The St. Johns herald., 1890-07-17
EFFECT OF LIGHTNING.
Numerous Deaths Occurring in All
 Parts Of the World.
Curious and Appalling Freaks of This Sud- den and Unexpected Agent of Destruc- tion-A Physician's Report of
 Philadelphia Woman's Case.

The 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. The loss of life an nuaily throughout the world is very great. In European Russia from 1870 to 1877 no less than 2,27O persons were killed by this cause. Tn Austria during the same time 1,700 persons wera like wise killed. In Prussia it is reported that seventy persons are annually killed. Ten thousand persons are report ed as having been struck during period of -and-twenty years, with 2,252 deaths in France, while in the United States during 1870 alone POP 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 sometimes coma, lasting from few hours to even days; partial or complete loss of sight or hearing. associated with impairment of the other senses. The tissues may be burned superfcially or deeply, the bones fractured and portions of the Limbs torn ofi entirely. The tracks of lightning on the surface of the body may have fancied resem- blance to the branches of tree, the main stems from which the branches lead of arising at any portion of the body. The skin in these tracks may be simply scarlet in coior, slightly sweiied or blistered, the branches tapering off until no larger than the scratch of pin. TLey may pass in all directions from the place first struck or skip about from one part to another. TLis is due to the conduction of the current by the clothing, which if wet acts as an excel lent conductor.
 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 at the time the accident oc- cured, Dr. J. E. Paige:
 ''11e current struck the chin ney of the house and passed down the studding near the window to an iron hook on which was suspend4d a chain and a bird cage, passed from this to the head of the lady, sitting just inside the window, and beneath the cage, above the left eye, mid way between the eyebrow and hair, which was apparently the part nearest the corner of the bird cage; passed along in front of the ear, then to the central line of the chest, descend ing by the stocking supporter, which was attached to the cOrseJs; thence to the top of the stockings, leaving marks upon both limbs, but more especially upon the left, on the back of which, just above the knee joint, was burn about the size of ones hand. It had the appearance of an ordinary burn, and was only superficial. No trace of the current could be detected again until tho foot was reached, from which it passed of by the joint of the great toe, tearing 8 pace about two inches in diameter in the stocking and slipper, but not leaving the slig htest mark upon the skin. With the exception of the burned spot on the posterior part of the left leg, and one CT two small burns on the body and the right leg, congested lines alone marked the course of the electricity in it's passage over the body.
 ''Her condition was found to be as follows; Completely unconscious; mo- tionless; muscles relaxed; left eye closed, right eye open; face purple; pulse at wrist imperceptible; neither heartsounds nor respiratory sounds to be heard. At once artificial breathing was resorted to, and in from two to three min utes the first sign of life appeared in movement of the left leg. The blue color faded from the face and the pulse was felt at the wrist. Soon new train of symp- toms set in. There was difficult rcSpir- ation. The mucuS and saliva, which were very abundant, had gravitated back and could not be swallowed because of com plete 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 exhibited by an animal when being asphXiated; violent muscular contraction; difficult and forced respiration, etc. Under con- tinued efforts consciousness returned in three-ouarters of an hour. \ 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 the St. Louis Globe Democrat, do we see the effect of lightning in pronounced degree, and there can be no doubt but that this per son would have died from the effects if the physician had not been present to at once resort to artificial or forced respir- ation and wrap the body to maintain the heat necessary for life.
 Why We Sink in 0uicksand.
 Quicksand is composed chiefly of small particles of mica mixed largely with