ASPR Journal, V14 - Iapsop.com

A Notable Psychometric Test. 401
Therefore, I abstain from presenting any theory: I present facts
-facts-and only facts! Whoever wishes to see the facts and convince
himself of their reality, for him I wait.
He may come as a Saulus-but he shall go as a Paulus.
Mexico City, Mexico.
February 21, 1920.
DR. G. PAG£NST£CHER.
After the receipt of the foregoing documents, a letter was
sent to Dr. Pagenstecher, from which the following extracts are
taken in order that his replies to the questions asked may be
clearly understood.
Da. G. PAGitNSTECHEit,
Av. Veracruz 102, Mexico.
D£Aa Sra:
• • • •
March 4,. 1920.
• • • • •
The experiments seem to have been performed with great care and exactitude,
and their authentication is made absolute by the number and character
of the official witnesses. There is only one objection which I, taking the part
of advocatus diaboli, could find. I fancy that the resolute skeptic could say
that the medium, having. it would appear (if I understand the report aright:-
1 refer particularly to the sentence on page 3 of the minutes about the result
of previous experiments being identical, and the passage in Dr. Monjaras's
report, page 3, about " former experiments") handled the pieces of pumice
stone before, may have been able, due to her hyperresthetic condition, to have
recognized the pieces by feeling their shape. Of course, this would not explain
success in previous experiments, but these were not witnessed by others.
or at least you have sent no report of them and of their corroboration. You
wilt understand that I do not myself entertain such a theory in earnest, nevertheless
science compels us to consider every possibility, even that of fraud .
• • • • • • • • •
May I ask a few questions ?
(1) Was it possible for anyone else to perceive the odor attached to any
of the objects? Did not the asafetida retain perceptible odor ? Or is the
reliance of the committee upon the fact that "her senses were blocked "?
There is one difficulty here, at least on the surface. It is possible to block
the senses to certain objects, white they remain free to function in relation to
other objects, in hypnosis. Thus I have by suggestion made it impossible for
a subject to hear the loudest sounds on the street while she was still able to
hear to a normal degree sounds in the house. And the senses are sometimes
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