, it is to be mentioned that although Reichenbach commenced his observations upon invalids and hospital patients, he subsequently obtained similar results from those who were both robust and in perfect health.

During the year 1851 my attention was called to the little process of divination, mentioned above. A small weight being held suspended by a thread, in a tumbler containing water, it was alleged that the thread and weight would commence revolving, the circles enlarging, till the weight would strike the tumbler. This would be repeated so as to indicate the hour of the day. Here was a moving force and intelligence. I knew of no natural cause to which this could be attributed; and being a firm believer in the influence of spirits, I could hardly avoid the conclusion that an appeal, unconscious perhaps, or dimly conscious, but most improper, to some unknown and intelligent being, enabled evil spirits to produce this result; and I resolved never to repeat the experiment.

Some time after, during the same year, I observed in the Journal of Man for November,* an article entitled The Od Force, from Chambers' Edinburgh Journal. The following is an extract. "Mesmer, when ridiculed and defamed by the would-be wise ones of his day, is said to have retorted by declaring that ere 1852 the world would be convinced of the genuineness of his pretensions. The epoch is now at hand, and lo! the prophecy is coming true." Whatever may be the decision respecting the claims of Mesmer, there can be no doubt that the discov

* "Journal of Man," published at Cincinnati, and edited by Dr. J. R. Buchanan.

eries of Reichenbach are genuine, and of great importance. The article above speaks of a few of these, especially that of "dim flames of light issuing and waving from the poles of a magnet, and the finger tips of the human hand, as seen when the light was withdrawn, by numbers of persons of uncommon sensibility. It then proceeds to speak, in connexion, of experiments, described by Dr. Herbert Mayo, and with which he was made acquainted by a German professor of mathematics, Herr Caspari. In these experiments a light weight, suspended by a thread, (as in the experiment described above,) the thread wound around the first joint of the fore finger, would move in various directions, when held over some one of a considerable number of substances, which are enumerated; each basis, (or "Od-subject" as it was called, while the weights, &c., was called an "odometer,") giving some particular movement. The luminous element emanating from the fingers, and to which the discoverer gave the name of Od, was supposed to be the efficient agent. The processes seemed to be dependant upon natural causes; and if so my scruples above, might be dismissed. It became my purpose to investigate the matter somewhat, but circumstances prevented, till after seeing, in the Journal of Man for January 1852, a series of articles on the subject. These were very curious and interesting, and I soon made trial to determine whether I had, myself, any of the odical faculty. The odometer moved readily and freely in my hand. For a few weeks I was much engaged in experimenting. My attention was then withdrawn, and it was not till towards the close of the year that I had made arrangements for engaging in a more systematic and extended course of investigation. My earliest memorandum is dated in December. I soon became absorbed in the pursuit, which was continued with a good deal of industry and perseverance, for four or five years. During the years since I have also experimented a good deal, at intervals. I did not have an opportunity to read the work

of Reichenbach till the summer of the next year, (1853.) In 1857 I saw the work of Sir Benjamin Brodie, entitled "Mind and Matter." In a note in this work, added by the American editor, an eminent French savant, M. Chevreuil, demonstrates that the odometer or pendulum is caused move by involuntary and unconscious muscular motion.*

The first thing to be proved is that the odometer or pendulum is moved by some other power than involuntary and unconscious muscular motion; for even this, as seen above, has been denied, would perhaps be denied by Professor Faraday. I will give two or three proofs, out of quite a considerable number that might be mentioned. 1.-The pendulum does not move unless the eye of the operator is fixed upon it. The truth is, three currents of od are required to effect the movement. One descending along the arm of the operator; one rising from the basis or od-subject as it is called above; and one proceeding from the eye of the operator. In my own case, and I have had little opportunity to experiment with others, if either of these is cut off, (as can be done by a certain process,) the pendulum will not move. Instead of the current rising from the basis however, od thrown into the pendulum, or into the air around it, will answer. 2.-On holding the pendulum opposite to either of the poles of a small horse shoe magnet, and quite near, it revolves with a good deal of liveliness, making considerable circuits, though in different directions at the different poles. On gradually withdrawing the pendulum, keeping it in the line of the magnet,

*The above enumeration includes all the literature of the odic force with which I am acquainted, with the exception perhaps, of the work of President Mahan on Spiritualism, which however, is conjectural rather than experimental. I propose to give the minor articles entire, with a few extracts from the work of Reichenbach, in an Appendix. I think they cannot but prove gratifying to all who may feel an interest in the subject, in phenomena so little known, and yet so surprising, so intimately connected with our daily life, and even, may be added, with our highest interests.

the motion becomes less and less, till at a certain point it is but just kept up. On removing the pendulum an inch beyond this point, the motion entirely ceases. If the pendulum be returned towards the magnet, in the same gradual manner, all this is reversed. The motion again commences, and increases till it acquires the same vivacity as at first. But this is not all. The od which emanates from the magnet spreads out like a brush. But if it be caused to flow in right lines, it will influence the pendulum at a very considerable distance, indeed at the greatest distance, which I have tried. 3.-If the od, produced by the friction of a revolving wheel, in turning another wheel, be thrown upon a neutral basis, it gives a circular movement to the pendulum, towards the right. If the od of the second wheel be thrown upon the basis, the pendulum turns towards the left. If that of both wheels, the action is neutralized, and the pendule refuses to move.

That the movements of the pendulum are caused by the od-force, the visible emanations seen by the ocular sensitives, appears from this, that wherever the sensitives perceive a concentration of the visible appearances, the movements of the pendulum are uncommonly active. And second, by the circumstance that an odical medium can cause the pendulum to move by the action of the will, proving a spiritual organization without the body.* The different parts of vegetables affect the pendulum in a manner coincident with the report of the sensitives. There is a method by which the visible flames seem to be dissected, as a ray of light is by the prism. There appears to be good evidence, though I have not the testimony of those who can see. Each of these dissevered principles affects the pendulum, and there is a general resemblance in the different movements, though for the most part, with points of difference.

TERMS. I shall feel at liberty, for the present, to use

*This doctrine has been taught perhaps by all the chief leaders in mesmerism.

any of the following terms, as may be convenient. It is probable that hereafter the public taste will settle down. upon some one of each class, which will then be commonly employed.

Od, od-force, odic force, odyle, luminous aura. The newly discovered element.

Od-subject, basis, motor. A small plate of some suitable substance, and convenient form and size, to which od-force is brought for examination. Any substance or thing in which od-force inheres, and to which a magnetoscope is applied, to test the same.

Odometer, magnetoscope, aura-test,* pendulum. A string and weight, or small pendulum, to be held or suspended over a motor, for the purpose of testing the properties of its od-force. The term odometer, it will be seen below, has been appropriated, according to its derivation, to another use, and I shall not hereafter employ it in the sense above.

Major, minor. Terms which I have employed to indicate a double status, different from negative and positive. There is a large class of substances, which affect an ordinary pendulum, and another, including all poisins, which do not. On giving to a pendulum the odic condition of substances of the second class, it is affected by them, and not by the first mentioned.

Wand, power wand, traction wand, &c. Small wands employed in experimental manipulations on od-force, or for more lasting purposes, and to which suitable odic powers have been given.

Odometer. A basis, wand and magnetoscope, employed for the purpose of determining the impulsive or pendular force of a portion of od. Measured by degrees of convenient force, subdivided in the decimal ratio. Symbols, deg., frac.', (fractional,)", "", &c.

Odic, odical, odically. I have employed the term odic to

*This term has been approved of by high authority. Might not the first word be omitted, and only the other employed?