Transportation of Masses of Matter hy Lightning, 107 



completely ignorant of the manner in which so much heat is 

 so suddenly developed. — Concerning the number of small aper- 

 tures which are sometimes produced by the passage of lightning 

 through metallic plates, methods connected with the agglome- 

 ration and propagation of the fulminating matter have been 

 suggested, whose least fault is, that they give no explanation of 

 the opposite directions in which it appears to pass, as shewn 

 by the shape of the aperture. These opposite directions would 

 go to shew that two opposing currents had encountered each 

 other on the surfaces of the struck bodies. In the Giomale de 

 P. Confiliachi and G. Brugnatelli, 1827, p. 355, I have recently 

 noticed an observation by D. Fusinieri, which appears to me 

 very remarkable, as it would thence appear that the holes vnth 

 ingoing and protruding edges are not formed in the point at 

 which the lightning first strikes the object. I shall give a 

 translation of the words of the Italian philosopher : — " On the 

 25th of June 1827, about 8 p. m., the house No. 1349 of Vi- 

 cenza was struck with lightning. A horizontal white-iron spout 

 was the first object struck. This half circular spout was lacera- 

 ted to the extent of four or five inches. A vertical circular 

 tube of the same metal, for the discharge of the rain water, 

 which was connected with the spout, was pierced with three 

 holes. The upper hole, an inch in diameter, shewed no irre- 

 gularity of its edges either by their being turned inwards on 

 the one side, or outwards on the other. Six inches farther 

 down the tube, there was a second hole, nearly circular, of half 

 an inch in diameter, with its edges turned inwards ; and lower 

 still, at the distance of three inches, another hole was remarked, 

 of equal dimensions \vith the last, but with its edges decidedly 

 protruding!'^ — The contraction of the wires seems to be the con- 

 sequence of the efforts which the fulminating matter makes to 

 escape transversely, as is manifest to the eye by the light which 

 escapes in this direction. But I shall no longer insist upon these 

 vague observations. New experiments and new observations 

 can alone assign to them their proper place in the science. 



On the transportation of masses of matter effected by lightning. 

 Bodies in motion produce mechanical effects dependent at 

 the same time on their weight and velocity. However small, 



