The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-13
LIGHTNING AND ITS DANGERS
Loss of Life Greater Than is Com
monty Supposed.
London Chronicle.

In this country we have no means
Of ascertaining precisely what is the
amount of mischief done by light
ming. In France and Germany statls-
ties on the subject are Systematically
tabulated by the government every
year. If complete statistics we're ac-
cessible there can be little doubt they
would show that the annual loss OF
life and property is far greater than
is commonly supposed. In one re-
spect the damage is often greater
than it need be, even apart from any
consideration Of lightning conductors.
During five or six days in the sum-
mer of 1884 it was estimated by a
competent authority that besides 9TH
er mischief not less than 600 animals
Of one sort and another in England
were killed by lightning, most Of them
being sheep and cattle in the field. In
all such casualties it is usual to re-
gard the carcases as unfit for human
food, and they are ordinarily buried.
Mr. Attfeld, professor of chemistry
to the pharmaceutical society, has
pointed out that this is often an un-
necessary waste.
The carcasses are not in the slight
est degree affected as regards their
wholesomeness as food by the elec-
tric discharge, and if within a short
time after being struck down they
we're treated as in the ordinary pro-
cess of slaughtering and the veins and
arteries drained before the blood had
eoagulated there could be no reason
able objection to their being eaten.
This summer has been especially
disastrous. In various parts OF the
country thunderstorms have been fire.
quent, and scarcely week has pass
ed Of late in which the newspapers
have not recorded the destruction OF
sheep and cattle.
But besides the killing Of sheep and
cattle there have been several dlsas-
ters fatal to human life, to say moth
ing Of great deal of mischief to pro-
perty Of various kinds. Here, again,
the mischief is often quite easy avoid
able. It is of course; very we'll known
that good lightning conductor pro-
perly fixed is an absolutely, reliable
safeguard against all injury; but a
fact which is not so we'll known is
that an efficient lightning conductor
might often be set up at the cost Of a
few shillings by taking advantage Of
the conducting power of trees.
Everybody should be aware by this
time that trees are source OF peril
in times Of thunderstorm, though
from accidents which every now and
again occur it would seem that there
is still great amount of ignorance on
the subject. Only few days ago a
lightning flash struck poplar tree
near Winchester and killed man
who had taken shelter at the foot OF
it. no doubt in ignorance Of his dan
ger. Such fatalities are exceedingly
common, and it has not infrequently
occurred that cottages and other build
incS have been struck by lightning
in consequence of the vicinity Of some
tall tree.
The casualties to animals are often
due to the fact that with the COM
nrercement Of a thunder shower they
are apt to gather for shelter beneath
the branches of some isolated tree.
The explanation of the mischief is
very we'll known. A tree is con-
ductor Of lightning. but not very
good one. In the absence Of better
channel the lightning will flash
through it, but, there is always a
chance of it's elancing aside to any
medium that affords a reader pas
sage. Now the body Of man or an
animal constitutes much better con-
ductoy than a tree does, and conse-
quently the electricity whenever it
has an opportunity Of doing so will
leave the tree and flash through the
animal body. The same thing will
often occur when the lightning, pass
ing downward through the tree
reaches a point at which g reader
passage is presented by some ada
cent building. The full volley is de-
flectel from the tree into the build
inc.
r. has been SUGGESTED that in al