New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-07
CHAT ABOUT ELECTRICITY.

The recent shocking death OF Darwin A. Henry, the
expert electrician Of the East River Electric Light
Works while handling " live' wire charged with
an alternating current, coming so soon after the
Kenmler inquiry regarding the infection Of the death
penay by electricity, has revived for the moment the
popular interest in that melancholy though fascinating
subject Harold F. Brown, the electric engineer
who designed and constructed the states new style OF
arnarats had IL fitted up 20 be used with the after
nating current because Of his Well-knOWh DeHSt III
IFS highly numerous ability 10 deal out dcath anu az
s,rcfion whenever let loose with any great strength
on the human kind
when asked why a lean man. according to an as
scrtion recently made in print, could resist an alter
Mating current Of 1000 volts while fat man would
he overcome by a current Of OO0, Mr. Brown laughed
and said The electric lighting companies using the
alternating current do not carry more than lOoo No''
IN vir and that disposes Of the fairy tale you nave
mentioned But If they carried 100000 volts II
would not make particle Of difference for the matter
of euperament physique has nothing 10 90 Win lle
quantity Of electricity # takes TO XIII IL Is INC
boroucbness Of the contact that settles that question
For ovamnIo a man whose hands are covered with
oil which is a non-conductor. may touch lightly
wire charged with 900 volts and not be injured vi
tbc other hand for one Of our experiments al inc
Edison laboratory when the kemmler inquiry WIS
adjourned 20 that place for few hours we CU ,tb I'VE,
wires carrying but three NO's OF eectIiCIS rae ~
u
potash Now when we Just barely tOuched tic tR'
Of our fingers TO the water we hardy peit any "a
tion AZ ali But when the fingers were lhseIuu M
vav 10 the knuckles che resulting feeling was ~ -
and when onehalf Of the hand was lhsereu ~ - W."
almost impossible 10 bear the pam lheSo cda0' i0P
sent the Two extremes
When asked If the alternating curreAt Oh VIZ
much has been said and written laiey was any MS
like the Faradac current used IN the small ina'hne'
sold for medical purposes. la which the exc, u.'Ns
* generated by turning a crank land Which ~ may
be oUuortunely suggested. said 10 be eA'rcno
dan eious # lmp.orety us d., Mr.. Brown le'i'A !"
..bc Iaradalc current with It's ra'p"S' 'aI''''
lAnung and humping effect upon ne ho''cS
weak edition OF the larger alternating current
ou reflect a moment you VII see why po"c'i'.
.iernafng current Is 50 tremc ioHsly destructive VI
The vital force No doult so. have nolc'" '"''
when an electric current passes through HId -
,as 4, tendency 10 set The hud moving Ia inc same
dirccflon In which 90 flows. Now the aI'rha'hs
current sets the nii, Of the body in motion AMI then
arrest, item with violent shock. 1t keeps tails UP
until the result is nothing but series oil oo"s uio"
,te u.r,.s t,.,uc. brain and frame, IcIei'eI WIN
,iabtr 40 It. raudify. Is t any WONDER lhtI la''
iTIi-,r,, current ldus dulcEly think nor. ~ ut'
,,v IL seems 10 me thar tie ia't mar scNot"l ''"'
,.t.nt tbt.icIaus worked for nouns 90 I've io'i
H.. Hci.rv very oncc ually cl'yor1' oI ,.S taPi-s
t,n.lor that man may b. SIMPLY stunned 9o'u
If c,rr,,trJ Nv elcctrcty AMI then be buried ID
condition OF suspended animation