ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICITY. 287 



bodies. And here it may be mentioned, that 

 after the electric fluid combines with metals 

 and other bodies, producing their liquidity and 

 vaporization, it communicates no shock, and 

 loses the power of darting through conductors 

 with instantaneous velocity that is, its pecu- 

 liar properties are changed, and merged into 

 those of ordinary caloric. 



That the general reader may have a distinct 

 idea of the existing state of knowledge in regard 

 to the origin of lightning, it may not be amiss 

 to present the statements of some of the most dis- 

 tinguished recent writers on the subject. 



It is observed by Mr. Daniell, that " since the 

 time of Franklin, atmospheric electricity has 

 been almost entirely neglected ;" and that on this 

 most important branch of physical science, he 

 had " nothing decisive to offer." (Meteorological 

 Essays, p. 135 and 374.) The consequence of 

 which is, that he has left unexplained many of 

 the most striking arid important phenomena of 

 meteorology, such as hurricanes, tornados, and 

 hail storms, with all those violent movements of 

 the atmosphere which accompany rapid dis- 

 charges of lightning. Dr. Arnott also states, 

 that tornados, whirlwinds, &c. are owing to 

 some chemical changes in the atmosphere not 

 fully understood. (Elements of Physics, Vol. I. 

 p. 397.) 



Dr. Thomson observes, in his late work on 



