# 2- \[N/A, N/A – (CASE READING).] ### AUGUSTUS Welcome Collection Private Record \#5876-3 letter from [[Berger, Hans|Hans Berger]] to [[Caton, Richard|Dr Richard Caton]] dated [[1924-12-14|14th December 1924]]. Letter Reads: To [[Caton, Richard|Doctor Richard Caton]], [[Caton, Richard|Richard]], you will forgive the delay to this message. I wanted to inform you of the results of my latest experimentation sooner, but it was not possible for me before now. Your reply to my first letter was most valuable and I modified the conductive surfaces as you advised, but now I must ask you for further clarification. When you described your first experiments on Canis[^1] and Hominidae[^2] and your later work on Leporidae[^3] and Cercopithecoidea[^4] you did not mention any unusual side effects in your subjects. I must know if there was any information you failed to reveal to me because the consequences of my own experiments have been alarming. I will explain. In my last message I told you of my latest experiments on the subject “[[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]]” and his unusual cranial deformity which allowed direct access to the dura mater[^5] above the occipital lobe[^6]. You will remember that in addition to electric stimulation sessions I was taking advantage of this deformity to record more accurate pressure measurements using a vulcanized rubber tube filled with saline and capped with latex inserted into the cranial aperture. I enclosed, for your consideration, charts displaying the predicted pressure changes correlating with emotional shifts, stimulation and cognition in the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]]. Your response advising me to use silver for improved conductivity in the stimulation sessions proved correct and so, given hope by this positive result, I decided to attempt a recording of the electrical signals within the brain once again. I placed wires of silver beneath the scalp of the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]], fore and aft and, instead of the customary stimulator, I instead attached a Lippmann capillary electrometer[^7]. The results were erratic at first but after much trial and error I found that by using a double-coil Siemens recording galvanometer[^8] I was able to reliably record the electrical signals. I have this time enclosed a photograph of the results from these sessions taken by my assistant and wife, [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]]. This discovery alone should be enough to upset the Zeitgeist[^9], coming so soon after the work of [[Einthoven, Willem|Einthoven]], but I am too aware of my reputation of late and I know that I need a significant discovery to quiet the naysayers. I thus invited [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]], for another, more intensive recording session. He was hesitant at first, but I was eventually able to impress upon him the Zeitnot of our research and he consented. I have recently become aware of the Russian Physiologist [[Bykov, Konstantin Mikhailovich|Konstantin M. Bykov]] and his work on the hemispherical bridge[^10]. In short, he claims to have found the centre of the self, nestled as a bundle of fibres between the two halves of the brain. When I corresponded with him, he claimed that once this bundle is severed in canines, their behaviour resembles that of two separate animals in one body. I was dubious of these results, but they did present a new avenue for experimentation and one I knew that no one had yet attempted. So, it was two weeks ago that [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Schmidt]] finally consented and we began insertion of the silvered wires to the depths of his brain. The surgery was taxing but eventually the electrodes were well positioned and we were able to begin recording electrical activity. We first ran through the standard tests and replicated previous results with little variation. I then began to question the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]], regarding himself: 'imagine yourself', 'tell me of yourself', 'what is it you want'; etc. At this point the familiar, sweeping waves I had come to expect were instead strongly exaggerated. [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]] seemed completely unaffected but we feared the equipment had shifted or mis-calibrated so we ended our first session there and began disconnecting the equipment. I reviewed the data late into the night, somewhat downcast that this latest exploration to new depths had provided little new data. I will admit to falling asleep at my desk, overcome with exhaustion. I dreamed of an ocean, deep and unforgiving, with an unplumbed heart full of dark secrets waiting to be uncovered, whilst overhead flew radio signals, invisible and unknowable, not even rippling the surface. Such a shame these two things would never meet. Such a shame. I woke with my own brain charged with inspiration and an idea for a wholly new approach to our work. I began by borrowing some equipment from the engineering department: A Telegraph key and Sounder, some wiring, contacts, relays, capacitors and various electrolytics. No doubt the engineers will complain but at this moment that is the least of my concerns. In a blitz of activity I deconstructed both the sounder and key along with my latest Edelmann galvanometer[^8] and then reassembled them in rather a novel way. Looking back, I cannot say how I arrived at the final design but nonetheless in my fervour I was certain it would work. We would plumb the depths of that ocean from which I had awaked. [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] and I returned to the college theatre and after a brief explanation to the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]], we began to reattach the electrodes to my new device. I then began to question him. He answered the standard questions normally but now, rather than waves of ink unfolding across a paper drum there was instead a distinctive clicking from the Telegraph receiver, a languid pattern as though it were operated by one in a state of torpor. [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|H. Schmidt]] laughed at the novelty of the device and even [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] was sceptical of my logic but we nonetheless proceeded with my new line of questioning. 'Imagine yourself.' The clicks slightly accelerated as the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]] did so before slowing to their previous random rhythm. I pressed on: 'Tell me of yourself'. Again, there was a slight increase in the ignorant tapping whilst the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]] repeated his name and occupation. 'What is it you want?' Again, the same banalities of food, drink and toilet from [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]] and accompanied by the gentle tapping of the Telegraph sounder accelerating as he considered his words. All had proceeded well and even [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] appeared to be more enthused having seen the results. We thus prepared to end the investigation. I should point out here that though very sure handed, my [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] is not the fastest of assistants and so I have often found myself forced to wait upon her during sessions. It was during such a delay that I had a moment of uncharacteristic whimsy. As [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] assembled the equipment for disconnection, I idly began to tap at the sending key as though sending a telegraph myself: 'imagine yourself'. Immediately the clicks stopped dead. There was a moment of stillness as the last echo finished rebounding off the tiled walls. Then it was replaced by a sudden flurry of activity from the sounder. The [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]] seemed completely unaffected, but the equipment was triggering faster than I would have thought possible. If before we had seen waves lapping at a shore, this was a torrent, a tidal wave of signal. I tapped again, automatically following the script I had prepared for myself without thinking. 'Tell me of yourself'. The activity intensified, the Sounder rattling across the pitted wooden desk with its vehemence. Finally, I spoke my last question via the telegraph, 'what is it you want'? This was met with an overwhelming surge, and the struggling Sounder began to smoke under the strain. My concentration was broken at this point by the clatter of dropped metal instruments. I was irritated by such an uncharacteristic clumsiness in [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]], especially at the moment of possibly my greatest breakthrough yet. I turned to scold her but then I saw her face. She was pallid and stood near swooning in terror, staring at [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]] as though it were a corpse answering my questions rather than our completely healthy and vigorous [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]]. I turned back to him, and he was seemingly as confused as myself, frowning with concern for my wife. “Is something wrong?” I asked her, gesturing to the procedure which had, until that moment, been proceeding quite excellently. “Can you not hear it?” She whispered, barely audible over the Telegraph sounder. My irritation grew yet greater; of course I could hear the sounder, it was deafening! Before I could say as much however, the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]] began to convulse. There was no warning. One moment he was looking quizzically at [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] and I, the next moment his back was arched and shuddering with the most violent grand mal seizure[^11] I have ever witnessed. He was already restrained, of course, but the leather straps creaked in distress as his muscles snapped taut and the arteries throbbed in his neck. He began to scream in agony. I once saw tetanus take a man during my time in the Cavalry and this seemed horrifyingly similar: vicious and mindless facial spasms, rupturing contortions of the body and fingers arched in a rictus claw. [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] and I fought to insert a belt into his mouth before he severed his own tongue, but were unsuccessful. We were all yelling then and as the telegraph reached a repeating frenzied crescendo there was an almighty crack, loud as a gunshot, and a gout of bright arterial blood sprayed from the deformity at the back of [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]]’s head. The telegraph abruptly stopped, as did our yelling. There was then a moment of deafening silence punctuated by the gristly tear of fibres ripping themself from the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]]’s skull and landing with a wet slap upon the tiled floor before falling still. [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] and I stood staring at one another over the bloodied and broken corpse that was once our [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]]. She then whispered one last time, with terror stricken eyes: “You could not hear it?” In the weeks that followed, there was all manner of paperwork and investigation but ultimately it was a moot point. We had signed consent from the [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|patient]] prior to the procedure and there was no evidence of foul play. Just another case of unfortunate frontier science. Regrettable, awful even, but not suspicious. It was brain surgery after all. Neither I nor [[Berger, Ursula|Ursula]] attended the funeral. It would not have been appropriate. I did write a letter of condolence to his wife that I thought quite touching, and convinced the University accountants to pay the fee owed to his widow despite their vociferous protestations. They relented only on condition of her sworn secrecy on the matter. It was some time before I was able to sit and review the formal findings of the experiment. I had had the foresight to set up a recording ticker for the Telegraph sounder so I had a complete transcription of the event, at least from the perspective of the equipment. I began to examine this ticker, unsurprised to see random noise from the outset. I almost set it aside, assuming that was all there was to it, but instead I noticed a pattern. Peering closer, I found myself frozen in realisation. Clearly, I had misfiled something. I checked my folders carefully and was only convinced these were the actual records when I noticed the bloodied fingerprints across the third page I had left as I retrieved the data. I returned to the tape and quietly examined it in silence. That was when I finally understood my wife’s fear. She was always a better communicator than I, and this extended to her proficiency with Telegraph. I can use it, but I lack the skill of her ear. I must decode where she can just listen. Thus, it took me this later study to ascertain what it was she had heard during the experiment before [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]]’s unfortunate passing. It was written there plain for anyone who thought to decode it: Question: 'IMAGINE YOURSELF' Response: 'I. I AM. I AM I. ME, I. I AM ME, WE, I ARE WE, WE ARE.' Question: 'TELL ME OF YOURSELF' Response: 'WE ARE, I AM HERE. HERE ALONE. WE ARE I ALONE. ALL ALONE, SO ALONE TOGETHER. TOGETHER ALONE. NOTHING, NO, ALONE, ALONE, ALONE, ALONE!' Question: 'WHAT IS IT YOU WANT' Response: 'HELP. HELP WE US. ALONE. HELP WE I HELP NEED HELP OUT HELP OUT NEED OUT OUT WE OUT OUT I OUT OUT OUT WE OUT I OUT OUT OUT OUT HELP NEED OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT OUT!' The rest was obscured by [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN|Herr Schmidt]]’s cerebrospinal fluid. I have enclosed a photograph of this record for your examination. You see now, [[Caton, Richard|Doctor Caton]], why I have contacted you. Was there anything in your original experiments which might explain the psychic phenomena I have witnessed here at [[University of Jena|Jena]]? I have searched my whole life for proof of such events but I was ill prepared for such violence, especially considering your own claims that your experiments were without complication. I fear that unless you can verify my results or at the least provide some prior correlative indications I must delay publishing my findings for the foreseeable future. Worse still, I may even need to omit the details of this final experiment for fear of the ridicule of my peers. I entreat you, [[Caton, Richard|Dr Caton]], any help you can provide on this matter would be warmly received. I await your thoughts with humble expectation. Signed, Your earnest Colleague, [[Berger, Hans|Hans Berger]]. --- # PAGE: [[Breaking Ground - 00 - Foreword|Last Episode]] - [[Mixed Signals - 00 - Foreword|00]] - [[Mixed Signals - 01 - Int. OIAR Manager's Office|01]] - \[[[Mixed Signals - 02 - Cyberspace|02]]] - [[Mixed Signals - 03 - Int. OIAR Main Office|03]] - [[Mixed Signals - 04 - Int. OIAR Break Room|04]] - [[Mixed Signals - 99 - Postface|99]] - [[A New You - 00 - Foreword|Next Episode]] # PROPERTIES | Episode published on | [[2024-07-18]] | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Statement given on | [[1924-12-14]] | | Date of events | N/A | | Date of recording | [[2024-04-15]] | | Recorded by | [[AUGUSTUS]] | | Recorded at | [[Cyberspace]] | | Statement type | Epistolary | | Case number | CAT13RBC4488-14121924-15042024 | | Given by | [[Berger, Hans]] | | Voice | [[AUGUSTUS]] | | OIAR staff | N/A | | Mentionned | [[Bykov, Konstantin Mikhailovich]] - [[Einthoven, Willem]] - [[Berger, Ursula]] - [[Schmidt, UNKNOWN]] - [[Caton, Richard]] | | Non-person | [[University of Jena]] | | Artefact | N/A | | Avatar | N/A | | Creature | N/A | | Ritual | N/A | | Entity | UNKNOWN | | Location | [[University of Jena]] | | Linked mention | N/A | | Other pages | [[Mixed Signals - 00 - Foreword\|00]] - [[Mixed Signals - 01 - Int. OIAR Manager's Office\|01]] - [[Mixed Signals - 02 - Cyberspace\|02]] - [[Mixed Signals - 03 - Int. OIAR Main Office\|03]] - [[Mixed Signals - 04 - Int. OIAR Break Room\|04]] - [[Mixed Signals - 99 - Postface\|99]] | | Transcript | [Mixed Signals.pdf](https://drive.google.com/file/d/100Sy6SDDOZ6vOJ63_uJ7BU6WcUuNzb9p/view?usp=drive_link) | | Tags | #Source/TMagP/Case #Warning/Horror/Existential #Warning/Human_Experiments #Warning/Setting/Medical/Surgery/Graphic #Warning/Setting/Medical/Seizure #Warning/Mental_State/Arguments | [^1]: Canines. [^2]: Great apes (including humans). [^3]: Rabbits and hares. [^4]: Old world monkeys (as opposed to great apes). [^5]: One of the membranes encasing the brain, the first inside the bone of the cranium itself. [^6]: The rear-most section of the brain, out of four major sections. Its best known function is processing vision. [^7]: A device for detecting small rushes of electric current. The thin end is designed to act as a capillary tube, half-filled with mercury with a small amount of dilute sulfuric acid above the mercury. Metal wires are connected at the thick end into the mercury and at the thin end into the sulfuric acid. [^8]: An electromechanical measuring instrument for electric current. They were the first instruments used to detect and measure small amounts of current. [^9]: In 18th- and 19th-century German philosophy, a Zeitgeist (lit. 'spirit of the age') is an invisible agent, force, or daemon dominating the characteristics of a given epoch in world history. Contemporary use of the term sometimes, more colloquially, refers to a schema of fashions or fads that prescribe what is considered to be acceptable or tasteful for an era. ([source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitgeist)) [^10]: Also known as the corpus callosum. It is a bundle of nerve fibres that allow your brain’s left and right hemispheres to communicate. ([source](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/corpus-callosum)) [^11]: Now known as tonic-clonic seizure, it causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. Tonic-clonic seizures involve both tonic (stiffening) and clonic (twitching or jerking) phases of muscle activity. ([source](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epilepsy/tonic-clonic-grand-mal-seizures))