Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-07-16
ELECTRICITY.

As no class of persons are more expo
sed to the dangerous effects Of lightning
than the farmer, we propose to offer some
remarks upon lightning rods--tbe proper
method of arranging them, and point out
some of the errors often committed by ig-
norant pretenders in the manner of erect
ing them upon their dwelling and barns.
Before entering upon the subject Of
lightning rods, it may not be uninteresting
to our young readers-to say something
upon the wonderful phenomena of electric
i-y.
Electricity is an extremely subtle fluid,
which always pervades certain bodies In a
greater or less degree, the nature and prop
critics of which are still enveloped in great
mystery. Artificial electricity has long
been the subject of many interesting ex-
periments, but the honor of establishing
the identity of electricity and lightning re-
mained to be accorded to the great Ameri-
can philosopher, Franklin.
Electricity is excited by the friction of
the hand or piece of woolen cloth upon a
glass tube. stick of sealing wax, and 9TH
er resinous substances, sulphur. amber,
&c. 1t was with these materials, and in
this way that the first experiments in elec
tricity were made. These materials, to-
gether with silk, feathers, &c., are of such
a nature that electricity is slow to pene-
trate and Glow to leave them, and are con-
sequently poor conductors. Another class
of bodies, such as water and other liquids,
animals, and all metals are gooI conduct
ors of electricity. The air which sur
rounds us differs materially from these
substances. and its-capacity to commune
cate electricity depends entirely upon the
quantity of vapor or moisture it contains.
Men and animals, in their natural state,
contain more or less of this substance. II
on cold clear night you draw your hand
over the back of calf, or cat, electric
sparks will be emitted and If the hair of
the animal be black, the sparks are dis
tinctly visible.
In modern times, our schools and col
leges are supplied with electrical machines
of more perfect construction, by which all
the phenomena of natural thunder and
lightning are produced. though upon a
miniature scale. These are of glass, made
ip the form of cylinder. or of a circular
plate, which are hung upon an axis and
turned like grind stone, while piece of
silk or WOODEN cloth is held in close contact
with it. By this means it becomes fully
charged with electricity. If a person be
seated upon chair or stool, the legs OF
which ara placed upon some non-conduct-
ing material like glass or wax. and he be
brought in connection with the machine by
means of chain or wire, his body may
be so fully charged with electricity that
sparks. (lightning) will issue from him,
and if another person extend his mana near
him the electricity in passing from the
person cisrged to the other, will cause
acute pain to both. The shock may be
made so powerful as to lead to fatal conse-
ouences. But as experiments of this kind
are usually conducted, the only effect upon
the person surcharged is an aceeleration OF
the fow of blood and free perspiration.-
The person thus charged. if placed in the
dark. his body will be observed to be sur
rounded with halo of light. This is
caused by the gradual escape of the elec-
tricisy into the surrounding air.
There are various ways of producing
artificial electricity. aud II Is sometimes