Very truly yours,
 A. Einstein

The above letter was received by Mr. Peisach, with whose kind permission
it, and the one below, are published, in reply to a letter seeking Professor
Einstein's views on his father's papers. Peisach senior, now deceased, was
a physician in Germany who had learned to use the dowsing rod for diagnostic
purposes, and had become interested in the influence of radiation from water
and mineral veins on health. Mr. Peisach wrote us that by chance he had
tuned his TV set to the "Look at Us" program on the Danville Convention, and
generously referred us to this correspondence. After forwarding the reports
to Princeton, he received the following reply. Translations are courtesy of
Tell Ehardt and the German Department of Villanova University.

 

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 Dear Mr. Peisach:                                                        15 February 1946

 

 I read with great interest the reports from your father and I think
that they deserve attention. To publish them in the daily press would have
little effect. However, if you send these reports to a medical journal, you
will have to re-write some of the other aspects that are not really
pertinent to this matter.

 I know very well that many scientists consider dowsing as they do
astrology, as a type of ancient superstition. According to my conviction
this is, however, unjustified. The dowsing rod is a simple instrument which
shows the reaction of the human nervous system to certain factors which are
unknown to us at this time. That the same circumstances can bring forth
nervous difficulties in breathing appears entirely plausible. However, I do
not think there is any connection with the occurrence of cancer. This
latter connection, if true, would not be easy to prove with supporting
statistics.

If you submit the carefully revised reports to a medical journal you
may attach a copy of my letter, so that this matter will receive the
attention I feel it deserves.

Very truly yours,
A. Einstein

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"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us 'Universe', a part
limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and
feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion
of his consciousness. This delusion is a prison for us, restricting us to
our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.

Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our
circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature
in its beauty."

 -Albert Einstein

 

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