also manifested the same sort of dualism
which has already been noticed in the luminous
emanations. The right side of every
person, of either sex, is cooler than the left
side. Consequently, we learn that man,
from the right to the left, is polarised like
crystals, like the loadstone, like the light
of the sun. All these odic impressions are
either disagreeably warm, or agreeably cool.
Moreover, on every occasion there may be
observed an uneasiness at meeting with
certain similar colours, and an easiness at
encountering dissimilar ones: for instance, a
right hand shining with a blue light, when
approached to the blue pole of a magnet, of a
crystal, or the right hand of another person,
feels an impression of repugnant warmth,
and the same is the case with a left hand
in respect to a yellow pole or another
left hand; whilst the left hand approached
to blue-light objects, and the right hand
approached to yellow objects, gives, without
exception, the impression of a delicious
coolness.

We may hence conclude that the poles of
the same name in magnets and crystals, as
also the hands of men, are endowed with
similar or with reciprocally opposite
properties, and that they constitute a dualism of
great importance which plunges deep into all
nature. In ulterior researches, Reichenbach
established the fact that different men
possess these odic faculties of sight and feeling
in different degrees. In some they are
extremely weak; in others more strongly
pronounced. Finally, there are others who
enjoy them with astonishing power. These
last behold all objects without exception,
shining in obscurity with more or less
intensity; they feel, at the contact of all
substances, of whatever nature, an impression
which is more or less strong; but which
is specifically determinate. At the highest
degree of this sensibility are found somnambulists,
lunatics, and other invalids of that
description.

What is the cause of these unexpected, and
remarkable phenomena? Von Reichenbach
cannot answer the question, and it still remains
unresolved. Who is able to say what is the
objective cause of light, heat, electricity,
magnetism, crystallisation, chemical forces, and
life? No one dares to reply. The commonest
things by which we are surrounded, are
unknown to us in respect to their essential
cause. We assemble groups of similar facts;
we give to the force which appears to
produce them a particular name; we even thus
constitute theories. We have a theory of
light, a theory of heat, a theory of electricity;
a chemistry, a physiology. In like manner,
Von Reichenbach tries to unite in one
particular group the phenomena which persons
specially endowed observe in crystals, magnets,
plants, and animals, chemical reactions,
friction, and sonorous vibrations. He gives
the name of Od to the primordial force from
which they spring, and the name of
Sensitives to the persons who have the special
faculties of perception.

The experiments here related succeed only in
perfect darkness. The light from crystals is so
delicate, and generally so weak, that the faintest
ray of every other light entering into the black
chamber is sufficient to dazzle the Sensitive.
Besides this, Sensitives of moderate power
(and they are the majority) do not enjoy
their faculty until after staying one or two
hours, and sometimes longer, in the dark
chamber. It takes that space of time to
enable their eyes to get over the excitement
of the light they have left. This point must
be attended to by those who are inclined
to repeat Von Reichenbach's experiments;
and no reasonable person would pronounce
a judgment without having first repeated
them.

As to the reality of the above-described
apparitions, the only way to deny it, is to
accuse Von Reichenbach, together with all the
Sensitives of his acquaintance, of deliberate
falsehood. On one occasion, in a dark
chamber, a flower was put before Endlicher the
botanist, who is moderately sensitive. Great
was his astonishment, his alarm even. "It
is a blue flower!" he exclaimed. "It is a
Gloxinia!" This was really true. He saw
it in absolute darkness. Stalk, corolla, pistil,
anthers, all were luminous. It is impossible,
in this case, to say that Endlicher was
duped. Imagination had had nothing to do
with it. It is either a fact, or a cheat and
conspiracy.

The first question which arises here is,
Who are the Sensitives? How may they be
speedily recognised? In the first place, they
have a strong repugnance to the colour
yellow. Secondly, if they place the ten
extremities of their fingers very gently upon
the wall of a room, the impression felt by
the left hand will be considerably cooler and
more agreeable than that experienced by the
right hand. Conclude with a third experiment:
Place some metallic object, such as
one or two iron keys, under a sheet of paper
or a handkerchief; the left hand of a Sensitive,
by merely passing over it open and
outstretched, without touching anything, will
divine the presence of the metal, in
consequence of a particular sensation. You may
place upon a wooden table, which has no
metallic furniture about it, a certain number
of sheets of paper or pieces of cloth; if,
beneath certain and sundry of these, keys
have been placed, a person who is not too
feebly sensitive will infallibly discover them
by passing the left hand over them. The
person who manifests these indications is
sensitive; if he does not, he is either not so
at all, or to so slight a degree as to prevent
his serving for the further pursuit of phytodic
researches.

Od is manifested to all the senses; but we
confine ourselves to the consideration of its