THE SEVENTH SENSE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10410, 25 July 1912, Page 2

THE SEVENTH SENSE.

ProfQEßor B. A. Ayers, in a recent number of Harper's Magazine. discusses she “seventh sense” In man and animals, by which he means the sense that leads automatically to the raadjcißCmenfi got equilibrium. He points ont the importanas of this eauae to the aviator and the diver, and advances an attractive theory of the creation of sensations in the equilibria! sacs through varying pressures and vibrations of their aiSolosea fluid. The writer suggests that the semi-circular canals in the labyrinth composing *6he internal Imamu ear ate the organs of equilibrium, He contends, in support of jfa*a theory, that the three canals in each ear, lying one horizontal and the other two vertical, and at right auglos to each other, thaa meeting all possible dimensions of space, seem to confirm the theory that sensations of position or motion are She product of fluid action, through faertia, flow, and momentum. Still further, fluidic 'fluency is secured through the canals being directly and freely connected with the bony structure of the. internal ear, and by enter tubular linking of one part With soother, ensuring, a universal circulation. Tba only difference tljatoan be descried in the mechanism of the equilibria! sense and that of the liver and other organic structure;.l is that the semicircular canal structure is acted upon and excited to,action by vibrations and gravity instead of by chemical or electrical atimali. In practically all feats of equilibration the fundamental sub- ! conscious sense la assisted by the fully conscious souses of sight, touch, and muscular pressure, and it jhaa been the custom to casually award all the credit to tba three conscious seasea. As Professor Ayers puts’it, these three senses are the steering gear of the ship, but tbs canals - are tbs ballast in the Aviation makes an appeal to . the “seventh sense" that it baa never experienced before, as aeroplane equilibrium l& not secured through the machine. Is not; mechanically automatic, and must depend upon,, the aviator’s sight, touch, tunsole-prassore, Bad “semicircular canal sense. ” Man, therefore, muss bring the sensitiveness or ■these souses to the standard of She bird, which depends wholly upon flight and its gqaiiibi'ciilc sense in flying.