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

est possible calamity. VI Home Magazine.
/ Water witchery Explained.
i In answer to numerous correspondents,
We this week print the following, from the
pen Of Prof. Buchanan. as the most philo-
sophical explanation yet given of wcnder-
ful fact:
| One of the most remarkable facts which
have been neglected by the scientific, is that
which has been expressed by the term Be
tonism, or Water W:tchery. The familiar
practice in Europe and America Of determin-
ing the proper location for wen, and the
probable depth at which stream Of water
will be found, has not received the proper
attention Of scientific men.
When we examine the process BY which
the discovery IS made, we Do not observe
anything verv rational or scientific. The
water finder proceeds over the ground, hold. .
ing inhis hsndsa forked twig Of witch hazel,
peach, or some appropriate tree, which It is
believed will turn down with considerable
force and point towards the 1subterranean
stream, whenever he stands directly over it.
Such is the general opinion Of water finders;
and some Of them even declare that the twig
turns down with sufficient force to twist it
in their hands, breaking the bark. It is also
believed that BY holding switch or rod in
the hand by the smaller end, leaving It in .
position free TO move, it will adapt its direc-
ton to the course Of subtearanean stream,
and thus become guide by which the
stream msy be traced. II is believed that
on the water finder holding small rod or
twig in his hand shove the site Of the sub
teranean stream, It win soon be thrown into
motion by mysterious attraction, and be-
gin to vibrate yertically to and from the
water. a
| In these opinions, although they may ap.
pear ridiculous to the man of science, we OBJ
serve the form in which familiar fact pre-.
sents itself and is received by the unscien-
tifc mind. As to any 'attraction between
tho twigs and the subterranean stream Of
water, when no human being interferes, we
have not the slightest evidence Of its e4ists
ence. The whole cause, therefore, of the
facts and phenomena, must be found in the
constitution, capacities, and pecaliarities Of
the individuals who make the experiment.
The forked swig or divining rod is held in
such manner, compressed by the hand, as
to be very liable, if the pressure is not care
fully made, to be thrown down by the force
used. Hence its turning down, even with
apparent violence, Is not &C all surprising.
But the water finder tells us, sincerely, no
doubt, that he makes no EFFORT to cause the
twig to turn down, on the contrary, wishes
to prevent it. Nevertheless we know that
the twig can be uaintained in its erect posi-
ton only by the judiciously balanced force
which heapplies to 1t, and that whenever,
from any cause, his force is improperly ap-
piled, it mustdescend, whether he wills such
result or rot. @ t ),
So inthe case of following the guidance Of
an elastic switch, it is very easy, when it is
held almost balanced from one extremity,
swinging to and fro in M elastic manner, to
change its direction by tho unconscious
movement of the hand Of the holder il is
obvious that = very slight movement, how-i
ever communicated, even the movements
which are always experienced from the inn
pulse Of the heart and from the movements
Of respiration, win be sufficient to produce q
! gentle vibration of the twig. By these means
we can explain the movements of the divin.
ingsro9 Of the water finder, as being entire
" caused by the action Of bit own muscular
system, independent Of any design to rro-
duce such results. a-ss4 "a q
This reasoning, however. does not explain.
the wonderful fact, which has been verified
in thousands Of ipstances that the true situ-
alton Of subtenanean streams may be thus
pointed out, and even the depth at which
the water lies correctly indicated. To ex..
plain this hct,we must refsr to the wonder
ful powers Of the nervous system, which
recognize the influence Of 4 medicine snvel-
oped in paper or hermetically sealed in q
bottle. The powers by which we recognize
the 'inauence Of . medicine through solid
media a-by which We recognize the mental
influence belonging to the contents Of an nm
opened letter. and by which we recognise
the psthological-ars powers Of similar
character to that which is concerned in va.
ter finding. It is consequences Of an i'm
pressible nervous system, that all substances
around rs, and n various distances, are a.
pablo Of exerting an influence upon us.-
Sensitive persons may be powerfully affect
ed BY magnet at fifteen or twenty feet
distance. That 80 simple and harmless .
fluid as wafer should exert distinc4 influ.
ence upon the human constitution, At . con-
siderable distance. is not incredible when we
hare witnessed parallel facts Is to the oper-
atoms of other SCENTS sd' r'r
In order 70 explain the M,stsries o. Bic
tonism, ! have selected persons Of high i'm
pressibility, witha view Of determining. Nv,
the excitement OF their organs, in what por.
ton o. the brain the powered the Bletonist
could be locstea Knowing tb,tit was
pescsptivs power, | discovered that any
highly impressive person might be endued
4 with tho power of ths Rletonist by exciting
sufnciently the sensitive and perceptive or.
SAna II. the greater number ar h;ohiv -,