The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-03
LIGHTNING'S EFFECTS.
4 MAJORITY OF DEATHS OCCUR IN
THE LEVEL, OPEN COUNTRY.
Report of n Case Illustrating the Physical
Effects Of Lightning strokc-uow the
Patients Consciousness Was Restored
a Technical Explanation.

Effects oil Lightning strokc-uow tx
Patients Consciousness Was Restored
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 us 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 1871 no less than 2.270 per.
sons were killed by this cause In Aus.
tria during the same time LOO persons
were likewise killed. In Prussia I is re
ported that seventy persons are annually
killed. Ten thousand persons are re
ported as having been struck during a
period OF nine -and twenty years with
2,252 deaths In France: while in the
United States during 1870 alone ZOE
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 Inconsistencies, sore
times coma, lasting from 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 trscksof light
ming on the surface of the body may have
faHcied resemblance TO the branches of
n 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 of until no larger than the scratch Of |
pm. 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 physician who was on
the spot the time the accident occurred. |
DR.. J. B. Paige.
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 tine
cage, above the left eye, midway between
the eyebrow and hair. which was apnar
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 tine stocking supporter }
which was attached 20 tho c0r5ets. thetCa 4
10 the top Of tie stockings. leaving marks i
upon both limbs. but more especiallvupon Z
lie left, on the back of which, lust
above the knee JOINT WAS a burn about y
he size OF ones hand 1t had the an. Il
)earance Of an ordinary burn and was |
My superficial No trace Of the current 4
.ould be- detected again until the foot was l.
cached from which it passed of by tie =.
0int Of the great toe. tearing a place -"
bout two inches in diameter in the stock :
ng and slipper. but not leaving the D
llghtest mark upon the skin. With the X
Inception Of tho burned spot on the pcs D
erior part Of the left leg. and one or two g
mall burns on the body and tho right O
e. congested lines alone marked the Oh
curse Of the electricity in its passage h
yer the body s
Her condition was found to be as fol. ri
)ws: Completely unconscious: notion q,
'ss; muscles relaxed, left eye closed. ~
ight open; face purple; pulse at wrist inn -.
erceptiblo; neither heart sounds nor res. q,
iratory sounds 10 be heard. At once 81
rtiiicial breathing was resorte1 10, and in b,
'Om two 10 three minutes the first sign Of al
fe appeared IN a movement # the left le
e. The blue color faded from tue face, ii
nd the pulse was felt at the wrist Soon
new train OF symptoms set in There
as difficult respiration. The mucus and
lllYa, which were very abundant, had Is
raTitateI back, and could not be swal nc
wed because Of complete paralysis Of to
Re pharynx, etc There was. in fact, eli
lralysis Of almost all the muscles Of the "a
ppermost parts Of tho body, including NJ
le arms. Tho symptoms were those OK -,
bited by an animal when being asphyxi- ~,
ed; violent muscular contraction. diff
llt and forced respiration, etc. Under IL
ntinued efforts consciousness returned M
three quarters Of an hour 4 period u
four weeks elapsed before all tho senses vi
ID her general health was restored and on
paralysis had disappeared" th'
A TECHNICAL EXPLANATION kif
III tillb 10 we see lne euectS OF lgIt- cee
ng in a pronounced degree and there ",
II be no doubt but that this person ens
ould have died from the effects if the iov
ysician had not been present to at once H.
sort 70 artificial or forced respiration ~
d wrap the body TO maintain the heat u
cessary for life. Respiration had Dui
)pped and the heart was acting feebly
d very slowly, and every evidence. il ?
@ complete Inconsistencies and muscu-
relaxation, was present that death Oui
IS at hand. Bat by forced respiration rep
d preserved heat the oxygen supplied In
sent through the body by the slow val
1 fee5ly acting heart reyyifed the dow
lnned nerve centers, and lfo was sign
-cd. cor
The unconsciousness was duo to the per
eek impressed on the protoplasm Of the 10
We centers through the sensitive ,ve,
YES, and not by the direct entrance of 80
electric current or vibrations into the ~
tOplasm Of the brain cells the effect III
S physiological principally, not physi- ing
Tho physical effects were molecular, cou
they must needs be- and are seen in OF
blistered. disorganized skin and the ably
rred and rent clothing and shoes Of I
rife as must have been the force at in o
y, these evidences of the skipping of and
current from the body 10 the better as q
ductors. the clothing and shoes, only valr
. l.r e n. a