112 MR H. WILDE ON THE INFLUENCE OF GAS- AND 



VIII. 071 the Influence of Gas- and Water-pipes in 

 Determining the Direction of a Discharge of Lightning. 

 By Henry Wilde^ Esq. 



Read January gtli, 1S72. 



Although the invention of the lightning-conductor is one 

 of the noblest applications of science to the wants of man, 

 and its utility has been established in all parts of the 

 world by the experience of more than a century, yet a 

 sufficient number of instances are recorded of damage done 

 by lightning to buildings armed with conductors to 

 produce in the minds of some an impression that the 

 protective influence of lightning-conductors is of but 

 questionable value. 



The destruction, by fire, of the beautiful church at 

 Crumpsall, near Manchester, during a thunderstorm on 

 the morning of the 4th instant, has induced me to bring 

 before the Society, with a view to their being known as 

 widely as possible, some facts connected with the electric 

 discharge which have guided me for some years in the 

 recommendation of means by which disasters of this kind 

 may be averted. 



For the proper consideration of this subject, it is 

 necessary to make a distinction between the mechanical 

 damage which is the direct effect of the lightning-stroke, 

 and the damage caused indirectly by the firing of 

 inflammable materials which happen to be in the line of 

 discharge. 



Instances of mechanical injury to buildings not provided 

 with conductors are still sufficiently numerous to illustrate 



