124 Wet or (lamp clothes^ good conductors of ligntning, 



REMARK. 



The Editor entirely coincides with the Rev. Mr. Hitch- 

 cock, In opinion as to the cause of the preservation of Mr. 

 W lliams' life. It occurs to him however that as Mr. Wil- 

 liaJms' clothes were but slightly weU bis skin was probably 

 dry. Although therefore the animal fluids may be better con- 

 ductors than water, yet the dry cuticle or skin, is not a good 

 conductor, and therefore the electrical current preferred to 

 take its course through the moisture in the clothes rather 

 than to force its way through the skin to the animal fluids. 



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We subjoin Mr. Williams' own minute of the facts, for al- 

 though substantially embraced in Mr. Hitchgock's account 

 the relation of the sufferer himself has in itlnleresting traits 

 of verisinulltude. 



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Description of the Plate annexed. 

 No. 1. Mr, W.^s Pantaloons as torn by the lightnin 



2, Stocking. 



3, _.__ Shoe exhibiting the perforation io the 



4, « Quarter of the shoe torn off. 



5, Coat sleeve. 



6. Shirt sleeve. 



V/C A weeping willow. 

 y( Tall Lombardy poplars. 



^ ^ Doors that were so far open. 



B. 3. 3. Furrows ploug:heJ in the ground by the Hghtning- 

 2. The position of J- W. when struck down — he was looking to the soiith 

 east — the first of the fluid on the house was at the bottom course of shin- 

 gle splitting; four inches — then started off the cave trough 20 feet in length 

 then stripping off the post and door casings and some of the outside cover- 

 iug— took my right shoulder below the joint, burning and scorching to the 

 end of the sleeve, then the right hip burning seven inches square, then 

 down the inside of the Tower limbs with a streak of the burning to the kneesj 

 burning, on the inside of the right leg, the bigness of a hand, and left the leg, 

 leaving two holes through the stocking — from the left knee to three inches 

 below, no burn — then burning down to the heel and under it, and blistering 

 the lap of the left foot half the surface of it and stripping the clothes in a 

 manner not easily described — I was thrown prostrate, my head to the east, 

 my fece to the nortft, senseless — the length of time, I am not able to ascer- 

 tain, nor to describe the sensation on coming to, my legs were so benumbed 

 as to be useless, and so remained till the lancet was used, which gave soma 

 relief. The physician wet ciotlis in the oil of terabinth through the ni^^ 

 and kept them on for four days, when the fire was principally extracted^ — 1 

 was compelled to lie nine days on the left side — the l^th sat up half a day at 

 times, and the 14t]i began to walk. 



Table on which a large canfle was burning, which was put out pjl 

 id, and which afterwards it was difficult to lighL Mrs* Wil- 

 liams standing at the east end of the table at the time of tiie shock. It wa« 



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