The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-01-18
EFFECT OF LIGHTNING.
Numerous Deaths Occurring In All
Parts of the World
Curious and Appalling Freaks of This sud
den and Unexpected Agent of Destruo-
ton A PhysiciaH's Report of IL
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
nually throughout the world Is very
great. In European Russia from 1870 to
1877 no less than aero persons were
killed by this cause. In Austria during
the same time l roo persons were 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 q
period OF nine-and- twenty 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 arc usually OF
shock. There Is often Inconsistencies,
sometimes coma, lasting from a few
hours to eve days; partial or complete
loss of sight or hearing, associated with
impairment of the other senses. The
tissues may be burned specifically or
deeply, the bones fractured and portions
of the limbs torn off entirely. The
tracks of lightning on the surface OF
tho body may have q fancied resem-
blance to the branches of q tree, the
main stems 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 tapering of
until no larger than the scratch Of q
pin, They may pass in all directions
from the place first struck or skip about
from n part to another. This is due
to the conduction of the current by the
clothing, which II wet acts as an excel
e n conductor.
For the purpose OF illustrating these
effects the following report of q case is
taken from the Philadelphia Medical
News, reported by a physician who was
on the spot at the time the accident o.
CURED, 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 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, midway 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 corsets; 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 q burn
about the size of ones hand. 1t had the
appearance Of an ordinary burn, and
was only superficial. No trace Of the
current could be detected again until
the foot was reached, from which IL
passed of by the joint of the great toe.
tearing q place about two inches in
diameter in the stocking and slipper,
but not leaving the slightest mark upon
the skin. With the exception OF tho
burned spot on the posterior part of the
left leg, and n or two small burns on
the body and the right leg, congested
lines alone marked the course Of the
electricity in its 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
Il nAaa khn u .gt airu 80 1Ifn ..-l Il
movement of the left leg. The blue color
faded from the face and the pulse was felt
at the wrist. Soon q new train of symp-
toms set in. There was difficult respir-
alton. The mucus and saliva, which were
very abundant, bad gravitated back and
could not be swallowed because of COM
plete paralysis OF the p%harynx, etc.
There was, in fact, paralysis Of almost
all tho muscles of the uppermost parts
Of the body, including the arms. The
symptoms were those exhibited by all
animal when being asphxiated; violent
muscular contraction; difficult and
forced respiration, etc. Under con
tinued efforts consciousness returned In
three-quarters OF an hour. A period Of
four weeks elapsed before all the
ooiiSoo ahu her Benerai hedltn 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 a 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 10 at
once resort to artificial or forced respir-
alton and wrap the body TO maintain the
heat necessary for life.