Observations upon lightning, and the method of securing buildings from its effects. In a letter to Sir Charles Frederick, &c. &c. &c / by B. Wilson ... and others.

  • Benjamin Wilson
Date:
1773
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations upon lightning, and the method of securing buildings from its effects. In a letter to Sir Charles Frederick, &c. &c. &c / by B. Wilson ... and others. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/88 (page 32)
    The Condudors of St. Paul's were examined witli great attention by Mr. Richard Gould, one of the vergers of that cathedral, on the 23d of March ] 772, the day after the lightning had paffed through them : As the letter he wrote to you contains fome inter- efling and curious fails, of the truth of which we were witnefles; and as this paper, together with others on the fame fubjeil, though laid before the Royal Society, have not been thought proper to be publiflied, it is neceffary for me to mention here fome of thofe fails, as they greatly illuflrate what I have advanced in regard to the danger from a lateral force in particular fituations. Some of thefe Conduilors appeared to have un¬ dergone a confiderable violence by the paffage of the lightning through them, infomuch that a thick ruft, which was formed on their furface, was, by the la¬ teral force, beaten off^ and removed to fome diftance from them : The iron bars themfelves had, for many feet^ the appearance of having been heated red hoty refembling iron newly taken from a fmith’s forge : in other parts, the iron, as well as the ftones near it, was blachened by frnoke, - Thefe bars feem to have undergone nearly the fame violence as the wire and chain in Dr. Prieftley's experiments, which I have before mentioned, with this difference only, that as the fize of the Conduc¬ tors greatly exceed that of the wire and chain, fb did the quantity of eledlric fluid, which paffed through them. It is probable that a greater thunder Rorm may at fome future time produce flill more violent effedls on them : thofe already obferved would