The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-06-06
EFFECT OF LIGHTNING.

EFFECT OF LIGHTNING.
Numerous Deaths Occurring in An
Parts Of tho World.
Curious and Appalling Freaks OF THIS Sud.
den and Unexpected Agent of Destruc-
tion-A Thysician's Report OF .
Philadelphia yvoman's Case.
Tho majority of deaths from light
ming 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 protecting the inhabitants
from direct stroke. Tho loss of life an
nually throughout tho world is very
great. In European Russia from 1870 to
1877 no less than 1870 persons were
killed by this cause. In Austria during
the same time 1,700 persons werc like
wise killed. In Prussia it is reported
that seventy persons arc annually
killed. Ten thousand persons arc report
cd as having bcen struck during a
period of ninc-and twenty years, with
2,:5s deaths in France, while in the
United States during 1870 alone :o2
deaths from lightning wcrc recorded.
Tho effects uf lightning stroke arc
most interesting, curious and appalling.
Tho general symptoms arc usually of
shock. There is often Inconsistencies,
sometimes coma, lasting from a few
hours to even days; partial or complete
loss of sight or hearing, associated with
impairment of tho other senses. The
tissues may bo burned superticially or
deeply, the bones racturcd and portions
OF tho limbs torn OIL entirely. The
tracks of lightning on tho surface Of
the body may have fancicd rcscm-
biancc to the branches OF trcc, tho
lead off arising at any portion OF the
body. Tie skin in these tracks may be
simply scarlet in color, slightly swclied
or biistcrcd, tho branches tapcring off
until no larger than the scratch of q
pin. They may pass in all directions
from the place first struck or skip about
from one part to another. This is duo
to tho conduction Of tho current by the
clothing, which II wet acts as an oxcel-
lent conductor.
For tho purpose Of illustrating those
effects the following report of case is
taken from tho Philadelphia Medical
News. reported by physician who was
on the spot at the time the accident oc-
Cured, DIR. j. Il. Paige:
''The current struck the chimney of
the house and passed down the studding
near the win,.ow to an iron hook on
which was SUSPENDED chain and bird
cage, passed from this to the head of the
lady. sitting just inside tho window,
and beneath tho cage, above tho left
eye, midway between tho eyebrow and
hair, which MAS apparently tho part
nearest tho corner of the bird cage;
passed along in front OF tho car, then to
the central line OF tho chest, descend
ing by the stocking supporter, which,
was attached to the corsets; thence TO
the topof the stockings, leaving marks
upon both limbs, but moro especially
upon the left, on tho back of when.
just above the knee joint, was ,usn
about the size Of ones hand. 1t had the
appearance of an ordinarv burn. and
WAS only superficial. No trace o; the
current could be detected again until
tho foot was reached, from which it
passed off by the joint of the great toe,
tearing a place about two inches in
diameter in tho stocking and slipper.
but not leaving the slightest mark upon
tho skin. With the exception of the
burned spot on the posterior part Of the
left leg, and one or two small burns on
tho body and tho right leg, conges.cd
lincs aiono marked tho course Of tho
electricity in its passage over the body.
'iicr condition was found to be as
follows: Completely unconscious; mo-
tioIfess; muscles relaxed; left eye
closed, right eye open; face purple;
pulse at wrist impcrceptiblc; neither
heartsounds nor rcspira tory sounds to bc
heard. AT onco artificial breathing was
rcsorted to, and in from two to t;irre min
u,cs the first sign of life appeared in a
movement of tho leftlcg The hluc color
faded from TIA. face and the pulse was felt
at the wrist. Soon n new train OF synlp-
toms set in. There WAS diiicult rcspir-
alton. The mucus and saliva, which wore
very abundant. had gravitatcl back and
could not be swallowed because Of COM
plcte paralysis OF tho pharynx, etc.
There was, in fact, paralysis of almost
all the muscles of the uppcrmost parts
OF the body, including the arms. Tho
symptoms were those exhibited by an
animal when being asphxiated; violent
muscular contraction; difficult and
forced respiration, etc. Under con-
tinued Efforts consciousness roturn. in
three-quarters OF an hour. a period of
four weeks elapsed before all the
senses and her general health were re-
stored and all paralysis had disappeared.
In this, according to tho st. Louis
Globe-Dcmocrat, do VIC see the eject Of
lightning in pronounced degree, and
there can be no doubt but that this per-
son would have died from the effects II
the physician had not been present to at
cncc resort to artificial or forced respir.
alton and wrap the body to maintain the
heat necessary for life.
Why yNc Sink In Quic,.sand.
Quicksanlis composed chiefly of small
particles Of mica mixed largely with
water. Tho mica is so smooth that the
fragments slip upon each other with the
greatest facility, SO that any hoavy body
which displaccs them will sink, and con-
time to sink until solid bottom is
reached. When particles of sand are
ragged and angular any weigh: pressing
on them will crowd them together until
fhov oro ra,y, nacto1 inf0 n co,li1 ,,,,o