244 Effects of Lightning. 



beads which she had on at the time. Each bead must have been 

 enveloped in the fluid, I think, as it passed around her neck, for 

 the position of each bead was distinctly marked by a black spot 

 on her neck, and the number of these black spots correspond 

 with the number of beads. The effect of the fluid on the beads 

 was to turn them black. She had in her ears at the time a pair 

 of gold ear-nubs ;^ — the one in her left ear had a spot on it similar 

 to what would be made by putting strong acid on brass ; it looked 

 black and corroded* From her neck the fluid passed down her 

 left side to her feet, leaving but one mark of its progress, and 

 that was at the lower part of her chest on her left side ; the skin 

 there was somewhat bruised and blackened but not broken. Her 

 left foot, when I saw it, was very much swollen, but was not 

 bruised, neither did she complain of any soreness. Her sensa- 

 tions on coming to were the same as those of the others ; an 

 intense burning sensation in her feet " as though her feet were m 

 the fire.'' She had on at the time a thin cotton dress, which was 

 not in the least injured by the stroke. There was no rent made 

 either in her stockings or shoes. 



[ believe I have now detailed the principal effects upon the 

 several individuals; there are however some further particulars 

 worthy of notice. 



There were no marks made by the lightning on the kitchen 

 floor where the four individuals were prostrated. There were no 

 marks of the lightning near the stove, which was but about four 



feet from where the four individuals were standing at the time of 



the second shock. In the cellar little damage was done, except 



to remove the mortar from between the stones. In the chambers 

 or attic above, there were several articles of iron furniture stowed 

 in the end near to where the house was struck. Within four feet 

 of where the lightning passed down the stud A^ E, fig. 2, there 

 stood an air-tight stove which did not seem to have been in the 

 least molested by the lightning. An old umbrella which lay at 

 the foot of the stud A' E, was set on fire but none of its metallic 

 fixtures were melted. 



The silvering on the back of the mirror which hung on the 

 post p, fig. Ij did not seem to have been in the least affected by 

 the electricity ; still the frame of the mirror was very much shat- 

 tered. The electricity, wherever it went, appeared to have made 

 a very diligent search for nails, screws, hinges, &c., and wherever 

 it found them, it either tore them out or split the wood around 

 them.* 



North Attleboro', July IS, 1851. 



* In the passage of electricity, the effects of violence are to be found mmnly 

 TS-liere the cunent is interrupted. A good metallic conductor, or masses of iron to- 

 gether would receive the fluid and miirht show no effects, but ranges of nails or 

 fipikes would give rise to a shock biitween them and consequent violence. — ^Eds. 



