Vol. XXV. No. 11.] 
POPULAR SCIENCE :^EWS. 
165 
am I? Take me home," though I have no remem- 
brance of that ; and during all that blank period I 
was in so strong convulsions that two men could 
not hold me. This goes to prove that the contor- 
tions, about which some people raise objections in 
electrical executions, are not indicative of con- 
scious suffering. 
The iirst realization of illness I had was from 
the brandy, for we never use such things except 
in sickness; so I knew I was in a critical state. 
But the intense pain now felt prevented full re- 
membrance, and so at first 1 didn't know but that 
I had been sick for weeks. I was burned from 
the left eye, over the head, down the neck, and 
across to the lower edge of my right shoulder- 
blade. Tlie iron brace in the carriage seat at- 
tracted the lightning to one side, else it might 
have passed down my spine, causing paralysis, if 
not death. As it was, the doctors said they could 
not understand how I survived. The wire in my 
that and the hat-pin disappeared, and the lining 
was scorched out ; my collar was split in the mid- 
' die ; my clothing, even to jacket and outer shawl, 
had an irregular hole, two inches by three or four, 
punched through. The shawl, after a lapse of ten 
months, still smells of brimstone. The burn at 
my eye was more of a scorch than burn proper, 
but the eye was closed and its sight doubtful for a 
week. The path through ray hair — by which I 
lost enough to make two good-sized switches I — is 
recovering itself, and the hair is in some places 
four inches long. As soon as consciousness really 
returned I had the use of my mind. The burns 
were deepest across the 8houlders,^perhaps as 
large as two hands, — but the soreness there was 
nothing compared with the pain in the nerves of 
the arms and chest. I was brought home the 
third day on a litter, and had no set-backs; the 
burns healed in three weeks, and in four I was 
able to get slowly upstairs. 
A curious thing now occurred. One half of my 
face — the side that was not hurt — was paralyzed, 
the line between the sides being as straight as if 
drawn by rule, and the eyelid needing to be closed 
by hand for sleep. I am almost well now, though 
eye and limbs still feel the effects of the slight 
paralysis. I have no more fear of thunder-show- 
ers than other people, nor can I predict them, but 
I can tell when the wind is northeast by a faint 
return of pains in arms or chest. There is a scar 
upon my right shoulder. 
The church had a lightning-rod in good order, 
and it was generally thought to have saved the 
building from more serious injury. All the glass 
of the east windows— on the side where the rod 
came down — was broken, that upstairs being 
thrown into the church, while that in the vestry 
was blown outside. A Are started in a rubbish- 
closet and under the floor, but was put out before 
it gained much headway. 
The row of sheds contains about twenty, and a 
disused telephone wire ran over them,'to connect 
the store— perhaps six rods away — with a liouse 
twelve rods from the other end. Two sheds in 
the middle, directly back of the church, and one 
at each end of the row suffered most. This tele- 
phone wire carried the lightning to the store, 
where some gun-powder was perilously near. The 
ground where the rod was sunk, and that between 
church and sheds, and a piece of offset in front of 
the church, were furrowed and torn badly. No 
scar could be found upon the horse. 
A Mr. Eood, near Jewett City, Conn., was 
struck and more seriously hurt than I, my former 
health and youth being in my favor for recovery. 
Perhaps some one of that Chapter can give you 
further information. 
[We shall be pleased to hear from the Jewett 
City Chapter, and from anyone who has received 
a lightning-stroke. — Ed.] 
DOES THE DOG LIKE MUSIC? 
Does our dog like music and enjoy if, or does 
he dislike it? That is a question we can't settle 
by his actions. When he hears the instrument 
and singing, if he is in the house, he runs in and 
lays himself flat under the player's feet, as near 
as he can, and then lifts his head and howls dis- 
mally, if the music is sober or mournful. If it is 
lively, he often barks — quick, short barks. He 
seems more affected if there is singing with the 
instrument than by the instrument alone, but 
pays no attention to singing by itself. We have 
noticed with amusement that he wags his tail in 
time to the music, and will change the motion to 
the time as often as changed — waltz, march, 
polka, or simple song. Let us hear the opinion 
of some one on the subject. Does the dog enjoy 
the music and try to sing, or does he hate it and 
try to drown the noise? — P. A. Reynolds, Willis, 
Montana. 
SELECTED REPORTS OF THE THIRD CEN- 
TURY, CHAPTERS 201-300. 
202, St. Louis, Mo., [C]. — In presenting this, 
our fourth annual report, we are pleased to an- 
nounce that the vitality and enthusiasm displayed 
in the interest of Chapter 202 is constantly in- 
creasing, and that the work of our members is the 
best and strongest evidence of our flourishing 
condition. The past year has been especially 
devoted to the study of microscopy in all its 
details. With the aid of an excellent microscopi- 
cal equipment, and a good supply of perseverance, 
we have succeeded in unravelling many of the 
intricate problems which this fascinating science 
presents for solution. Our work has been mostly 
bacteriological, and' we hope soon to present to 
the Agassiz Association a number of original ob- 
servations which we have made in the course of 
our researches. We have maintained several large 
fresh-water aquariums, stocked with many choice 
zoiilogical and microscopical specimens. In prac- 
tical physiology we have successfully conducted 
a series of experiments and investigations. As 
the fruits of our labor. Chapter 202 now possesses 
a collection of over one thousand microscopic 
slides, prepared and contributed by the members. 
Our work comprises studies in histology, ento- 
mology, mineralogy, botany, chemistry, and bac- 
teriology. VV^e have concluded to adopt the same 
methods of study for the coming year. We would 
cheerfully solicit correspondence and exchange 
with all members and Chapters of the A. A. work- 
ing in microscopy. We beg leave to add our best 
wishes for the success and welfare of the Agassiz 
Association. — M. A. Goldstein, Sec, 4,060 Wash- 
ington avenue, St. Louis, Mo. 
212, Independence, Iowa, [A]. — We met regu- 
larly through the spring and devoted our time to 
the study of physical geography and geology 
During the summer we did not meet, but since 
school began we have met regularly, except in 
one or two cases. We owe a great deal to Mr. 
Deering, who has given us two most interesting 
talks on geology. I inclose a clipping which will 
show you how we stand. Best wishes for the 
success of the A. A. and all its Chapters. — Morris 
Sanford, Sec. 
218, Cornwall, N. Y., [A].— Since our last re- 
port, owing to the usual winter exodus, the at- 
tendance at the Chapter meetings has been some- 
what irregular. Still, our absent members have 
kept in touch with the general work by reading, 
and improving the opportunities offered by the 
museums for observation, and the Bickmore lec- 
tures. In June we had a general reunion and 
commenced regular work according to the outline 
of the plan published in the August Science 
Xews. Agassiz's life was added to the Chapter 
library and read with mucJT^ interest by all the 
members. It was a spur and - incentive to our 
work, and gave us a glimpse of a life which will 
be a guiding star to future generations. Several 
publications of the S. E. S. A. 11. were also added 
to the library, and during the winter of 1890 a 
course in mineralogy was pursuetl under the di- 
rection of this society. The work in zoology was 
more theoretical than practical, — although one 
member, while on the Massachusetts coast, did 
some work in this direction, — and was taken up 
with the idea of its aiding us in our identification 
of fossils. The collection has steadily grown and 
fills two cabinets. It was recently enriched by 
some ver^ fine specimens sent from Idaho Springs, 
Colorado. Among the most prized curios are two 
huge mastodon bones, found in one of the village 
ponds. Possibly the defunct mastodon could 
claim some kinship with the mastodon at the 
Natural History Museum in New York, which 
was found within a few miles of ours. Agassiz's 
birthday inaugurated the field-days which con- 
tinued weekly throughout the season. Among 
the most interesting trips was a visit paid to the 
iron foundry at Cold Spring, and a day spent on 
the Schunnemunk Mountain, famous for its snakes 
and red sandstone — the only place in Cornwall 
where the red slate strikes us. Our note-books 
have been constant companions, and we are begin- 
ning to appreciate the value of recorded observa- 
tions. The membership has decreased, owing to 
the fate which "overtakes all good girls" and 
still further depletes our ranks in June. Al- 
though we are within twenty miles of Mohawnk, 
it is surprising to note the difference between 
Ulster and Orange Counties. As you travel north 
you are at once impiessed with the remarkable 
hilliness; the country almost waves from. north 
to south, while from east to west it is compara- 
tively level. These hills rise abruptly without, 
apparently, any motive, and from the top of the 
Shawgunmunk look like small eruptions on the 
surface. The whole country shows traces of vio- 
lent action and more powerful natural forces than 
towards the south. The mineral constituents of 
the rocks are similar, although the fossils found 
varied greatly and were marked by almost an en- 
tire absence of crinoids, while nearer home the 
rocks are almost entirely composed of them. Near 
Modena we found a most interesting stone wall, 
built of sandstone filled with almost perfect fos- 
sils, rocks worn into fantastic' shapes by the 
action of water, old Indian relics, etc. At the 
time of the railroad excavation these stones were 
unearthed, and are prized as curiosities by their 
owner, who kindly volunteered all possible infor- 
mation about them. These specimens were found 
on high ground which, according to the traditions 
of the oldest inhabitant, had never suffered from 
inundation. We were unsuccessful in finding any 
perfect specimen in that vicinity, and owing to 
lack of time could not make any extensive per- 
sonal investigations. Our informant showed ns 
the great difference in the soil on either side of a 
certain road which seemed to be a natural divi- 
sion. On the one side (west) the soil was clayey, 
and at one point the manufacture of brick was 
conducted, while on the other there was an abim- 
