210 The Divinng Rod. 
The diviner, having ascertained the site of a fountain, and 
wishing to determine its depth, makes ita centre from which 
2 retires to some distance, and returns again very slowly 
with the rod onthe search. ‘The moment the rod is perceiv- 
precisely twice the depth of the fountain required. 
water be 7 feet below the earth’s surface, the rod will be af- 
fected in acircle of 14 feet diameter; but if the water be 
seven times seven feet deep, the rod will be affected in @ 
circle seven times greater than the first. The attraction 
extends with the distance! It is absurd. The deeper the 
fountain lies, the sooner the rod will discover its existence ! 
It is most. unnatural. oreover, the amount of the attrac- 
tive forces is always just sufficient to draw the point of a r 
through the are of a semi-circle, and no more; whether the 
attractive forces be expanded throughout a circle of 100 feet 
ter, or compressed into one 14 feet diameter. Then 
these forces ought to be very active, when the circle is reduc- 
ed so as to bring the atracting bodies into near contact. But 
after they come in sight of each other, all mutual attraction 
ceases, and they remain at rest! 
1 am unable to say what law is used to determine the depth 
of salt-water fountains. That which remains to be noticed 
is more applicable to their case, than the law already expound- 
ed. It would extend the first rule too far for the simplest 
understanding, to suppose, that a salt-water fountain, 300 
deep, would influence the divining rod in a circle of 600 
diameter ; and that a fountain 600 feet deep would in- 
fluence the rod in a circle of 12 < , : 
cond law, however. e of 1200 feet diameter. This se- 
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diviners, and for variety frequently used. It can be deduced 
from the —— ~ Operation, which is this: the —. 
' od by the extremity of one of its limbs, extend 
over the discovered fountain or mine. : cients the 
point of the rod is exposed to two conflicting forces, viz: the 
attracting body, and the elasticity of the rod. In the.contest 
