90 ELEMENTS OF STATIC ELECTRICITY. 



the figures with the knob, is balanced by an equal loss 

 from the outer coating through the hand in which the jar 

 is held. Hence, when the tracing is made with the outer 

 coating, the knob must be held in the hand, to produce 

 the same effect on the inner coating : the jar being first 

 placed on an insulator to prevent a discharge and conse- 

 quent shock, by indirect connection through the earth. 



Fig. 26 Lichtenberg's Figures. 



An inspection of the figure shows, that at the point 

 where it begins above, the fringe lines radiate from a com- 

 mon center ; but that, as the curve is produced from right 

 to left downward and from left to right upward, they 

 point diagonally in the direction in which the knob of 

 the jar moves. The explanation is as follows : The 



