The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-13
DANGER FROM ELECTRICITY
An interesting Study of the Conditions
Governing shocks Fatal to Human
Life.


Some very interesting experiments
have just been made in Zurich, Switzer-
land, with the object OF ascertaining the
precise conditions under which electricity
is dangerous TO human life. The general
Impression has been that currents OF less
than 500 volts could not be fatal, yet a
few cases of deaths have been recorded
through currents which were as low as
100 volts. Alternating currents of 100
volts have in like manner been regarded
as absolutely harmless, yet experience
shows that this confusion Is not always
correct.
With the object Of arriving at dehnits
truth on the vexed question, Prof. Weber,
a distinguished Swiss scientist, made
several experiments on himself. He first
made test with 80 volts, and found that
when he graspsd the wires with moist
ened hands, his arms, wrists and hands
were practically paralyzed. 1t was I'M
possible for him to move a hand, an arm,
or even finger, and the pain in these
parts Of his body was so acute that he
could not endure it for more than 10
minutes. He also experienced considera-
able difficulty In freeing his hands from
the wires. His next test was with 90
volts, and the pain in this instance was
so acute that he could not endure 1t for
more than two seconds. Neither was 1t
possible for him to free his hands from
the wires; and for the reason that his
hands and fingers were so benumbed by
paralysis as to be practically lifeless A
similar result was obtained when he
made tests with dry hands, but not until
the intensity of the currents had reached
90 volts.
The conclusion at which Prof Weber
has arrived is that there is danger in
grasping the conductors OF two alternate
currents with the hands while in a dry
condition whenever the difference be-
tween the intensity of the two conductors
excesds 1DO volts" At the same time he
points out that, while currents of such
comparatively low intensity are danger
ouss ocher currents of very high intensity
are, under different conditions, absolute
~ harmless. In explanation it IS said
that these strong currents affect so
quickly the surface of the body that it is
impossible for them to press into the in
terror and produce physiological changes
there.
Another notable discovery was made by
Prof. Weber. He, knew that many a
workman had been killed while handling
conductor in which the current was ll5
volts, while engineers had constantly
handled a similar current without meet
ing with any injury, and he determined
to find out why the current has proved
so fatal in the case of workmen. One
reason, he claims, is because engineers,
owing to their training, are constantly
on their guard against danger from cleo
tflc1ty, and, Furthermore, while perform
ing such work are Isolated from the
ground through the soles Of their shoes.
The Workmen, on the other hand, some
times work in their bare feet, and
sometimes in damp leather shoes, the
result being that either through this
dampness or through their own bodies
a connection is established between the
man and the earth, which necessarily
leads to their death.
Prof. Weber S experiments have attract
ed widespread attention among scientists,
and the belief among them is general
that our knowledge of electricity is more
likely to be increased by practical tests Of
this kind than in any other way.