, 1888-09-15
L%IGHTNING'S EFFECTS.
A MAJORITY OF DEATHS OCCUR IN
THE LEVEL, OPEN COUNTRY.

A Technical Explanation
The majority of deaths from lightning
occurs in the level. open country, trees,
villages and thickly built up towns and
cities, by their projections into the air,
serving as conductors. and thereby pro-
tecting the inhabitants from direct stroke.
The loss of life annually throughout the
world Is very great. In European Russia
from 1870 to 1877 no less than 2,270 per
sons were killed by this cause. In Aus
tria during the same time LOO persons
we're likewise killed. In Prussia It is re-
ported that seventy persons are annually
killed. Ten thousand persons are re-
ported as having been struck during a
period of Internationally years with
2,252 deaths in France; while in the
United States during 1870 alone 202
deaths from lightning were recorded.
The effects of lightning stroke are most
interesting. curious and appalling The
general symptoms are usually of shock.
There is often unconsciousness. some
times coma. lasting from a few hours to
even days; partial or complete loss of
sight or hearing, associated with impair
ment of the other senses. The tissues
may be burned specifically or deeply, the
bones fractured, and portions of the limbs
are torn off entirely. The tracks of light
ming on the surface of the body may have
a fancied resemblance to the branches of
a tree, the main stem from which the
branches lead off arising at any portion
of the body. The skin in these tracks
may be simply scarlet in color. slightly
swelled or blistered, the branches taper
ing off until no larger thar the scratch of
a pin. They may pass in all directions
from the place first struck or skip about
from one part to another. This is due to
the conduction of the current by the
clothing, which if wet acts as an excel
lent conductor.
AN INTERESTING CASE.
For the purpose of illustrating these
effects the following report of a case is
taken from The Philadelphia Medical
News, reported by a physician who was on
the spot the time the accident occurred,
DR.. J. B. Paige:
1.-The current struck the chimney of the
house and passed down the studding near
the window to an iron hook on which was
suspended a chain and bird cage, passed
from this to the head of the lady, sitting
just inside the window, and beneath the
cage, above the left eye, midway between
the eyebrow and hair, which was appar-
emily the part nearest the corner of the
bird cage; passed along in front the ear,
then to the central line of the chest,
descending by the stocking supporter,
which was attached to the ~corsets; thence
to the top of h stockings, leaving marks
upon both limbs, but more especially upon
the left, on the back of which, Just
above the nee joint, was a burn about
the size of ones hand. 1t had the ap-
p%earance of an ordinary burn, and was
only superficial. No trace of the current
could be detected again until the foot was
reached, from which it passed off by the
joint of the great toe, tearing q place
about two inches in diameter in the stock
ing and slipper, but not leaving the
slightest mark upon the skin. With the
exception of the burned spot on the pos
terror part of the left leg, and one or two
small burns on the body and the right
leg, congested lines alone marked the
course of the electricity in it's passage
Sver the body.
Her condition was found to be as fol-
lows: Completely unconscious; motion
less; muscles relaxed; left eye closed,
right open; face purple; pulse at wrist i'm
p~erceptible; neither heart sounds nor res
piratory sounds to be heard. At once
artificial breathing was resorted to, and in
from two to three mute the first sign of
life appeared in a movement of the left
leg. The blue color faded from the face,
and the pulse was felt at the wrist. Soon
a new train of symptoms set in. There
was difficult respiration. The mucus and
saliva, which were very abundant, had
gravitated back, and could not be swal-
lowed because of complete paralysis of
the pharynx, etc. There was, in fact,
paralysis of almost all the muscles of the
uppermost parts of the body, including
the arms. The symptoms were those ex-
hibited by an animal when being asphyxi-
ated; violent muscular contraction, diff
cult and forced respiration, etc. Under
continued efforts consciousness returned
- Al--A go 800 - - - -
of four weeks elapsed before all the senses
and her general health was restored and
all paralysis had disappeared"
A TECHNICAL EXPLANATION.
In this do we see the effects of light
ming in a pronounced degree, n there
can be no doubt but that this person
would AVE died from the effects if the
physician had not been present to at once
resort to artificial or forced respiration
and wrap the body to maintain the heat
necessary for life. Respiration had
stopped and the heart was acting feebly
and very slowly, md every evidence, in
the complete Inconsistencies and muscu-
lar relaxation, was present that death
was at hand. But by forced respiration
and preserved heat the oxygen supplied
N sent through the body by the slow
and feebly acting heart revivified the
stunned nerve centers, and life was
saved.
Tho Inconsistencies was due to the
shock impressed on the p%rotoplasm of the
nerve centers through the sensitive
nerves, and not by the direct entrance of
The electric current or vibrations into the
p~rotoplasm of the brain cells; the effect
was physiological principally, not physi-
cal. The physical effects were molecular,
as they must needs be, and are seen in
the bistered, d~isorganized skin and the
charred and rent clothing and shoe
Terrific as must have been the force ~
play. these evidences of the skipping of
the current from the body to the better
conductors, the clothing and shoes. only
show that the physical effect was on the
surface. The profound molecular changes
resulting in the Inconsistencies, paraly-
sis of senses, respiration and muscles,