The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-08-13
ELECTRICITY.

Experiments made in electricity first gave
philosophers suspicion, that the matter of
lightning was the same with electric matter.
Experiments afterwards made on lightning,
obtained from the clouds by pointed rods, re-
ceived into bottles, and subjected to every
trial, have since proved this suspicion to be
perfectly well founded; and whatever pro-
perties we find in electricity, are also the pro-
perties of lightning.
This matter of lightning, or of electricity.
is an extreme subtle fluid, penetrating c,her
bodies, and subsisting in them equally ditfus-
ed.
When, by an operation Of art or nature,
there happens to be a greater proportion Of
this fluid in one body than in another. the
body which has most will communicate to
that which has least, till the proportion be-
comes equal, provided the distance between
them be not too great !; or, if it is too great,
till there be proper conductors to convey it
from one to the other.
If the communication be through the air.
without any conductor, bright light is seen
between the two bodies, and sound is heard.
In our small experiments we call this light
and sound the electric spark aud snap; but
IN the great operations Of nature, the light is
what we call hghhatng, and the sound (pro-
duced at the same time, though generally
arriving later at our ears than the light does
to our eyes, is, with its echoes, called
tbandey.
If the communication of tn. fluid isAby
conductor, it may be without either light or
sound, the subtle fluid passing in the sub
stance of the conductor.
IL fho cOnducfor ho pood anJ sc .nn-.A
bigness, the fluid passes through it without
hurting it. If otherwise it is damaged or de-
stroyed.
All metals, and water, are good conduct
crs. Other bodies may become conductors
ny having some quantity of water in them,
as wood, and other materials used in building.
but not having much water in them, they are
not good conductors, and therefore are often
damaged in the operation.
Glass, wax, silk, wool, hair, feathers, and
even wood perfectly dry, are non conductors |;
that is, they resist instead of facilitating the
passage of this subtle fluid.
When the fluid has an opportunity of pass
ing through two conductors, one good, and
sufficient, as of metal, Che other not so good,
1t passes in the best, and will follow it in any
direction.
The distance at which a body charged
with this fluid will discharge itself suddenly,
striking through the air into another body that
is not charged, or not so highly charged. is
different according to the quantity of the
fluid, the dimensions and forms of the bodies
themselves, and the state of the air between
them. This distance, whatever it happens to
be between the two bodies, is called their
striking distance, as, till they come within
that distance Of each other, no stroke will be
made.
The clouds have often more of this fluid in
proportion, than the earth in which case, as
soon as they come near enough THAT is, with
IN the striking distance) or meet with a con-
ductor, the fluid quits them and strikes into
the earth. cloud fully charged with this
mud, If so high as to be beyond the striking
distance from the earth, passes quietly with
out making noise or giving light: unless it
meets with other clouds that have less.
Tall trees, and lofty buildings, as the tow.
srs and spires Of churches, become sometimes
conductors between the clouds and the earth;
but not being good ones, that is, not convey
ing the fuid freely, they are often damaged.
Buildings that have the ir roofs covered with
lead, or other metal continued from the roof
into the ground, to carry off the water, are
never hurt by lightning; as, whenever it
falls on such building, it passes in the
metals and not in the walls.
When other buildings happen to be within
the striking distance from such clouds, the
fuid passes in the walls, whether of wood.
Drlck, or stone, quitting the walls only when
can hnd better conductors near them. as
metal rods, bolts, and hinges Of windows or
doors, gliding on wainscot, or frames of pic
lures, the silvering on the backs of looking
glasses, the wire for bells, and the bodies Of
animals, a. containing watery fluids. And in
passing through the house, it follows the di-
fection Of these conductors, taking as many
IN ITS way as can assist il in its passage.
whether In a straight or crooked line, leaping
from one to the other, If not far distant from
each other, only rending the wall in the
spaces where these partially good conductors
are TOO distant from each other.
An iron rod being placed on the outs;d. of
building, from the highest part. continued
down into the moist earth. in anv direction
strait or crooked, following the form Of the
roof or other parts Of the building, will receive
the lightning at its upper end, attracting i
20 as to prevent its striking any other part Of
The rod may be fastened to the wall. chin.
ney, &c. with staples of iron. The lightnins
will not leave the rcd "a good conductor) to
pass INTO the wall "a bad conductor) through
the staples. Il would rather, If any where in
Tho wall, pass out Of it into the rod to get