The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-24
Protection from Lightning.

lIlt OCISIEILTIC dVtCTLCuH HIS SOlliC Dl dOli-
cal advice on this subject, from which we
take the following:
During a recent thunderstorm in the
village of Trumbull, Conn.,. a family of
three persons-husband, wife and child
who had taken refuge on feather bed,
were instantly killed by lightning; the
house had no rods. In the same village,
during the same storm, dwelling-hOuse,
which had two lightningrOds upOnit, was
seriously damaged. Several of our read
ers, who have seen the accounts of these
disasters, and Others who cite analogous
examples, have had their faith in feather
beds, as place of safety during thunder
storms. severely shaken, while some OF
them would fain believe that lightning
rods serve to destroy rather than TO pre-
serve life and property. We are asked to
print something upon the subject, and we
cheerfully comply, promising, however,
that there is little that is new to be said,
and that the subiOined information has for
the most part been heretofore reiterated in
our columns.
Feather beds are not protection from
lightning, and the popular belief that they
are doubtless results from a misapprehen-
sion of the laws that govern the passage OF
electricity. The human body is better
conductor of electricity than feather beds
or other objects ordinarily contained in
the apartments of dwellings, and therefore,
zrio7i, when the lightning enters an
apartment, the human body is likely to
form one in chain of inductiOns, de-
termining the path of an electrical dis
charge. unless better conductors are in its
vicinity to divert this action.
The only place of absolute security in a
thunderstorm is an iron building; or next
in safety is a building properly protected
by lightning-rOds. Houses constructed
entirely of iron manifeStly stand in need OF
no lightning-rOds at all, because the elec-
trio fluid, on striking so good a conductor,
would rapidly diffuse itselfin all directions
and flow into the grOund-prOvided, OF
course, that the construction of the
building is such as to allow its free es-
cape.
According to the best authorities, a cop
per rod of one inch in diameter, or any
equal quantity of copper under any other
form, will resist the effect of any discharge
of lightning hitherto experienced. The
copper rod, is, therefore, the safest and
best material that can. be used, butt is eX-
pensive. Iron rods of one inch in diane
ter are very commonly used, and, If point
ed with solid copper and properly put up,
are efiicaciOus in the great majority OF
cases. The particular form of the rod
makes no difference. 1t may be round or
square. twisted or hollow, composed of
one solid piece or made of wires twisted
together. 1t is the quantity of metal con-
tained in the cross section of the rod that
is of value, not the form.
The object being to make as good a pass
age for the lightning to the ground as to
remove all danger of its leaping to some
conductor in the house, the greatest care
must be taken not to have any break in the
cOnductivity. As it is incOnvenient to
manufacture or transport the rods in one
piece. the different parts must be in init,
mate connection when they are put up
it is best to have them sOldered and the
Joints protected from the air and moisture.
The point of the rod should be extended a
little above the chimney or highest part OF
the building, and should be fastened in
contact with the building by staples OF
cleats. Glass insulatOrs should not be en-
plOyed. 1t makes no difference in con.
ductivity, whether the rod is painted or
not painted. No building can be said to be
properly rOdded or protected against light
ming unless the lower part of the rod or
terminal under the ground is made quite
extensive. The extremity of the rod
should connect with masses of good con.
Quoting materials, such as old iron, or
iron-Ore, or coke, or charcoal, laid in
trenches, or the rod itself should be elOn-
gated, sunk deep in the ground, and car
ried a considerable distance from the build
ing, and put in connection with water OF
moist earth if possible. The golden rule
for safety is 9 ''PrOvide the largest possible
area of conducting surface for the terminal
of the rod
Finally. in the way of general advice, we
would say, connect all your lightning-rOds
together, and also to your iron tank, and
water. gas, or other pipes, not by separate
connections, but so that there is some con-
nectiOns, between all, which connection
should be as high up as possible If you
have a metal roof, connect all rods with it.
If the roof is not of metal, then connect
your rods together by means of good
sized conductor running along the ridge
of the roof. Bear in mind that to carry of
the heaviest lightning flash known a
copper rod one inch in diameter is not
considered too large; and though of
course such flashes are of very rare Oc-
currence, they may come. Hence the
great value of uniting your different rods
high up.