The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-12-01

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Electric Discharges from Animals and
Men.
In recent communication Mr.. Jacob
Thompson, of Benicia, CAL, describes
an interesting exhibition of electric ac-
tion observed by him on the evening of
October IL. For the first time for sew
era1 months the wind was blowing q
pretty stiff breeze from the northeast,
the regular summer wind of that part of
California coming the west With the
change of wind there was a marked
change from the humid air of the ocean
to the dry atmosphere of the interior,
with a corresponding change in the
electrical condition of the air. This
was especially manifested in the appear
ance of horses and mules, whose hair
stood out in all directions, the long
hairs of their tails spreading out like
brush. When Mr.. Thompson brought
his hand near the diverging hairs, the
brush of hair was strongly attracted by
Che hand, and very perceptible cleo
trio discharge was felt, attended by
cracking noise. The appearance was
first noticed about half-past four, and
continued until six o'clock or later.
Never having noticed the appearance
before, Mr.. Thompson thinks it cannot
be very common in that region.
1t is the first time, so far as we know,
that the phenomenon has been reported
from point so near to and so near the
level of the sea. In O recent note to
che French Academy, NJ. Amat men,
ti0ns number of observations of a SINH
aar kind made by him while travelling
in Algergia, between Djelfa and Lag
houat, among the Atlas mountains. M.
Amat says that he has frequently drawn
large sparks from the hair of his horse
by means of his pocket comb. The best
results were obtained in dry weather in
the evening, between and P. NJ. If
the hair was little moist, or the sky
cloudy, no sparks or cracklings could be
got. Animals, and especially horses,
present in a higher degree than man
the power of exhibiting these discharges.
Travellers on the high plateau of Central
America have remarked that the coats
of their horses discharge sparks under
the brush or currycomb; and in South
Algeria it is common to see the hairs of
the tail so much alive with the electric
forces that they diverge from the center.
On stroking the tail by hand distinct
cracking sounds may be heard, espe-
cially during the day. One reason why
man accumulates less electricity than
the horse is perhaps that the horses is
better insulated on his horny hoofs.
Animals, however, do not seem to be
alone in such electric manifestations.
It appears from a recent report by an
other African traveller, Mr.. A. W. Mitch
inson, that the natives of West Central
Africa are quite susceptible of electric
excitation. One evening, while discip-
lining native with cowhide whip, he
was astonished to see sparks produced,
not by blow between the eyes, as
would have happened in more civilized
country, but by the action of the whip
on the natives naked skin. He says he
was "stil more surprised to find the
natives themselves were quite accus-
toned to the phenomenon" Evidently
their habits of scientific observation are
much more advanced than their habits
of scientific Investigation, or they would
have improved the opportunity to dis
cover whether sparks could be brought
under like conditions from a white
mans skin. Mr.. hutchinson subs Q
quently found, he says, that very light
touch, repeated several times, under cir
cumstances of bodily excitement and il
certain states of the atmosphere, woult
produce succession of sparks from
the bodies of native men as well as ma
tive cattle.
During electric storms mountain
climbers not unfrequently find them
selves highly charged; and we hav
seen the same appearance, in lesse
degree, among the Adirondacks during
extremely cold weather. -ScientJi
american.