1888.] 129 
the preceding, as the brain is not in the path of the direct discharge. The 
vicinity of the upper part of the spinal cord is, however, very dangerous. 
(3) At one of the hands. If the person is standing on both feet, this 
may be fatal, since the organs of the abdominal cavity and its nerve cen- 
tres are in the path of the discharge. If the person is standing on one 
foot, then if this foot be on the same side of the body as the hand that is 
touched, the discharge will probably not be fatal, since the discharge does 
not necessarily pass through the organs of the abdominal cavity. If, 
however, the foot on which the person is standing be on the other side of 
the body from the hand that touches the wire, that is if the person be 
standing on the right foot and touches the wire with his left hand, the 
discharge, if powerful, is apt to be fatal, since the organs of the abdominal 
cavity and its nerves are necessarily in the path of the discharge. 
(4) On the back, especially in the upper portion. This is apt to be fatal, 
since the spinal cord is dangerously near the path of the discharge. The 
muscles of the back are also very large and would thus determine the 
passage of much of the current in this direction. 
(5) Discharges ensuing on touching the wires with each hand are apt 
to be fatal, since the heart lies in the path of the current. 
Those exposed to electric discharges would be protected from the effects 
of accidental grounding of the conductors, by wearing plates or discs of 
any high insulating material on the soles of the shoes, or inside the same. 
Death by lightning probably results from the effects of shock, combined 
with those of electrolysis. In discharges of such enormous difference of 
potential as exist in lightning, disruptive effects may also be produced. 
The almost instantaneous and consequently painless nature of death by 
the electric shock has, as is well known, led to the suggestion that it 
be employed in public executions in place of hanging or decapitation. 
Should such suggestion be adopted, the character of the apparatus em- 
ployed should be such as to cause death by shock, followed, to avoid the 
possibility of resuscitation, in case of apparent death, by the passage of an 
electrolyzing current. 
On the Paillard Palladium Alloys in Watches. 
I have concluded my experiments on the Paillard watches. The fol- 
lowing results were reached ; viz., 
I am satisfied that a watch whose balance-wheel, hair spring, and es- 
capement are made of the Paillard palladium alloys can not have its rate 
sensibly affected by the influence of any magnetic field into which it is 
possible to bring it while on the person of its wearer. 
In order to test this, such watches were carried into exceedingly power- 
ful magnetic fields, and although carefully rated, both before and after 
exposure, no sensible change in their rate could be detected. 
Experiments showed that the palladium alloys are entirely destitute of 
any paramagnetic properties. As far as the amount of the alloys at my 
PROC, AMER. PHILOS. 800. xxv. 127. Q. PRINTED MAy 10, 1888. 
