The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-20


weather that usually prevails in the season of
thunder storms, IL presenss 70 the conductor a
highly resisting medrusn- Small bodies Of
water therefore, or spots habtually DAMP
invite an electric discharge, and the influence Of
such local circumstances in determining the direc-
ton of the charge has been evnced in two cases
where, within short lime, The lightning has strucl
twice in each place. The Professor then mention
ed Two cases of where houses of public worship,
were struck Zone i'll Avon, and the other in Stam-
ford, Conneclcut) They were furnished with
rods. From the base OF each rod large quantity
of mud was thrown up, covering II as high as the
caves of the house; the impression was that the.
electricity came out of the earh but the facts did
not seem TO hlm to he decisive. Ii is the popular
impre ssion in the Southern part of the United
States, that pine trees of all trees the most apt
10 be struck by lightning whereas its resinous,
character would lead us TO expect for II an exemp-
ton from attacks of gh thing. Is not this the fact,
TINT the pine is probably not more liable TO be-
struck, but when struck ii exhibits greater marks
OF violence IN CONSEQUENCE OF ITS noncondacting
qualities! In most cases where trees full of sap
or are wet with ram, they are such good conduc-
tors TO transmit the charge without receiving
any marks of violence. After some further illus.
trations, the learned Professor concluded.
Professor AgassIz gave an illustration and COM,
parison of the face OF fishes with that of other
vertebrate and man; and Professor b. Silliman,
Jr, the origin of curious spheroidal structure
in certain sedementary rocks.
Professor LOOMS, of New York, then came for
ward 10 make some remarks upon electric al phe-
nomena observed in certain houses He said.
within the past few years, several houses in the
city of New York have exhibited electrical phe-
nomena in a very remarkable degree. For months.
in succession, they have emitted spar ks of con-
| siderable intensity, accompanied by loud snap
stranger, upon entering one OF these electrical
houses, in attempting TO shake hands with the in
mates receives a shock, which is quite noticeable
and somewh hat unpleasant. Ladies, In attempting
! TO kiss each other, saluted by spark. loud,
! aUgher) spark is perceived whenever the
| hand is brought near 10 the knob OF door, the
| gided frame Of a mirror, the gas pipes, or any
] mel bndV
| municaies freely with the earth. In one house,
| which | have had the opportunity 10 examine,
child, in taking hold of the knob of door, received
severe shock that it ran oil in great fright.
The lady of the house in approaching the speaking
tube - give orders 10 the servants, received very
unpleasant shock in the mouth, and was very much,
annoyed by The electricity, until she learned first
| to touch the tube with her finger In passing from,
one piror the other, il she chances to step upon
the brass plate which served as slide for the fold
! ing DOORS she received an unpleasant shock in the
| foot When she teut hes her finger to the chan
| delier (the room was lighted with gas by chan
deier suspended from the ceiling), there appeared
brilliant spark and sn'p. In many houses the
| phenomena have been so remarkable as to occa-
| sion general surprise and almost alarm. After g.
careful examination of several cases of this kind,
electricity is created by the friction of the shoes of
| the inmates upon the carpets OF the house. have
found, by direct experiment, that electricity Is ex-
cited by the friction of leather upon woollen CLOTH
| For this purpose, | stood upon an Insulating STOOL,
and spreading small piece of carpetng upon
table before me- rubbed piece of leather vigorous
ly upon it, and then bringing the leather near the
| cap Of gold leaf elecuometer. the leaves were
| repealed with great violence. The electricity of
the leather of the resinous kind. ELECTRICITY,
therefore, must necessarily be excited whenever a.
| person walks with shutting motion across a car
| pet but il may be thought remarkable that the
| electricity should be intense enough TO give a.
bright spark In order TO produce this effect, there
must be a combination OF several favorable circum-
stances. The carpet, at least its upper surface,
must be entirely of wool, and Of a close texture,
in order to furnish an abundance of electricity. So
far as have had Opportunity TO Judge, infer that
heavy velvet carpets answer this purpose best
Two thicknesses OF ingram carpeting answer very
well. drugget spread upon an ingram carpet
yields good supply of the fluid. The effect Of
the increased thickness is obviously to improve
the insulation of the carpet The carpet must be
quite dry, and also the floor Of the room, 80 that
the fluid may not be conveyed away as soon as il
is excited. This will not generally be the case
ally kept quite warm. The most remarkable
cases which have heard of in New York, have
been Of close, well built houses, kept very.
warm by furnaces and the electricity
most abundant in very cold weather. In
warm weather only feeble signs OF electricity
are obtained. The rubber on the shoe must also.
be dry, like the CARPET and il must be rubbed upon
the carpet somewhat vigorously. BY skppsng once
or twice across room with suhtiling mohon of
the feet, person becomes highly charged, and
tallc body, particularly if il have good communic.-
ton with the earth, bright spark passes. In al
most any room which is furnished with woollen,
carpet, and is kept tolerably warm, spark may
mus be Obtained IN winter, but in some rooms the
insulation is so good, and the carpets are 20 cleo
trical, that il Is impossible to walk across the floor
without exciting sufficient electricity TO give a
sIark. IL may be said, that in this case
there can be but very little friction between
the shoe and carpet. But il must be remembered
that the rubber is applied to the carpet with con-.
OF the body, so that slight shutting of the feet
acts with great energy. In the London and Edn-
hurgh Phifosoihioof Nsgas ine, for February, lSs9
u gwen an account OF leather strap, connecting
the drums Of worsted mill, which gave SHARKS
Two inches in length, and charged a battery ia n
short time, The strap was % feet long six inches.
broad and one,eghth ct IN inch thick. Il crossed
IN the middle, between the two drums. the strap
forming haure eight. Here there was consider
able friction, since the straps made 100 reyolu-
tlons ~ minute. la The American Journal
OF Srence, for July, 1910, Is mentioned au
instance Of leather band in a cotton factory
which exhibited decided electrical exci,ement'
Ihese examples show that leather, when sub
Jscied 10 considerable friction. yields an abun-
the Am, mean Philosophical Society, Cor December
1870, are mentioned several cases of individuals
who drew sparks of electricity from cool stove
ana rom common CRATE. / consider il probable
That, IN these cases, the expermenier as the cleo
uihed body, and not. he stove or crate How is il
possible, Tor CRATE, containing burning Goals, to
be insulated so as 10 retain charge of electrcfy
On the other hand il is presumed that the experi-
menier was insulated by standing upon a caree.s
made quite dry by winter tire.
Professor SiL1IMAN related an instance where.
on The return home Of navy officer, he was met
with The affection of fond wife, and he expert
enced shock OF electricity. IL. was proved that
she was 70 state OF electrical excitement, and SO
continued til her deal which occurred ia a short
hme subsequent 10 her husbands reiurn
Leters of invitston for the association were re-
ceived aud accepted, from Mr.. Sheppard, for We'd
nesday evening and from the Mayor Of New
raven, Tor Ihuriday evening. The meeting al
hali-past i've O'Clock, adjourned till nine nexs.
morning.
Professor Pages Espsrimeot. In Electro