WCP2540

[1]

University of London,

Burlington House, W.

April 9^th 1864¹

Dear Sir

I quite agree with you that the influence of one or fauism[?] upon another through a force capable of acting at a distance, producing the phenomena of community of sensation, &c, thought-reading, &c is quite conceivable; and I have several times thought that I had satisfactory evidence of such an action. But [2] I have never yet found that this evidence has borne careful sifting, — my experience having always been that when the first exhibition had been well thought over and the possible sources of fallacy eliminated on a second attempt, this attempt has been a failure. It is perfectly well known to those who have thoroughly investigated [3] the subject, that no bandaging of the eyes can be at all relied on for excluding vision; a very short training enabling any clever boy to do all that the reputed somnambule does with eyes shut thus occluded. The interposition of an opaque medium, such as a book or piece of pasteboard is the only safe test; and this is objected to as showing distrust.

I find from Prof Helmholtz² that Reichenbach's³ experiments have been carefully tested in Germany by the best of all means, — the electro-magnet; [4] which affords the power of reversing or destroying the magnetic polarity, without the least suspicion on the part of the "sensitive subject", — and that the result is exactly the same as that of the experiments on the Homeopathic globules, which I have narrated. Reichenbach's character as a scientific observer is in utter disrepute in Germany, although in earlier life he did some good work in Chemistry. I should recommend you to read a Review⁴ of his book⁵ in the Brit[ish] & For[eign] Med[ico-]. Chir[urgical]. Review⁶, Oct 1851 — by D^r Laycock⁷, now Prof^r of Medicine in Edinburgh.

yours very truly | W B Carpenter [signature]

A[lfred]. R[ussel]. Wallace Esq