The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-06-04

A Practical Treatise on Lightning PTotec-
ton. BY HENRY w. SPANG. With Illus
trations. Philadelphia: CLAYTON, REM
SEN & HAFFELFINGER.
This appears to be book OF scientific
knowledge, blended with good, practical
sense. The author is very decided in his
remarks upon the neutrality-suspicious.,
which are so widely resorted to for the pur-
pose OF protection from lightning. This
paper has contended that they were worth
less. We find the author of the same
opinion. We quote few paragraphs from
bis work:
"When we consider the long distance Of
most Of the thunder-clouds from the earth,
their great area. and the great accumulation
OF electricity therein, it is quite evident that
at the top thereof, or along their entire
length, cannot possibly restore the electri-
cal equilibrium silently between the said
clouds and the earth and prevent disrup-
tive discharges between them. .+-..
Notwithstanding the celebrated French
phycisist Arago and other scientists have
cited number of instances in which it is
claimed that there was diminutiOn OF dis
ruptiye discharges after the erection Of me-
tallic Neutrality-suspicious., experience has
fully demonstrated that the electrical equi-
librium between the dense and high thun-
der-clouds and the earth has been and always
will. as rule, be restored by the brilliant
streams OF electricity known as lightning.
"Metallic conductors, with copper, pla-
tina, gilt, and finely-polished points at the
top thereof, have now been employed for
over century; and the fact that disruptiye
discharges have quite frequently occurred
between the thunder-clouds and the air ter
minals Of the conductors, and even those
upon the highest steeples in the world, and
which were well connected with the earth,
is sufficient evidence that the thunder
clouds are generally very high, and that
conductor with its air-terminal point or
points is not able to restore the electrical
equilibrium silently between the Storm
clouds and the earth, as is claimed by the
lightning-rod men and some electricians.
:sIt seems that nearly all persons who
have treated upon the subject Of lightning
protection have overlooked the fact that
the point or points in the air ut which the
accumulation Of electricity is greatest du-
ring thunderstorm ia much farther from
the surface OF the earth than is generally
supposed, being in many cases about half
mile distant. They have therefore adj
yanced theories that are untenable, and
claimed function for the lightning-con-
ductor which it cannot, as rule, perform"
The author gives his views as to the sort
Of conductor which will give protection to
buildings from electricity.
For sale by,J. w. RANDOLPH d. ENGLISH.
History of st. Mark's Parish, Culpeper
County, Va. With Notes OF Old Churches
and Old Families and Illustrations OF the
Manners and Customs Of the Olden
Times. By Rev. PHILIP SLAUGHTER,
d. ID.
This is handsome volume, and one
which we think will attain an extended
popularity. 1t is MISUNDERSTANDING and
ever-suggestive condensation OF q large and
varied mass OF historic data, drawn from
original sources, Of tradition, delineation Of
old customs aud manners, geneaIogy Of dis.
tinguished families, Church history, &c.
which cannot fail to cproye dear to every
Virginia heart.
We have notonly an account OF Governor
spoTswooD's famed and oft-qnoted trans
montana petition OF August and septem-
Der, l7leJ but q twelLexecuted map OF the