From the book “The Orgone Energy Accumulator: Its Scientific and Medical Use” by Wilhelm Reich, M.D., Orgone Institute Press, Rangeley 1951, pp. 19-27.
Quantitative Measurements of Orgone Energy[1]
Temperature Difference, To—T
The orgone energy freely oscillates within the inner metal walls of the orgone energy accumulator. It is repelled by the inner metal on all sides. This means stoppage of the kinetic energy of the orgone energy. Stoppage of kinetic energy manifests itself on the thermometer as increase of temperature. This heat can be felt at the palms, close to the inner, cold metal walls. Biologically weak people feel the heat only slightly or not at all. The temperature, as compared with room temperature, is highest above the upper metal plate, slightly lower within the orgone accumulator, and lowest in the air of the room surrounding the orgone accumulator, at least 3 feet distant and at the same height. The temperature difference (To—T) is constantly positive, varying only in degree with the weather: Bad weather—low or zero; clear, good weather—up to 1.50 in the closed room and with certain arrangements, up to 200 C. in the open air.
The constant temperature difference at the orgone accumulator invalidates the absolute validity of The Second Law of Thermodynamics which assumes that there exists only a potential from the higher to the lower energy level. The orgone accumulator demonstrates the principle of an energy shift from the lower to the higher level, the build-up of energy level, the creation of a higher potential: orgonomic potential from low to high. This law applies to living organisms as well as to heavenly bodies, such as sun and planets. They too possess a level of energy higher than the surrounding environment. The To—T does not increase with the number of layers in a linear fashion.
During the past two years a “negative” temperature difference has been found under certain atmospheric conditions (hurricanes, etc.). It needs further careful study.
At the Orgone Energy Observatory at Orgonon, i° C. difference (To—T) per 256 seconds has been provisionally established as the unit of measurement, the T—org. (Cf. also “The Second Law of Thermodynamics and the Orgone Accumulator.” Orgone Energy Bulletin, April 1949, pp. 52-60.)
Rate of Spontaneous Electroscopic Discharge
In contradistinction to the ionization effect in the electrical realm, electroscopes, previously charged with orgone energy by means of plastic disks from the hair of the head, DISCHARGE SLOWER IN HIGHER ORGONE ENERGY CONCENTRATION AND FASTER IN LOWER ORGONE ENERGY CONENTRATION. The more layers in an orgone accumulation the slower the discharge. The relationship of the rate of discharge within the orgone accumulator and in the free air provides a measure of the “potential” between orgone accumulator and free air. This potential is reduced in bad weather and becomes steep again (up to 8 times) in dry and clear weather. A multilayer orgone accumulator will still show a difference of orgone energy tension even in very stormy weather. A one-layer orgone accumulator may lose the orgonomic potential completely.
The formula for the measurement of the op (orgone energy potential) in the orgone accumulator or in the free air can easily be obtained by division of time of discharge (T) by the difference between initial charge (Eo) and remaining charge (Er):
OP = T / Eo — Er
The op can also be measured, more simply, in time-orgs (second—, minutes—, hour—org), i.e., the amount of seconds, minutes or hours which is necessary to discharge a certain, previously set amount of orgone energy charge of the electroscope. The orgone energy laboratories use as the unit of orgonotic charge one or two electroscopic scale divisions, calibrated in such a manner that one scale division represents a charge of approximately 256 (4*) volts = one org. The entire scale of 900 has 10 divisions; the divisions around the center of the scale are used for measurements. The formula for the orgonomic (electroscopic) potential between air and orgone accumulator (oa) is given by:
ΟΡ = ΟΡ ΟΑ / ΟΡ Air
or in Time Orgs
OR = Time – Org OA / Time – Org Air
The spontaneous electroscopic discharge, thus, is not something to be lightly discarded; it is the exact expression of the orgone energy tension in the atmosphere; it varies, usually together with the difference in temperature (To—T), with the weather conditions.
For further information, cf. The Discovery of the Orgone, Vol. 2, The Cancer Biopathy, Orgone Institute Press, 1948: “Electroscopical Orgonometry” pp. 108-111 and “Quantitative Determination of the Orgone”, pp.112-120.
The Orgonotic Geiger-Muller Counter Reactions
Orgone energy, both organismic and atmospheric, is easily demonstrable with the Geiger counter in many different ways (cf. fig. below). One special way of measuring orgone energy is through orgone energy charges in 0.5 micron pressure vacuum tubes. The counts per minute (cpm) range from a low of approximately 3000 cpm to as high as 25000 cpsec. in high vacuum. These facts have been fairly well elaborated during the years. Orgone energy in vacuum is already being used in weather determination (cf. “Meteorological Functions in Orgone-charged Vacuum Tubes”, Orgone Energy Bulletin, October 1950, pp.184-193). Also, the relationship between orgone energy (or) and nuclear radiation (nr) is being studied continuously. The available knowledge will be made accessible to the public as soon and as completely as the safety of the work permits. (cf. “The Orgonomic Anti-Nuclear Radiation Project (ORANUR), Orgone Energy Emergency Bulletin, No. 1, December 1950.)
Daily Measurement of Atmospheric Meteorological Changes
Measurements A, B and C deal with atmospheric orgone energy charges, each in its own specific manner. The Wilhelm Reich Blood Tests deal with the bio-energetic charges of the blood system, which, to some extent, are dependent on the atmospheric conditions. Within the realm of the atmospheric orgone charges it is now possible to coordinate the orgonotic measurements among themselves and collectively with the barometric pressure. The chart on p. 29 gives a concrete example of such coordination. The meteorological measurements are regularly done daily at noon. During storms and other unusual conditions more frequent readings are taken.
The basic characteristic of the atmospheric reactions of orgone energy is the drop in all readings during bad, rainy or stormy weather, and the rise in all readings toward and during clear and sunny weather. There is for each experimental setup a certain range of change with an upper and a lower limit. These limits are transgressed only rarely, indicating severe disturbances of the atmospheric orgone energy conditions. Position of the earth in space during its yearly travel has some, as yet not fully understood influence on the readings, So have sunspots and distant hurricanes or earthquakes. However, local weather changes are predictable. A sharp drop in the temperature difference (To—T) and a sharp speed-up of the electroscopic rate of discharge (low Time—Org) are regularly followed by poor weather conditions, and vice versa.
Much has still to be elaborated, especially distant meteorological effects upon the local readings; but on the whole, the basic functions appear well coordinated and practically usable, as well as capable of further development.
Cf. “Meteorological Functions in Orgone-charged Vacuum Tubes”, Orgone Energy Bulletin, October 1950, pp.184-193 and “The Storm of November 25th and 26th, 1950. Orgone Energy Bulletin, April 1951.
The difficulty involved in these readings for the scientist who is not trained in orgone physics is the approach from an entirely new theoretical angle. Whoever clings to The Second Law of Thermodynamics will not understand the temperature difference. He will feel inclined to do away with it as “only” heat convection, “only” improper shielding, “only” this or “only” that. He will fail to see its orgonotic, atmospheric significance.
If he believes in the “natural leak” point of view regarding the spontaneous electroscopic discharge, he will fail to stick to the measurements over long periods of time and, therefore, will fail to convince himself that there is a basic law behind these “spontaneous” discharges, laws pertaining to the concentration of atmospheric energy. He then will naturally fail to understand the slower discharge in the orgone energy accumulator.
If he believes in the hypothesis of “empty space,” he will not understand that an 0.5 micron pressure vacuum can luminate and that it can vary with the weather changes.[2] On the other hand, if he knows that all space is filled with orgone energy, he will readily comprehend what he sees (cf. photo at the initial page of our website).
If he believes in an atmosphere simultaneously free of charges and full of “static,” he will get confused if he has to explain the lightning or even the “heat lightning” with no clouds in the sky.
Thus, the atmospheric changes of orgone energy functions provide an excellent source for obtaining information on the orgone energy functions outside the living organism, and, accordingly, for preparing a thorough understanding of the orgone functions within the organism. Atmosphere and organism give the same pulse reaction at the Geiger counter, just as, chemically, organism and atmosphere are of the same basic chemical nature: O, PI, C, and N. (Publication in preparation.)
[1] Only a survey can be given here. For details, cf. The Discovery of the Orgone, Vol. 2, The Cancer Biopathy, Orgone Institute Press, 1948: “Thermical Orgonometry”, pp. 97-107, “Electroscopical Orgonometry” pp. 108-111 and “Quantitative Determination of the Orgone”, pp.112-120.
[2] Cf. “A Motor Force in Orgone Energy”, Orgone Energy Bulletin, January, 1949, pp.7-11 and “Further Characteristics of Vacor Lumination”, Orgone Energy Bulletin, October 1949, pp. 143-159.
