Jacob's rod : a translation from the French of a rare and curious work, A.D. 1693, on the art of finding springs, mines and minerals by means of the hazel rod / To which is appended researches, with proofs of the existence of a more certain and far higher faculty, with clear and ample instructions for using it.

Date:
[1870?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Jacob's rod : a translation from the French of a rare and curious work, A.D. 1693, on the art of finding springs, mines and minerals by means of the hazel rod / To which is appended researches, with proofs of the existence of a more certain and far higher faculty, with clear and ample instructions for using it. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    change, that is, when instead of turning downwards it rises towards the stomach, they know that they enter on the space of the depth, they know, likewise, that they are following the length of a spring, of a mine, or of a limit. When after having seen the movement of lowering over the width, the contrary over the depth, it gives a similar one for the length, that is also in rising against the stomach. Although the third manner of holding the rod does not appear of great utility, because the switch, as we have said, turning indifferently, sometimes on one side, some- times on the other, it appears as if one cannot so well distinguish the space of the depth of the hidden thing. It has, however, its conveniences, because being neither too much raised, nor too much lowered, its movement is more prompt and more perceptible, when it rises against the stomach, or when it lowers towards the ground, because, having only a quarter of a turn to make in order to rise or fall, it is consequently more easy for it to bend on one side or the other; so that each way of holding the stick has its con- veniences, but to use either with success, after having tried them all, it is well to make to oneself a rule to hold it moderately, and always evenly tight, so that one can judge in this equality of the more or of the less of the violence of its movement, otherwise its movement will never be .so perceptible, since in one case the violence one does oneself in tightening it too much prevents part of the discernment and sensibility; on the other hand, in not sufficiently tighteningthehold, the impression is not so strong, and the movement cannot be so perceptible.