394 Miscellafiies. 



hands ; he would then rise and extend both hands high in air, and then 

 stoop down again as before ; this action he repeated several times ; at 

 length he called to those in the house, saying, that " the lightning is so 

 thick upon the ground that you can pick up corn-baskets full of it." 

 His mind was evidently for a short time injured by the shock. Two 

 of the other men, who had just sat down as the shock came, were found 

 leaning back against the wall, stunned, as if asleep. The fourth re- 

 ceived little or no injury. 



The persons in the house, (Mr. C. believes about a dozen,) — most, of 

 whom had naked feet — said that at the moment of the shock their feet 

 felt as though some person had tossed a chip of wood on them, while 

 those with shoes on did not perceive this sensation. 



In addition to this, an empty boat lay a short distance from the rock 

 struck, and when the shower was over, the men who came there in the 

 boat attempted to return in it, but on entering it immediately filled and 

 sank. On examination it was found that every nail in the boat had 

 started, and that the leaks were thus caused. 



The points which I conceive of any importance in this transaction, 

 are, 1st. The good evidence furnished, or the corroboration of a long 

 known fact, that oil is a powerful non-electric, as the fluid passed over 

 or under the whole length of the plank covered with the refuse of 

 shad. 2d. The sensation given to all the hare feet of persons five rods 

 distant, without affecting the hands and face, was uncommon. Is it not 

 probable that the skin of the feet, being usually covered, was more deli- 

 cate and therefore more sensible to the shock ? The floor of the house 

 where these persons were, is several feet higher than any point touched 

 by the lightning. 3d. Did the electric fluid reach the fishes in the 

 river ? or were they killed by the mere shock in the air acting up- 

 on the water ? 4th. Is it possible the nails in the boat could have 

 been started out by the shock, and if so, in what manner ? Was the 

 concussion of air so great upon the plank of the boat, that the nails 

 were thus drawn by the plank .? or was this result produced by the 

 electric fluid acting upon the nails ? 5th. Is it possible to explain or 

 show cause why the lightning should leave so smooth a surface through 

 the rock which it severed, especially when acting not loitJi nor directly 

 at right angles to the natural cleavage or laminas of the rock and not 

 separating any laminse ? 



Some person a short distance further up the river, who saw the col- 

 umn of electric fluid descend on this occasion, remarked, that " it ap- 

 peared to be about the size of a common bar-post." 



11. Separation of silver or gold from lead. 



Prof. SiLLiMAN — Sir : In looking over a former number of your 

 Journal, (Vol. xxxv, No. 2, January, 1839,) I find on page 321 an 



