THE
DIVINING ROD:
VIRGULA DIVINA—BACULUS DIVINATORIUS
(WATER-WITCHING.)
By CHARLES LATIMER,
Civil Engineer.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."—Shakespeare.
CLEVELAND, O,
FAIRBANKS, BENEDICT & CO., PRINTERS,
1876.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by
CHARLES LATIMER,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
AN ESSAY READ BEFORE THE
CIVIL ENGINEERS' CLUB OF THE NORTHWEST,
AT CHICAGO, FEB. 1, 1875.
PREFACE.
My Essay on the "Divining Rod," (vulgus, "Water-Witching,") having proved interesting to a number of my friends, I have concluded to give it to the public, with the hope that some useful practical results may be derived from it. I have no apology to make for presenting this subject in a serious light. I regard it as one strictly in the domain of science, and, therefore, worthy of the consideration of scientific men. I have no fear of ridicule, knowing for myself and "not for another," that what is here presented is the truth.
To those who seek absolute truth, I need not recommend a reading of these pages. To those who merely live by science, drawing their sustenance from it as from the "convenient cow," as Goethe says, I will simply say, imprison yourselves, gentlemen, in your shell; the world will move quite as well without you.