Remarks on Lightning Rods, 103 



in the air, for the fake of attrading it, cerfainly it is in the 

 fame ratio expofed to be flricken. 



From the preceding obfervatlons, I conclude, that a point 

 eighteen inches above the highefl objecft we wiih to proteft 



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would be mvich more fafe than one of eighteen feet. As to 

 the multiplicity of points, I believe them rather prejudicial 

 than otherwife. The Hon. Mr. Baldwin obferves, " it is a well 

 known fa(5l that eledrical fluid enters and pafTes off by points 

 and angles, more readily than by fpherical terminations." I 

 conceive the eledrical fluid paffmg a rod properly prepared, to 



fc.' 



be the fame, in a degree, as water paffmg a tube. For ex- 

 periment, fix, a tube with three or more branches, and pour 



water into each of the branches, at the fame time, and you will 

 perceive a very confiderable obflrutflion, where they unite in 

 the common flock, or large tube, from tlie different dlredions 

 of the branches. This I think will apply to the eledrical fluid'; 

 and I have been confirmed in the opinion, from repeated ex^ 

 periments, that a condudor with one point properly fixed, 

 would empty an eledrical battery more readily than one with 

 three or four. 



V 



I have two other objedlons to the rod propofed by Mr. 



Baldwin. Firfl, Provided this rod, filled with points, from 

 top to bottom, ihould be flricken or overcharged, the eledrical 

 fluid would pafs off by thefe points in a variety of diredions, 

 much more readily, and of confequence, be more liable to 



attach itfclf to furrounding objeds, than if the rod were either 



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round or fquare. 



'mmm < i.i 



Second. 





