(1695) The advocates of the atomic theory of Gassend or of the corpuscular theory of Descartes accounted for the phenomena with the divining - rod by means of corpuscles or effluvia instead of occult qualities such as a ‘ sympathy ’ between the water or the ore and the divining - rod .The divining - rod dips in consequence of the action of the effluvia , emitted by water or minerals , on the material of which the divining - rod is made .This movement is perceived by the hand of the dowser .