The Light of the Brain

"His eyes blazed," is an expression which we sometimes hear applied to a person who has exhibited some powerful mental excitement. Indeed the belief that the human eye sometimes shines with an in- ternal fire of its own is not only widespread, but is based upon fact. One of the most interesting experiments ever tried by that exceedingly interesting man, Professor von Helmholtz, related to this question of the luminosity of the eye.

Going into a room that was totally dark, he was actually able to see his arm by means of the light issuing from the retina of his own eyes. The success of this remarkable experiment has been ascribed to the intense activity of the experimenter's brain.

In referring to it recently Mr. Nikola Tesla remarked that probably only a few men could satisfactorily repeat it, as the light seen was a sort of "fluorescence of brain action" produced by the activity of a mind of very uncommon power.

Mr. Tesla, at the same time, recalled the fact that a flash of light is sometimes perceived when an idea or an image suddenly presents itself to the intellect. And in view of such phenomena as these he ventured to suggest the possibility that the problem of reading one's thoughts in his eyes might some time be solved through an analysis of the condition of the retina.

Thus it sometimes happens that scientific investigation not only confirms old popular notions, apparently of fanciful origin, but also makes them appear even more wonderful than before. — Youth's Companion.