Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-01-07
DEATHS BY LIGHTNING.
FREAKS OF HEAVENS ELEc-
TRiciTY ON EARTH.
Places and objects TO Ise Avoided in "A
storm Interesting statistics
People May Be Fatally
struck Anywhere.

~ du ODSctt en- is usually cldsslHHu
in different forms rs sheet lightning,
ziz-zag lightning and ball lightning.
People may be struck by lightning al
most anywhere houses. out OF
doors under trees, in open fields and
on board ships Mt sea- Cases. how
ever are oflnost fro luent occurrence
out OF doors and under trees. Sailors
ON board ship are peculiarly liable to
lightning stroke Metallic objects
carried in the pockets. or about tho
body render anyone more liable TO DC
struck.
II the clothing is wet the lightning
may pass over it as good cOnduc-
tor without harming the body. On
the other hand. persons may be killed
without harm being done to the
clothing. In rare instances bodies
have been stripped naked by light
ming. Tho coverings of the feet are
liable to DO seriously in ured be-
cause it is here that the lightning
meets the greatest resistance in leay-
ing the body.
Lightning often Injuries without de-
strOying life. Its effects may prop
erly DO classified into those which
are mild. severe and fatal In their
characters.
may or may not lose consciousness
for brief period OF time. There
may DO temporary paralysis Of ono
or more OF the limbs for few hours.
vomiting and nausea sometimes oc-
cur.
In severe cases the victim may be
knocked down with violence. or may
be thrown several feet and loss con-
seriousness. External injuries may be
found such as burns aud bruises.
There may be fracture OF bones or
bleeding from the nose, ears or mouth.
There may be loss OF memory for a
time. and cases Of insanity have been
known 10 follow. Deafness Is com
mon symptom and is due to rupture
OF the ear drum.
In fatal cases death is usually in.
Simultaneous but il has been known 10
occur after tho lapse OF several days.
from secondary causes. II may be
caused by apoplexy. or by rupture Of
the heart or large blood vessels
I Burning Is most common result OF
lightning stroke Tho parts chiefly
and first affected in this manner are
the upper portions OF the body-tho
head. forehead face and neck. Out
OF sixty five cases noted DR. Bulwer
found that forty-four wore Injured
about the head. II the person struck
be standing. there is usually deep
hole in the foot where the lightning
leaves the body. Wounds made as IL
cut with knife are also occasionally
/ found.
/ A curious and not uncommon effect
OF lightning Is the formation OF Ger.
tain arborescenL or tree like. marks
upon the body. BY early observers
these were believed TO DO due to tho
presence ofneighboring objects which
were photographed upon the skin.
Various explanations were offered by
different authorities Richardson
has shown by experiment that tho
blood is the best clectrlcnl conductor
OF all hun an tissues aud that these
MARKS Ire merely the impressions OF
the blood vessels on the skin due TO
the action OF the lightning on the
blood in the vessels
Tha places and objects which
should be avoided in storm arc
treas masts high poles lofty build.
ingS spires and steep!cs. water stove
pipes. bell wires gas pipes and
electric wires. iron fences. crowds Of
people. droves OF cattle or other
animals umbrellas. walking sticks
and metal ornaments worn upon the
person.
The chances that any citizen In the
ordinary walk OF liio incur5 in n
single year OF being killed by light
ming. Judging from The experience OF
the past fly years in this state are
about ono in 10. 600.
Men are much more liable 10 death
| by lightning than women. In tho
ratio OF five 10 two fact which il
probably due TO their outdoor oc-
equations
The greatest number OF deaths
from this cause occur In July. and
the least number in tho winter
months.
| hO NSO hWGhby w bulINy yours also
furnishes the greatest number 81
victims.
The statistics OF GOO deaths from
this cause presented in the United
States census report Of 1880 show
that lightning stroke was by far the
most frequent in the region OF the
Western plains at the base OF the
Rocky mountains and also In the
heavily timbered region Of the North
west while the North Atlantic sea
coast region was comparatively ex-
empt.
Much interest has been added TO
the study Of this subject in receat
years by the aid OF photography One
Of the earliest and best Photographic
OF lightning was obtained by Mr. A.
II. Blinden OF Wakefield Mass. This
photograph shows very clearly the
forked and branching appearance 81
the fash, MS seen at sunset in the
| western sky The minute ranifca.