The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-25 00:00:00

Z;U.RIOUS EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING,

We mentioned some time ago that a woman, hav-
ing taken refuge from a storm under the door of a
mill at Lappion, Aisne, was thrown down by a stroke
of lightning, but received no further injury, except
that the figure of a tree hard by was found per-
fectly impressed upon her back, so that the trunk
branches, and leaves were minutely distinguish-
able, the impression being of a reddish tint. Cases
of a similar description have been several times
recorded. Franklin, for instance, relates that while
a man was standing at the door of his house a tree
opposite to him was struck with lightning, and he
received the impression of that tree on his breast.
M. Orioli, who was professor of Natural Philosophy,
at Bologna in 1831, at the time the Italian revolu-
tion broke oat, in which he took a prominent part,
related a like occurrence at the Scientific Congress
of Naples in 1846; a lady of the name of Morosa,
at Lugano, was sitting near a window during a
storm, when she experienced a violent commotion,
and soon became aware that the figure of a flower
which stood near her at the time was impressed on
one of her legs, a mark which she retained to her
dying
.day. . In Sept., 1825, a brigantine was struck
with lightning while at anchor in the Bay of Armiro
in the Adi iatic ; one of the sailors was killed, and
the figure of a horse-shoe which was nailed to the
foremast, according to the custom of sailors in those
parts,
.was found distinctly delineated on his hip.
A similar case is recorded of another brigantine at
Zante, where a sailor was also killed, and was
found marked with the number 44, the very same
in size as that cut out in metal, which was nailed
to some part of the vessel. On the 9th of Octo-
ber, 1836, a young man named Politi was killed by
lightning at Zante. Upon examination the exact
impressions of six pieces of gold which he had in
his belt were found on, his shoulder. In 1841, in
the department of Indre-et-Loire, two persons
placed themselves under a poplar during a storm.
The tree was struck, and both individuals were
marked with the impression of a leaf of the poplar.
M. Figuier, who enumerates these cases in an article
of his in the Presse, endeavours to explain the phe-
nomenon by supposing
that. the electric fluid,id, in
striking a body, carries off withit sorme.partic the same
les of
the same, which in their progr.ess etain
outline, and being in a state of ignition, impress it
on any other combustible body they. may meet on
their way. It is scarcely safe to reject an expla-
nation without offering a better one; still we might
ask how the woman of Lappion received the im-
pression on her back through her clothes, which
are not stated to have been burnt through ; and
how the pieces of money contained in a belt worn
at the time, could be impressed on the shoulder of
the wearer. We are evidently as yet in
want of
sufficient information regarding this curious
phe-
nomenon, which appears to us well worthy
further inquired into. of being

[ADVERTISEMENT.] Pills and medicine invariably ag-
gravate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance,
dis-
appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons
in indifferent health sending only their address to E.'
S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, w., London, and they
will receive gratis and free by post the "INVALIDS' OWN
GUIDE," or Natural Restorer, Without medicine or ex-
pense, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, and
refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled insuring the removal
of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints,
nausea, epilepsy, paralysis,
debility, nervousness, palpitation,
cough, asthma, consumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhces,
dysentery, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds
noises in the ears, rheumatism, goat, impurities,
eruptions,
hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessuoss,
acidity, paips,
tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, cramps, aPal2li
slaking, fits% renchitio•"Unquestionably the safest Quids
$0 heilltb.):