So, then, we come to the evidence for this wonderful power of telepathy or thought-transference. Here I must be very brief, indicating merely a fraction of the evidence which has been accumulated in proof of this startling scientific truth.
When the Society for Psychical Research was founded, in 1882, its main energies were directed toward the investigation of this faculty, and of the reality of thought-transference. The various Committees who were engaged in this investigation soon came to the conclusion that its reality was beyond doubt. Some of the most interesting and conclusive experiments were those conducted by Mr. Guthrie, a gentleman living in Liverpool, and two of his employés. The tests were so arranged that fraud was out of the question, even had it been attempted. All the subjects were in a normal state, blindfolded, and separated some distance. Strict silence was observed. In the presence of Messrs. Myers and Gurney, the following trials in transferring the sensation of taste were attempted. Various substances were provided the "agent" (the one who was to transfer the sensation) and he placed a small quantity of one of these in his mouth; while the "percipient" (receiver of the telepathically sent message) stated what his or her impressions were. To quote one set of trials:
September 4
| Substance Tested | Answers Given |
| Worcestershire sauce. | Worcestershire sauce. |
| " | Vinegar. |
| Port wine. | Between eau de Cologne and beer. |
| " | Raspberry vinegar. |
| Bitter aloes. | Horrible and bitter. |
| Alum. | A taste of ink—of iron—of vinegar. I feel it on my lips; as if I had been eating alum. |
| " | Do. distinct impression: bitter taste persisted. |
| Nutmeg. | Peppermint—no; what you put in puddings—nutmeg. |
| " | Nutmeg. |
| Sugar. | Nothing perceived. |
| " | " |
| Cayenne pepper. | Mustard. |
| " | Cayenne pepper. |
The next series of experiments concerned the transference of bodily pains. The subjects still being blindfolded, and some distance apart, the agent was pricked in various parts of his body by a needle. Several physicians were present at these experiments:
Back of left ear pricked. Rightly located.
Lobe of left ear pricked. Rightly located.
Left wrist pricked. "It is the left hand."
Third finger of left hand tightly bound round with wire. A lower joint of that finger was guessed.
Left wrist scratched with pins. "Is it the left wrist? Like being scratched."