Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 3.djvu/638

622 The only actual fact in the "magnetism" of the crawfish is the motionless state which follows the strokes in the air. While one considers this actual succession, without any examination, to be a mysterious connection of the "magnetic" influence, so one thinks this non-existing connection to be a real event, and decidedly true. Therefore, I call such events which never took place, none the less circumstances, but, in order to distinguish them from actual ones, I designate them as "viewed unequally." I do this in order to indicate the characteristic circumstance that, in the foundation, something of actuality exists, and thus gives them an appearance of reality. This immediately strikes the person whose judgment is not altogether exact, and can only be removed by a close examination and inspection. This last, however, is not the case with every one, and thus the great powers of reason and prudence which execute these events explain themselves, and also explain the immense rôle which they play in the history of human error.

In the so-called magnetizing of the crawfish, the only actual incident is the one already mentioned. This is simple enough, as the crawfish possesses the remarkable quality of being able to lose the normal excitation and power of acting belonging to its nervous system, and is also capable of supporting itself, when it is placed gently in some particular position, in spite of its former resistance. As to the magnetic strokes, they have certainly no significance.

That, however, the actual change of posture in the crawfish does not depend upon a mysterious magnetic fluid, which proceeds from the fingers and hands of the experimenter, is proved by the attempt in which the crawfish is not touched and held by the hand in any way. In this experiment the crawfish is held by a string, and that striking condition of immobility, which lasts some time and then disappears, is just as apparent in it as in the others.

I will place a loose string around the tail of this crawfish, without moving the animal, draw the ends lightly together, and hang the crawfish by means of it on this frame. You see how the animal, with its head downward, in vain strives to free itself from its unnatural position. This, however, does not last long. It becomes quiet, and finally hangs completely motionless, as though it had been held firmly in my hand. This continues until it sooner or later begins again to move of its own accord.

With a glass tube I will roll this second crawfish on its back; it endeavors to regain its proper position; but, in consequence of being prevented with the glass tube, it does not succeed. The animal's resistance is fruitless; the tube holds it firmly, and see! it now remains quiet on its back, and will sooner or later move again of its own accord.

Now, as in the former experiment, we can no longer speak of a magnetic influence, proceeding from the experimenter, but,