Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1849-08-04

The Effects of Electricity on the atmosphere -
Professor Olmsted, of Yale College, has published
in the New Haven Palladium the following remarks
ON this subject, which deserving of attention.
Is there any connection bet,ceen the Electrical state
oftte atmosphere and Cholera.
The papers have recently given wide circulation
several articles partly Of foreign and partly OF do
nesic origin, tracing ami singular conditions OF
atmospheric electricity, and implying unusual and
mysterious connection between those conditions and
the cholera. One fnds that sealing wax when sub
iected to friction woollen CLOTH no longer affords
the usual indications of electrical excitement by at
tracing light bodies another observing that MS elec-
trcal machine gives shorter sparks than common M
ters that the ordinary supply of the electrical fluids
withdrawn from the atmosphere; at one place where
cholera prevails, thunder storms appear to have near
Il ceased while at another, where 1t RACES more vio
lently, they are frequent and severe.
Having, from the nature of my pursuits, been
somewhat conversant with the phenomena OF cleo
trcity, have been very frequently inerrogated as
to my opinion these points, and have thought
might possibly render some little service to those
whose curiositys excited ihis subject, by Offering
few suggestions; or at least. that might be the
Of still greater benefit, should b. 50 tortu-
nate, by opening the discussions, 70 elicit the oPln
ions of men of science, who more capable than
myself of enlightening the public
On close examina ion OF III. Ia is, think it will
be found that the atmospheric changes Ill question,
are all such as are known result FROM variations OF
heat and moisture, and that the apparent conneNion
between electricity and cholera, consists i'll this-that
certain tchtct change Hc etscLricH state y
the atmosphere, tend also 10 tftcreaee or dt' itSH
the rarageS 9fhe cho|Fra. Let us then inquire: first
what change the electrical state OF the amos-
phere and se,oll.v, whether these abuses have any
tendency to aggrayate to aay the violence OF the
ma'adv in question.
The r.lations of the atmosphere to electricity, are
controlled chiefly by the combined agencies OF heat
and moisture. it is whn ali is both hot and damp,
that thunderstorms II ,ually occur Every one has OBJ
served that Just before thunderstorm, cup or tum-
bier Of nd water becomes covered with dew, winch
is sometimes coPUus tD run down in streamletS
This shows that the " dew point" IS very high; that
j., that the air is nearly saturated with watcry va
por to require cooling on few degrees IN order
to condense that vapOr into water II the air, when
in such state, becomes suddenly cooled by the IN
fuX of colder air, or by other means, the con-
densed vapor descends in raj attended, when the
process is sudden, and the quantity OF rain IS consld
erabte, by cOpious evolution Of electricity, with
thunder and lightning. Favorable as such a state 81
air is to the production Of thuderstorms II is new
ertheless peculiarly utIvoabe to the action Of the
electric machine AMI other kinds Of apparatus used
reproducing electricity drti'iAy. These work well
only when the external air dry, for ii Is then only
that the electricity be accumulated 50 as to dis
charge itself in long sparks, to exhibit with energy
electrical attractions and repu.slons.
Bat the hot and humid air which &c lerates thun-
dertlnns, and which, at the same time nnPllrs the
action OF electrical reception, Is also remarkable tor
promoting chem II clt nEcS IN tf, es CCIi ~ III
animal substances In such state OF the ar, meat
becomes rapidly purcsceat. bread ours butter grows
rancid. milk coagulates, and swcetmeats terment and
become acid. Such air also is sultry and oppressive
to our sensations. Being already nearly or quite sat
urated with moisture it is peculiarly unavOrdbie to
the process OF insensblc Precipitation, and We lose the
cooling evaporation from tire surface OF the body.
which, when the air is dry well as hot, tends en-
ceedingy refresh and eXhiiarate us bat when the
air is hot and humid, the mOistlre instead OF gong
1ll.pf ria. NJ h
produces anGuor and other oppressive sensations.
dry air of $40 is less oppressive than humid air OF
SO, and hence often find the temperature OF the
evening and night intOlerdble than that OF the
day, although the thermometer is ten fifteen de-
grees lower, the increased humidity of the air
than balancing the diminished intensity OF the heat.
II we duly weigh these familiar facts, we shall rea-
div perceive that the same state of the atmosphere
which precedes and attends thunderstorms, and which
impairs the acton OF electrical apparatus has ten
dency to aggravae malignant diseases; and if, at any
place where the peStience is prevailing, there is an
unusual absence of thunder and lightning, may
devoutv regard il ordered in mercy to repress the
march of the DESTROYER. Thunderst0rns do indeed
sometimes appear to purify the air. bat this is not
owing to any direct agency OF the electricity but to
the fact that in such cases. the colder wind which, by
its minging with the hotter air that preceded the
storm, generated the storm itself, prevails after the
rain is over. But while thunder showers, preceded
and attended they by suttry humid air, have
a tendency to aggrayate pe5tilental diseases, full
and copous supply of rain, espe tally when attended
BY reduction of temperature, has tendency TO ar
rest, or least TO lessen their ravages for such an
atmosphere does not promote bat reprcsscs those
chemical de,on positions, which accompany slight
shower attended by thunder and lightning. Some re-
gard to this prcpe, may use lily be halin prinkling
the floor or streets with water in a hot day. When
floor is perfectly clean we may find il promotes our
comfort to sprinkle it, since the conversion of the
water into vapor changes portion Of the sensible
into latent heat, and cools the apartments bat if the