358 Observations on the Letter of Mr. Friedlander 



gives the luminous appearance : as they contain much iron and 

 Milphur, a portion of oxygen unites to their external parts. The 

 •degree of heat produced by these different circumstances will 

 account for the superficial fused crust which invariably surrounds 

 these substances. It is probable also that a quantity of electri- 

 city collects round those masses, so as to form a con;;iderable and 

 dense atmosphere, and that this electric atmosphere as they 

 move along keeps the air in contact with them in a constant 

 blaze. 



These electric stones in descending towards the earth, when 

 they meet a cloud comparatively negative, lose a portion of their 

 electricity; which bursting fortli with great vehemence exhibits 

 the phaenomena of thunder and lightning; at the same time that 

 they are most commonly shattered into pieces. So soon as this 

 takes place, their luminous appearance ceases, their specific heat 

 resimies its former station, and they are precipitated to the earth, 

 still retaining a considerable degree of heat. The stone that 

 fell in the county of Tipperary could not be touched with the 

 hand some time after its descent. 



It is somewhat strange that those meteors should be found to 

 move from E. to W., which is contrary to the motions of the 

 earth ; unless it had been occasioned bv the electrical explosion, 

 which might have scattered the stones in every direction by its 

 violence. It is impossible that such explosions could be j)ro» 

 duced but by means of electricity : therefore, it appears rather 

 singular that they should not be accompanied with lightning, 

 which is generally the case; but probably the opacity or dark- 

 ness of the clouds, during the fall in the county of Limerick, reti^ 

 dered it invisible. I am, sir, 



Your very humble servant, 



W. HiGGlNS. 



LXII. Observations on the Letter ^/'A/r. Friedlander on the 

 actual State of Magnetism in Germany. By M. C. Oppert, 

 M.D* 



JL he' readers of the Gazette of Health will find in the first num- 

 ber of that work for 1817, a letter from Mr. Friedlander to the 

 editor of that journal. On the present State of Magnetism hi va- 

 rious Parts of Germany. 



The author, who has just performed a rapid journey through 

 tliat country, begins by giving a succinct account of the history 

 of a sick person whom he saw at Hamburgh, who, having fol- 

 lowed a course of magnetic treatment for several months without 

 dciiving thcref.om any benefit, had been prevailed on by Mr. F. 

 • Translated frpm the German. 



to 



