The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-21
ELECTRICITY AND LIFE.
Why the Same Current is Not Equal
Deadly at All Times.

Why the Same Current Is Not Equally
Deadly at All Times.
In the issue of April 10 of Electricity the
fact was mentioned that man had received
shock from a high tension. continuous
current line, and was supposed to have been
killed, but by Immediately reversing the
current through the mans body he was res
suscitated. the superstition being that the
first shock polarized the blood and the
second depolarized it. Recently it was no.
ticed that when the tips of a finger upon
each hand were placed upon the blades OF a
double pole switch carrying ITO volts
pressure. continuous current, a tingling
sensation was especially noticeable ia the
finger in contact with the negative
pole Of the switch; the fingers were then
reversed, and some little time elapsed before
the sensation was again noticed, being still
at the negative blade of the switch. In all
probability the blood was polariEed, the
action, of whatever sort it may be- taking
place at the finger in contact with the mega
tive pole, and the direction OF the current,
upon being reversed, produced depolariza-
ton, and then polarization In the opposite
direction, the interval being required to
undo what had been done in the first case,
and the manner action being similar to that
of storage battery upon being charged,
discharged and recharged. In the we'll
known experiments which frogs muscles,
1t was found that by contracting and ex-
pandtng the muscles currents of electric
ity were produced and detected by del
icate Ralvanometer. 1t seems possible
TO think that currents in the human body
may be and are in like manner generated ;
such being the case, the blood requires
these currents of electricity to eliminate,
purify or invigorate 1t, and they become a
necessity. Thus the theory fs substantiated
by the vigorous and healthy condition of
athletes, while persons not subjected to
much exercise require artificial means In
the form OF the outward application of our
rents to their body, as by means Of electro
medical apparatus. they not having suffi-
cient quantity generated by this muscular
action to supply the demands of the body.
Not long ago nneman was shocked TO
death by high tension arc circuit. As the
body turned black, due to the action of
the current on the blood, which seemed
to be of the burning nature, it might be
compared to the burning of copper plates
| in q voltameter when too much current is
used. There has been much discussion as
to the amount of electricity that will kill a
human being, some persons having res
ceived. without injury, voltaRes that have
| proved fatal to Others. The conditions OF
| death do not depend solely upon the volt
age, but upon the physical condition of the
| subject, aud the path of the current
| through the body. When the latter has
been from the right TO the left, or right
hand to left foot, or vice versa. the hear,
has been in the circuit, and in most cases
fatally affected, while those not injured by
severe shocks received them from right
hand to right foot, left hand to left foot, OF
vice versa. Thus good rule practiced by
many electricians, and one which ought to
be observed, as an extra precaution against
grounds. leaks, etc., by all whose duties re-
| quire them TO handle parts Of high tension
current dynamos, is to keep one hand il
the pocket aud the foot ON the same side
raised from the ground.