70 



" On the Influerice of Gas and Water Pipes in determining 

 the Direction of a Discharge of Lightning," by Henry 

 Wilde, Esq. 



Although the invention of the lightning conductor is one 

 of the noblest applications of science to the wants of man, 

 and its utility has been established in all parts of the world 

 by the experience of more than a century, yet, a sufficient 

 number of instances are recorded of damage done by 

 lightning to buildings armed with conductors to produce, in 

 the minds of some, an impression that the protective influ- 

 ence of lightning conductors is of but questionable value. 



The destmction, by fire, of the beautiful church at 

 Crumpsall during a thunderstorm on the morning of the 

 4th inst., has induced me to bring before the Society, with 

 a view to their being known as widely as possible, some 

 facts connected with the electric discharge which have 

 guided me for some years in the recommendation of means 

 by which disasters of this kind may be averted. 



For the proper consideration of this subject it is necessaiy 

 to make a distinction between the mechanical damage, 

 which is the direct effect of the lightning stroke, and the 

 damage caused indirectly by the firing of inflammable 

 materials which happen to be in the line of discharge, 



Instances of mechanical injury to buildings, not provided 

 with conductors, are still sufficiently numerous to illustrate 

 the terrific force of the lightning stroke, and at the same 

 time the ignorance and indifference which prevail in some 

 quarters with respect to the means of averting such 

 disasters; for wherever lofty buildings are furnished with 

 conductors from the summit to the base, and thence into 

 the earth, damage of the mechanical kind is now happily 

 unknown, 



