Bibliography

Dr. med. I. L. BAUMGOLD, The Influence of the Earth’s Magnetic Field on the Human Body. Sevkavgiz. Pyatigorsk, 1936. Print run 3200, pp. 56. Price 1 ruble 50 kopecks.

The author of the book under review would seem to pose a biophysical problem of practical interest—the influence of the earth’s magnetic field on the human body. However, from the very outset the reader may have doubts as to the significance of such a phenomenon, in view of the comparatively weak intensity of the earth’s magnetic field. An unfavorable impression is produced by the absence in the book of any quantitative data whatsoever, so necessary for substantiating one or another of the author’s propositions. References to the scientific literature are also lacking.

Turning to the main content of the book, we shall note first of all the author’s rather strange conceptions of magnetism in general and terrestrial magnetism in particular. On p. 51 it is said: “Magnetism is that intermolecular force which couples the molecules of liquids and solids to one another.” Of terrestrial magnetism the author writes (p. 10): “The lines of force of the magnetic field always run along the surface of the earth or in a definite direction: from the south magnetic pole of the earth to the northern one and from the northern magnetic pole of the earth to the southern one.” Further (p. 27) he speaks of “an ocean of magnetic current, the currents of which are indicated to us by the declinations, inclinations, and oscillations of the magnetic needle. The direction and strength of these currents, flowing from north and south, cause, as is known, the direction of the compass needle, attraction and repulsion of its poles.” From these quotations it is clear that the author does not possess knowledge of magnetism even to the extent of a stable textbook for secondary school.

No less strange are the author’s ideas about the structure of the tissues of the human organism. On p. 10 it is said: “The elasticity of tissues depends on the state of their colloids. Colloids are solutions of molecules (? the spacing is ours, A. K.).” On the other hand, in the author’s opinion (p. 11), the smallest particles of tissues are not only molecules, but also electrolytes (?! A. K.).

Further, referring to electrically polar molecules, the author unexpectedly also states a very doubtful proposition (p. 14): “A living organism consists of polar molecules. Protein particles of our colloids may serve as an example of polar molecules.”

However, the central question of the book is the nature of the influence of the earth’s magnetic field on the organism. How does the author imagine this? He answers this question most distinctly on p. 31, where he writes: “The action of terrestrial magnetism on the organism... is expressed in a definite polar ...”

installation of all the molecules of his tissues, ...” (the spacing is ours, A. K.). Thus, electric dipole molecules are oriented in the earth’s magnetic field. This discovery by the author, running like a red thread through the entire book, is truly a “masterpiece” and requires no special comment.

Proceeding from this “discovery,” the author of the book under review draws a number of conclusions just as illiterate as the “discovery” itself. For example, on p. 50 he writes: “Northern magnetism causes tension of molecules, compaction of tissues, increases their elasticity, while southern magnetism causes rarefaction of molecules, rarefaction of tissues, reduces their elasticity.” Here, incidentally, the author differentiates the actions of northern and southern magnetism. Examples of this kind could be multiplied, but it is hardly worth dwelling on them.

It is very important to note that the author does not confine himself to setting forth his “theory,” but widely advertises on the pages of this book its practical applicability for therapeutic purposes. The entire second half of the book is devoted to this; there is, for example, a chapter: “The Orientation Method of Treatment—Treatment with the Earth’s Magnetism.”

This is no longer illiteracy, but something more, something bordering on charlatanism.

The conclusion from all that has been said is clear. The book under review is a vivid example of illiterate hackwork masquerading as science. It is undoubtedly harmful, for, if it falls into the hands of our student youth, it can only disorient them. In connection with the appearance of this book, the question should again be raised of strengthening the responsibility of publishing houses that issue such “scientific literature,” and in such mass print runs at that.

A. I. Kostarev, Gorky