118 Star anfr Meatbet (Bogstp 



by gunpowder, and the fragments had been blown off 

 with a force sufficient to dent the wall on the opposite 

 side of the room. The frame of a looking-glass was 

 blackened, and the gilding must have been volatilised, 

 for a smelling-bottle, which stood on the chimney- 

 piece, was coated with bright metallic particles, which 

 adhered as firmly as if they had been enamelled." 



It is estimated by Dr. George A. Carse that the rate 

 of fatalities from thunderstorms in Hungary is 77 per 

 ten millions of the population in a year, and in London 

 one per ten millions. It seems that in Hungary fifteen 

 fatalities occur under trees in proportion to 57 in the 

 open, but, as Dr. Carse is careful to explain, " the 

 relative numbers of people so exposed at times of 

 danger are unknown." 



That an isolated tree is much more likely to be 

 struck than one in a wood is generally recognised, as is 

 also the fact that different trees have different capa- 

 cities for attracting lightning. Oak trees are very 

 dangerous, for example, just as beech trees are par- 

 ticularly safe. The reason of this, I take it, is that the 

 former are much moister than the latter, lightning 

 having a decided weakness for moisture. 



It has been estimated that the relative capacities of 

 the oak and beech for attracting lightning is in the 

 proportion of 57 to 1, though it is to be feared that the 

 average person's knowledge of trees does not allow of 

 him discriminating between an oak and a beech. And 

 discrimination is less likely to be exercised when there 

 is a sudden rush for shelter from the storm. To vary 



