634 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



nected with the lightning-rod, or the lightning might take the course of the pipes which con 

 vey the water of the eave-troughs to the ground, instead of the rod. Worthless rods have 

 been extensively sold by unprincipled agents in different parts of the country, and hence a 

 prejudice has been created in many instances against the use of lightning- rods; but a counter 

 feit article does not necessarily prove the genuine to be of no value. Many worthless rods 

 have also been devised, and patented by persons entirely ignorant of the principles of 

 electricity. 



Prof. Joseph Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, recommends that the rod be round, 

 or rather cylindrical, because electricity repels itself, and tends to escape into neighboring 

 bodies from points or sharp edges; hence, flat or twisted rods are for this reason imperfect 

 conductors, as they tend to give off lateral sparks from the sharp edges during the passage 

 of the discharge, which might in some cases set fire to very combustible materials. 



Safest Position During a Thunder-Storm. With respect to the safest position 

 during a thunder-storm, especially in a house not well protected by a lightning-rod, the best 

 locality is generally conceded to be in the middle of the room, and a horizontal, rather than 

 a vertical position. 



Windows, whether open or shut, should be avoided, also chimneys, but in a house not 

 properly protected by rods, no place can be considered as entirely safe. Trees in the open 

 air should also be avoided, as, the trunk of a tree being a bad conductor of the electrical 

 fluid, the discharge will leave it and pass through the body of a man or animal that might be 

 near it. 



Ventilation. The necessity of an abundant supply of pure air in maintaining a 

 healthy physical condition, is too little understood, or, if understood, too commonly disre 

 garded by the great majority of people. 



Even the most highly educated classes, who are perfectly familiar with the laws which 

 regulate sanitary conditions, are frequently careless and indifferent with respect to ventila 

 tion. Hence, we have dwellings, churches, public halls, school buildings, factories, steam 

 boats, cars, etc., so constructed that it is impossible to furnish an adequate supply of pure air 

 for those occupying them, and they consequently become places where the blood is poisoned 

 by the inhalation of vitiated air, and various forms of disease are thereby engendered. We 

 believe the majority of diseases to which human life is subject (and we might also add that 

 of many of the domestic animals) are due to improper ventilation. This seems strange, when 

 pure air is so free and abundant, and we have but to permit this gift of heaven to reach us 

 with its life and health -giving influences. But it is nevertheless a fact that instead of 

 admitting this necessary element, we shut it out of our houses, exclude it from our presence, 

 and breathe in its place poisonous gases freighted with the elements of disease and death. 



The majority of persons would refuse to eat food or drink water that they knew to be 

 unclean, or to wear clothing that was soiled and untidy, and yet they will breathe over and 

 over again air that has been rendered impure, either by its having been exhaled from their 

 own or other persons lungs, without the least thought of its uncleanliness, or the evils that 

 may result. 



Consumption, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and many other diseases are fre 

 quently caused by breathing impure air. When there is such gross carelessness and indiffer 

 ence with respect to these sanitary conditions, it is no wonder that such diseases are so prev 

 alent, and their victims so numerous. 



It is stated by no less an authority than Dr. Leeds, that it is as easy to prevent consump 

 tion by the use of pure air, as it is to prevent drunkenness by the use of water. We have 

 known of many cases of incipient consumption, or consumption in its first stages, as well as 

 fevers and other diseases, having been cured by the patients being constantly supplied with 



