84, Dr. Lathrop’s account of the effects of lightning. 
of the conductor, it would be reasonable to suppose, the charge came 
dawn the rod, and, not finding moist ground, exploded, and produc- 
ed the above related effects. But the wall near the foot of the rod had 
no breach. The stones were forced out on the northerly side of the 
wall ; the men being nearly betwecn the place of the breach and the 
place, where the rod enters the ground. 
In this case the probability is, that a portion of earth in the neigh. 
bourhood was positive. When the cloud from the northeast came to 
the striking distance, the electric matter, which had collected in great 
force under the dry, gravelly stratum, burst forth. A part of the 
charge, or whole of it perhaps, entered the cellar on the northerly 
pee oe, out the stones and affecting the men, as above related. 
ee then passed from the cellar by the best conducting sub- 
stances it "eould find, in its way to the cloud. The violent conces- 
sion of the air, by the explosion in the cellar, might be sufficient to 
fling Mr. Carey and Mrs. Carey on the floor, and occasion the painful 
sensation, which they and their daughter experienced in their feet, al- 
though the charge might have taken the iron rod, which was not more 
than three or four feet from the place; where the men were at work, 
or have passed out at the cellar door. 
Mr. Carey however fully believes the fire was from the cloud, and 
exploded in the cellar ; where he thinks it was aided by inflammable 
vapour. That the discharge was from the cloud, he says was evi- 
dent to people, who saw it, and partic ularly to one of his sons, who: 
was looking out at a northeast: upper chamber window. But I would — 
query, Whether the motion of lightning be not too quick for any eye 
to discover its direction, whether from the cloud, or the earth, Al 
thougl: the stream generally, "if not always, appears to be from the 
cloud, have we not reason to think there is an optical deception ? 
Weenie: | CT semetes 
