"Honest
pioneer work in the field of science has always been, and will
continue to be, life's pilot. On all sides, life is surrounded by
hostility. This puts us under an obligation." -Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm
Riech (March 24,1897-November 3, 1957) was an Austrian psychiatrist,
scientist, inventor and author. He started as a psychiatrist, and
over the course of his life, gradually developed increasingly more
bizarre theories and practices, perhaps straying into the realm of
mad scientist.
He
trained at the Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute and joined the Vienna
Psychoanaliytic Institute in 1924. He worked with Sigmund Freud
during that time, and focused on overall character traits rather than
specific neuroses.
Reich
was outspokenly opposed to the rise of the Nazi Party, and fled
Germany in 1933. In 1934, he was expelled from the International
PSychoanalytic Association. He travelled to Scandinavia, and then to
America in 1939.
After
his expulsion from the IPA, he focused his research on orgonomy,
measuring "orgones", units of cosmic energy. He believed
they could energize the nervous system and that mental illness was
due to orgone deficiency.
In
1937-1939,it appeared his mental health debilitated. His scientific
theories on psychology, which were similar to Freud's, came under
attack by scientists in Oslo, Norway. His marriage unravelled; his
wife refused to accompany him to America.
Reich
began building boxes called "orgone accumulators", made of
alternating layers of metal and wood. The function of these boxes
were to cure illnesses by harnessing orgone energy. He rented the
cabinets as therapy for many illnesses, including cancer. His
research caught the interest of Albert Einstein, who did observe some
of the orgone experiments.
He
also built "cloudbusters", devices he theorized could
manipulate orgone energy in the atmposphere to produce rain. In 1953,
he used the cloudbuster in Maine, near Bangor.
Several farmers offered to pay him to make it rain, due to a drought threatening their blueberry crop. He set up the device at 10 am July 6. At 10 pm, July 6th, it began to rain, and continued to rain for 2 days.
His research and experiments also brought him into conflict with the U.S. FDA, and in 1947 the administration begin investigating him. In 1954, an injunction was filed to stop the shipment of his publications and equipment. 2 years later, he was charged with criminal contempt for ignoring the injunction. He was convicted and sentenced to 2 years in a federal prison. He died in prison, of heart failure, on Nov 3rd, 1957. Supposedly, he was to be released on Nov 1oth; a parole had been arranged for him.
During his imprisonment and after, the FDA confiscated and destroyed his equipment and publications. This action has been criticized as one of the largest historical examples of U.S. censorship.
While some of his theories seemed wildly unprobably, it is interesting to note that his work was seized and destroyed and he was imprisoned for what would seem to be a fairly mild infraction. Perhaps there is more to his research than meets the eye. His work has been carried on by his son, and he has had an influence on many people.
The musician Kate Bush told the story of his rain-making in her song
"Cloudbusting".
The video can be seen here:
If
this intriguing scientist and psychologist has caught your interest,
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