178 MINUTES OF MEETINGS. 



the geometrical theorj^ of eclipses followed, and mention was 

 made of the reversal of the spectrum lines during a total 

 eclipse, a phenomenon predicted and first observed by the late 

 Professor Young. C. M. Broomall called attention to the 

 statement going the round of the papers that wireless tele- 

 graphy stations were never struck by lightning. He ventured 

 the idea that, if this statement were true, it might be due in 

 some way to the alternating strain to which the dielectric was 

 subjected by the electric waves causing the medium to break 

 down and the flash of lightning to occur long before the elec- 

 tric tension becomes dangerously high. The Secretary called 

 attention to the Tuberculosis Congress to be held in Washing- 

 ton this Fall and on motion of the meeting he was directed to 

 obtain the publications for the Institute Library. 



