DIVINING-ROD. The art of using a divining-rod for dis covering something hidden is of immemorial antiquity, and the Roman virgula diving, used in taking auguries by means of casting bits of stick, is described by Cicero and Tacitus. The particular form of virgula f urcata, or forked twig of hazel or willow, de scribed by G. Agricola (De re naetallica, 1J46), and in Sebastian Munster's Cosmography in the early part of the i 6th century, used especially for discovering metallic lodes or water beneath the earth, must be distinguished from the general superstition. The "dowsing" or divining-rod dates from its use by prospectors for minerals in the German (Harz mountains) mining districts in the 15th century. The Schlagruthe (striking-rod) or forked twig of the German miners was brought to England by the mer chant venturers of Queen Elizabeth's days for those engaged in the Cornish mines. As mining declined in Cornwall its use was transferred to water finding.
In modern times the professional dowser (q.v.) is a "water finder," and there has been a good deal of investigation of his claims to be able to locate underground water, where it is not known to exist, by the use of a forked hazel twig which, twisting in his hands, leads him by its directing power to the place where a boring should be made. A widespread faith exists, based on fre quent success, in the dowser's power. Prof. Sir W. F. Barrett was satisfied that the rod twists without any intention or volun tary deception on the part of the dowser, and ascribed the phe nomenon to "motor-automatism" on the part of the dowser, a reflex action excited by some stimulus upon his mind, which may be either a subconscious suggestion or an actual impression (obscure in its nature) from an external object or an external mind; both sorts of stimulus are possible, so that the dowser himself may infer that the stimulus is an external object (like water). Like the "homing instinct" of certain birds and animals, the dowser's power lies beneath the level of conscious perception; and the forked twig acts as an index of some material or other mental disturbance within him, which otherwise he could not interpret. Not all dowsers use a rod. Some use a willow rod, or withy, others a hazel twig (the traditional material), others a beech or holly twig, or one from any other tree ; others even a piece of wire or watch-spring. The best dowsers have generally been more or less illiterate men, engaged in some humble vocation.