Remarkable case of the effect of lightning on the human body : with general observations on the nature and phenomena of lightning. Adapted for general readers / by John Davies.

  • John Davies
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarkable case of the effect of lightning on the human body : with general observations on the nature and phenomena of lightning. Adapted for general readers / by John Davies. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    produced by that form of electricity called galvanism ; for a thin metallic wire will be immediately fused and sublimated under the influence of a powerful galvanic battcrv. Taking these facts into consideration, it might be ex- pected that objects would be more oftenly set on fire by lightning, when struck, than they really are. Now and then a rick, or some other highly combustible material, is ignited by the electric spark, but unless the object struck be of a very combustible nature it is not often that it takes fire. The injury in general is of a mecha- nical kind when the lightning comes in contact with nimate bodies; for trees and other elevated objects are usually barked or shattered, and thrown about in all directions, and are comparatively seldom ignited. Moreover, it is frequently observable that the ground is torn up and scattered about where the lightning comes in contact with the earth, whether it strikes the spot originally or is conducted to it by a tree; thus proving pretty satisfactorily that the electric fluid, how- ever subtle, is still a material substance, which occcupies space and possesses other qualities of matter. To show, however, the peculiarity of electric heat, and to distinguish its properties, both mechanical and che- mical, from those of other promoters of caloric, we have only to point at its effects upon Ancient and those who suffered with him. Although the clothes of these per- sons were made of combustible materials, yet they did not take fire. They were torn to rags, and some of them scattered about to a great distance. It was at first stated, as already noticed, that Ancient’s clothes were burning when he was found in the hedge; but, upon further enquiry, and upon a strict examination of the clothes themselves, it is positive that such was not the case, and that the effect of the lightning upon the clothes was entirely mechanical. But how did it occur that the body, situated under the u 2
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