A WONDERFUL INSTRUMENT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 1 April 1909, Page 4

A WONDERFUL INSTRUMENT.

"***""*" - . . The electric psychomotor, as it is called, is described as a galvanometer plus an apparatus for measuring and recording the fluctuations produced in tho human organism by the emotions. Tiie subject to- be experimented on (states an exchange) rests one hand on a zinc and another on a carbon plate. An electric current is thus established, and by means .of a lamp and mirror glass scale, or upon a measured screen, a beam that will move in sympathy with every emotional tremor. The eminent psychologists who have invented the machine claim that a man cannot lie without an emotional 'tremor being' set up within' him, which will he registered by the macnine. ""Take the case of a man who has stolen a watch. If the word "watch" is pronounced in his hearing, among a number of non 1 significant words, the chances are 100 -to 1 in favour of him- betraying himself by means of the ' machine. Dr Peterson, the American co-inventor, obtained astonishing results with a young criminal, wlio was given a guarantee that nothing that was discovered would be used against him. He had Heen out on parole, and the points to, bo ascertained were whether he had broken his parole by leaving New York,. whether he had been arrested, and whether he was concerned in certain thefts. When he denied having been out of New , York and 1 having been arrested, the beam .of light moved six inches each time. A number of cities "were mentioned -and by all but one the light was deflected. : Farther questioning established his guilt beyond doubt, though he maintained his innocence. In another experiment Dr Peterson is said to have ascertained by means of tlw psychometer which one of three men whom he had never seen before was in possession of certain information imparted to only pile of the three by another person. The man with the information came prepared to resist every effort to extort the secret from him, but it was. to no purpose. 'At all the significant words propounded Vby^ Dr Peterson the light beam ' mov.ed from three to six inches ; at the indifferent ones it did not move more than two inches. It is said that the coolest and most accomplished of liars are powerless against this contrivance.