The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-21

a|is
III q recent communication Mr.. Jacob |
Thompson, Of Bcnicia, CAL, describes |
an interesting exhiiiti0n Of electric &c
lion observed hr him on the evening of /
October IL. Tor the first time for sew
erll months the wind was blowing n |
pretty still breeze from the northeast, |
the regular summer wind of that part of
California coming the west. With the
change of wind there was n marked
change from tho humid air of tho ocean
to the dry atmosphere Of the interior,
with corresponding change in the
electrical condition OF the air. This
was especially manifested in the appear
ance OF horses and mules, whose hair
stood ont in all directions, the long
hairs of their tails spreading out like Il
brush. When Mr.. Thompson brought
his hand near the diverging hairs, the
brush of hair was strongly attracted by
the 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.
It 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 n recent note to
the French Academy, NJ. Amat men
lions n number of observations of SINH
lar kind, made by him while travelling
in Algergia, between Dielfa and Lag.
houat, among the Atlas mountains. NJ.
Amat rays TINT 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 Z and 2. NJ. If
the hair was littlo moist, or the sky
cloudy, no sparks or cracklings could be
got. Animals, and especially horses,
present in higher dogreo 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 OF currycomb; and in South
Algeria it is common to see the hairs OF
the tail so muel. 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 thar
the horse is perhaps that the horses i:
better insulated on his horny hoofs
, Animals, however, do not seem to be
alone in such electric manifestations.
, It appears from n recent report by an
:. other African traveller, Mr.. A. w. Mitch
inson, that the natives of West Contra
y Africa are quite susceptible of electri,
q excitation. One evening, while discip
lining native with cowhide whip, Ii,
was astonished to see sparks produced
:, not by blow between the eyes, q
would have happened in more civilize'
7 country, but by the action of the whi1
&c on the natives naked skin. He says h
\ was "still more surprised TO find tn
:. natives Themselves were quite accus
Is toned to the phenomenon" Evidentl
their habits OF scientific observation M
:. much more advanced than their habit
of scientific investigation, or they woul
I have improved the opportunity to dis
! cover whether spaHks could be brough
= under like conditions from a whit
y mans skin. Mr.. hutchinson subst
n quenty found, he says, that very ligl
3 touch, repeated several times, under eli
, cumstances of bodily excitement and /
=, certain states of the atmosphere, .woul
If produce Il succession of sparks frol
r. the bodies OF native men as well as hi
tive cattle.
IN During electric storms mountai
m climbers not unfrequently find then
II selves highly charged; and we hay
at seen the Same appearance, in less
m degree, among the Adirondaclls durir
le extremely cold woather-.S'cientJ
l. American.