Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-05
SCIENTIST DISCUSSES
FREAKS OF LIGHTNING
Doubts That Open Doors and
Windows Tend to Attract
Current.
ny GARRETT T.. sEtNIss.

! doubt II open windows and doors
serve as Inducements TO lightning
either to enter or leave Z house. But
lightning So so crratic in many OF
its performances that ! should not
caro- TO dogmatize on the subject.
Two things may be said which favor
the closing OF windows and doors
during Il violent thunderstorm, the
nrst being tina; glass is noncon-
ductor, or an insulating material
and when intcrposed In the path OF
an electric discharge may prevent It's
passage. provided that 1t has an easy
alternative path open TO II. The sec
serve as kind of fortress against
lightning. the outer walls OF which
may be struck without much or any
penetration OF the electric fash IN
Wood and the other materials OF
which buildings are constructed
Except Iron and other metals) are
not good conductors OF electricity,
and charge accumulated upon 4
building by Induction from thun-
dcrsiorm would remain upon the ex-
terror. SO that when fash occurred
h1twcen the cloud and the house.
whatever damage was done would be
confined to the outer walls.
Follows Metallic Pipes.
would eI ,aps to ho foI,n, the lghtn!nE
in the walls, but II they Afforded n
continuous path to the ground the
s Ell isdt would take tsat way
house. especially If the pipes were ere
connected with metallic drains and
mains, or II they penetrated deep
into the moist soil
iiEhtn!ng on some part of the eX-
terror, an open window, might az
t hm 1t good path OF conduction. a
,bnn oody Is better conductor
= person sitting near an open window
IN mouse thus struck would be in
more peril than II the window were
closed; with the insulating barrier OF
glass interposcd between him and the
Hash passing outside.
with regard TO the supposed i'm
6 9or,a nee, o. keeping door or win
coming down chimney. do not
think that the precaution has any
value. except. perhaps. in the ex-
Of globe lightning" into house.
But, Notwithstanding the detailed ac-
counts of globe. or Globuiar. light
ming that have from time to Time
ties refuse to believe in it's existence
think they are wrong. There is
tendency among certain scientists
to throw too much discredit upon
served and tested by themselves.
Globe lightning Is described as TAX
ing the form OF luminous balls that
driven about by air currents, finally
exploding. There are reports of their
having entered house by way OF the
SGh nnr and passed out through a
II globe lightning exists. it occurs
with extreme rarity.
Not Carried by Air Currents.
On the other hand. n lightning fash,
though it might enter a room by way
or the chimney. would not be carried
by air currents-its motion is too
nearly instantaneous. 1t is true, how
some, way that we could not trace in
detail. prepare in advance a favorable
path for the flash, which. as the Zig
gag course OF lightning Indicates. al
lance. and apparently often splits up
and finds number OF branching
ways.
II you arc in the house during q
1t is best to allay your fear by taking
precautions, which, perhaps after ali,
are not really necessary. For in
stance, keep away from open win
lows, from flreplaces. from metallic
fixtures connected with the house
pipes; stay near the middle Of the
room, but not under a metallic chan
delier; sit in chair and put your
feet upon another chair. or lie on a
cover. The object OF an these pre-
cautions is to prevent your BODY
from forming n link in chain of
good. or fairly good. conductors Of
electricity.
If you arc in the open air. keen
away from the sides of buildings.
from isolated trees. from ponds.
streams and other bodies of water:
from elevated points where you are
the most conspicuous object under
the sky. II you should find yourself,
perforce. in such a situation. 1t would
not be Illogical to lie down instead
OF standing erect. The neighborhood
OF n woods or n dense group of trees
may be favorable, because the many
points offered by the moist twigs,
leaves and branches afford n great
number Of paths OF silent discharge.
If you arc necessarily near n tall,
Isolated tree. keep at a distance from
Its trunk equal to tho total height
of the tree. and then It may servo
as q na1raa dghtningrod to urotect