PHYSICAL anp LITERARY. 189 
Arr. VI. 
Obfervations on Thunder and Electricity, by 
Exzenezer M‘Fair M. D. 
sie E experiment propofed by Mr Frank- 
lin, to prove that lightning and the e- 
leCtrical fire are the fame, has often been re- 
peated with fuccefs both in England and a- 
broad; fo that the moft noted eleGtrical ex- 
periments have been performed by fire drawn 
from the clouds. 
Mr FRANKLIN alfo firft ‘difcovered, that 
fharp points attract and difcharge the eleatri- 
cal matter moft copioufly ; and from thence 
fappofes, that a very fharp pointed rod, fixed 
to the extremity of the top-maft of a fhip, 
with a wire conducted down from the foot 
of the rod round one of the fhrouds, and 
over the fhip’s fide into the fea, would filent- 
ly lead off the electrical fire, and fave the 
_ fhip from thunder in hot countries; and that, 
by a fimilar method, buildings might be pre- 
 ferved. 
So 
