Promise the 20th century failed to deliver on # Gazillion and three

[ricardienne]

The Possibilities of Mind Reading


Nikola Tesla........The Scientific American

It can be taken as a fact, which the theory of the action of the eye implies, that for each external impression, that is, for each image produced on the retina, the ends fo the visual nerves concerned in the conveyance of the impression to the mind must be under a peculiar stress or in a vibratory state. It now does not seem improbably that, when by the power of thought an image is evoked, a distant reflex action, no matter how weak, is exerted upon certain ends of the visual nerves, and, therefore, upon the retina. Will it ever be within human power to analyze the condition of the retina when disturbed by thought of reflect action, by the help of some optical or other means of such sensitiveness that a clear idea of its state might be gained at any time.

If this were possible, then the problem of reading one's thoughts with precision, like the characters of an open book, might be much easier to solve than many problems belonging to the domain of positive physical science, in the solution of which many if not the majority implicitly believe. Helmholtz has shown that the fundi of the eyes are themselves luminous, and he was able to see, in total darkness, the movement of his arm by the light of his own eyes. This is one of the most remarkable experiments recorded in the history of science, and probably only a few men could satisfactorily repeat it, for it is very likely that the luminosity of the eyes is associated with uncommon activity of the brain and great imaginative power. It is fluorescence of brain-action, as it were, in all its essential essence.
Current Literature vol. 14, 626 (1893)

First the late 19th century promised me airships adorned with gaily-colored lights, and now NIKOLA TESLA promises mind reading on totally scientific grounds! Why did the 20th century fail so much, you guys?

I'm also quite taken with this notion of ability to see in the dark correlating with brain power.

Comments

[awomanthatsblue.livejournal.com]

Random, but there's an eye doctor based near me named Nicholas Tesla. And I really want to go in and ask if A) he's related, and B) he's got any super creative high-tech Tesla vision gear.