SMITHSONIAN.COM - May 24 - The April 1924 issue of Science and Invention magazine ran an article by Hugo Gernsback, which examined the different “scientific” ways to determine if a marriage will succeed or fail. There are four different tests to determine whether a marriage will work.
- Physical Attraction Test - Electrodes are attached to each person’s wrist so that an “electrical sphygmograph” can record their pulse. If the pulse rate rises while embracing or kissing this is scientific evidence of physical attraction.
- Sympathy Test - It involves one of the partners watching the other go through something mildly traumatic, like having blood drawn. If the partner's muscular contractions and sudden inhalations “due to excitement” are wild enough, then she/he is sufficiently sympathetic to the partner.
- Body Odor Test - The couple is made to smell each other by one person being placed inside a capsule with a hose coming out the top. The hose is led to the nose of the other person and if the smells aren’t found too objectionable then the romantic pairing is deemed safe.
- Nervous Disorder Test - It’s important that at least one partner can be calm under pressure.
