The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-06-30
E.ctas Discharge. From AnimsG.

Tn . recent Communication TO The
Scientific American Mr.. Jseob ThomP-
son. o Benieia, Cal, describes an In
teresting exhibition OF electric action
observed by him on the evening Of Oct
IL. For the first time for several
months the wind was blowing Q pretty
stiff breeze from the northeast, the
regular summer wind of that part OF
California coming from the west With
the change Of wind there was q marked
change from the humid air Of the ocean
to tie dry atmosphere of the interior.
with q corresponding change in b
electrical condition OF the air. b
was especially manifested in the ap-
pearance Of horses and mules, whose
hair stood out In all directions. the long
hairs Of their tails spreading out like u
brush. When Mr.. Thompson brought
his hand near the diyerging hairs the
brush OF hair was strongly attracted by
the hand, and a very preceptible elect
ric discharge was felt, attended by q
cracking noise. The appearance was
first noticed about half-past 4, and con-
iinued until 9 O'Clock or later. Never
having noticed the appearance before.
MIR. 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 report
cdfrom APPOINT so neal TO and 50 near the
level Of tho sea. In 3 recent note to
the French academy. M. Amat mentions
a number Of observations Of q similar
kind, made by him while travelling In
Algeria, between Djelfa and Laghouat,
among the Atlas mountains. M Amat
says that be 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
tho evening. between z and O'Clock.
II the hair was a little moist. or the sky
cloudy, no sparks or cracklings could
be got Animals, and especially horses,
possess In . higher degree than man
the power Of exhibiting these dis
charges. 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 1t Is common to
see the hairs OF the tail 30 much alive
with the electric forces that they diverge
from the centre. On stroking the tail
by hand distinct cracking sounds may
be heard. especially during the day.
One reason why man accumulates less
electricity than the horse Is perhaps
that the horse il better insulated on his
horny hoof. Animals, however, do moi
seem TO be alone In such electric
manifestations
1t appears from a recent report by
another African traveller. Mr.. A. w.
hutchinson, that the natives Of ives,
Central Africa are quito susceptible ol
electric excitation. One evening. while
disciplining . native with q cowhide
whip, he was astonished to sec sparks
produced, not by q blow between eyes.
as would have happened in a mor
civilized country, but by the action ol
the whip on the natives naked skin.
He says he was .'still more surprised
to nndths natives themselves were quite
accustomed TO tho phenomenon"
Evidently their habits OF scientific in.
vestigation, are much more advanced
or they would have improved tho
opportunity to discover whethei
sparks could be brought under like
conditions from q white mans skin.
Mr.. hutchinson subsequently found. he
says. that . very light touch. repeated
several times, under certain conditions
of bodily excitement aud In certain
states ofths atmosphere, would produce
. succession Of sparks from the bodies
Of native men a. well ~ native cattle
During electric storms mountains limb
ers no unfrequently find themselve,
highly charged; and we have seer the
same appearance. in . lesser degree
among the Adirondacks during en-
tremly cold weather.