The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-02-12


tuitive perceptive organs, he would be ena.
bled to recognize its presence whenever he
approached il. Thus, by placing large
bowl or pitcher Of sater upon the table, and
causing the individual to pass around the
room with his eyes closed. holding his hand
extended horiz ,ntally, I observed that when.
ever his hand passed over the bowl Of water,
not knowing where it was, it would slightly
descend as though attracted towards it,
After little experience he would be enabled
by passing his hand around the room, ia
recognize the spot at which he experienced
the action of the water. Thus, IL bowl Of
water should be placed under chair, he
would be able by placing his hand, with his
eyes closed, upon each chair, to distinguish
the one beneath which the water was situa.
ted. After placing his hand over bowl ol
water several times, and observing descent
Of his hand at each passage, it was observed
that If he stood still, holding his hand in the
same position, It would gradually be attract
ed towards the water. and descend, as il
compelled by an increasing force, the mus
cles of the arm appearing to undergo Pc
culiar contractile and benumbirg influence.
Having observed these facts, sought an
opportunity to apply the principle to the
case Of q somewhat noted water finder. The
old gentleman was brought to my office.
gave him hint Of my views as to his pecu-
liar powers, which he received with consid-
cradle skepticism. Nevertheless, I proposed
to test the water experiment, and to show
him that the whole mystery of water finding
consisted not in any peculiar influence exert
ed by water over the human system. By
the experiment ofholding his arm extended
in different parts Of the room over bucket
of water, and elsewhere, endeavorcd to
convince him Of the truth Of the principle -
He found that whenever his arm was held
oyer the water, IL was strongly disposed TO
descend; yet il was not till repeated trials
in others portions Of the apartment that he
could be convinced that the water excrted
any peculiar influence, although his arm did
not exhibit the same disposition to descend
in other places. Finally, however, resolved
that he would not be convinced if he could
help it, he determined to hold his arm above
a bucket Of water, and not allow any influ
ence from that source to effect II. He accord
ingly held out his hand, and steadily resist
ed the influence, which, nevertheless, was
vis'bly operating and causing its Descent.
He continued this struggle until his arm
was spasmodically ag'tated by his effort, and
yielded the point only when he found him.
self unable to resist any longer. s
After giving him this demonstration Of
his iinpressibility. II informed him that the
same principles wers applicable to other in.
fluences as well as that Of water, and p, aced
upon his forehead, In succession, the letters
ofJudge S., General jackson, Mr.. Calhoun,
ETC., from each Of which he derived stri-
king and characteristic impression CORES.
ponding to the characters Of the writers and
the mode in which he was accustomed to
regard them. Thus we learn that the phe-
nomeua of Bletonism are nothing more than
popular and universal mode of displaying
the impressibility Of the nervous system,
which Neurology has demonstrated. The
rod or twig, or any other apparatus fqg the
exercise Of this power, is convenient meth
cd for its exhibition. as the muscles of the
operator, while holding The twig, areaffected
by the influence of the sub 'erranean stream
Butin truth, no such sppara, us is necessary.
The impressible Bletonist may go forth with
his hand alone--may recognize subterra-
mean streams, ,indicatetheir course and depth;
and | believe may not only indicate the
course Of the subterranean stream, but may
also determine the position of mineral strata.
! nAuv - n