571 C. Mr. M. Guthrie, whose experiments in thought-transference with persons in a normal waking condition are given in 630 B, found that "community of sensation" sometimes existed between persons in a normal state, he being the first to observe this in the case of taste. In some of his experiments the tasters were himself, Gurney, and the present writer, and the percipients were his two principal subjects, Miss Relph and Miss Edwards. I quote part of the report made at the time from Phantasms of the Living, vol. i. pp. 52-54.

The taste to be discerned was known only to one or more of the three actual experimenters, and the sensations experienced were verbally described by the subjects (not written down), so that all clanger of involuntary muscular guidance was eliminated.

A selection of about twenty strongly-tasting substances was made. These substances were enclosed in small bottles and small parcels, precisely similar to one another, and kept carefully out of the range of vision of the subjects, who were, moreover, blindfolded, so that no grimaces made by the tasters could be seen. The subjects, in fact, had no means whatever of knowing, through the sense of sight, what was the substance tasted.

Smell had to be guarded against with still greater care. When the substance was odoriferous the packet or bottle was opened outside the room, or at such a distance and so cautiously as to prevent any sensible smell from escaping. The experiments, moreover, were conducted in the close vicinity of a very large kitchen, from whence a strong odour of beefsteak and onions proceeded during almost all the time occupied. The tasters took pains to keep their heads high above the subjects, and to avoid breathing with open mouth. One substance (coffee) tried was found to give off a slight smell, in spite of all precautions, and an experiment made with this has been omitted.

The tasters were Mr. Guthrie (M. G.), Mr. Gurney (E. G.), and Mr. Myers (M.). The percipients may be called R. and E. The tasters lightly placed a hand on one of the shoulders or hands of the percipients - there not being the same objection to contact in trials of this type as where lines and figures are concerned, and the subjects themselves seeming to have some faith in it. During the first experiments (September 3rd and 4th) [1883] there were one or two other persons in the room, who, however, were kept entirely ignorant of the substance tasted. During the experiments silence was preserved. The last fifteen of them (September 5th) were made when only M. G., E. G., and M., with the two percipients, were present. On this evening E. was, unfortunately, suffering from sore throat, which seemed to blunt her susceptibility. On this occasion none of the substances were allowed even to enter the room where the percipients were. They were kept in a dark lobby outside, and taken by the investigators at random, so that often one investigator did not even know what the other took.

Still less could any spy have discerned what was chosen, had such spy been there, which he certainly was not.

Under these conditions thirty-two experiments were made, which are described in detail. In nine cases the percipients named the actual substance used, and in five other cases described the taste with fair accuracy (e.g. "a sharp and nasty taste" for vinegar, "horrible and bitter" for bitter aloes, "something sweet and hot" for candied ginger). Other experiments of the same kind were tried later (op. cit. pp. 55-58). See also Proceedings S.P.R., vol. iii. pp. 424-52, for experiments by Mr. Guthrie in the transference of sensations of many different kinds; some of those relating to pains are quoted in 630 B.

For other experiments with hypnotised subjects in the transference of sensations by many different observers, see Phantasms of the Living, vol. ii. pp. 324-29, 338-45, 666-68. Some of these are quoted from the early mesmerists - Dr. Esdaile, the Rev. C. H. Townshend, Professor Gregory, and Dr. Elliotson.