The Writings of Benjamin Franklin. 157 



" to the amazement of many. A turkey is to be killed for 

 "our dinner by the electric shock, and roasted by the 

 " electrical jack, before a fire kindled by the electrified 

 " bottle ; when the healths of all the famous electricians in 

 " England, Holland, France, and Germany are to be drank 

 " in electrified bumpers, under the discharge of guns from 

 " the electrical battery." 



Footnote : "An electrified bumper is a small thin glass tumbler, near 

 " filled with wine, and electrified as the bottle. This when brought to the lips 

 "gives a shock, if the party be close shaved, and does not breathe on the 

 "liquor." 



Various experiments were made to determine the 

 strength of spark necessary to kill various animals, and 

 although human beings could not be dealt with in the same 

 way, he is evidently anxious to know whether electric 

 sparks can be obtained sufficiently strong to kill them. 



"Experiments" page 324. 



" The knocking down of the six men was performed with 

 " two of my large jars not fully charged. I laid one end of 

 " my discharging rod upon the head of the first ; he laid his 

 " hand on the head of the second ; the second his hand on 

 " the head of the third, and so to the last, who held, in his 

 " hand, the chain that was connected with the outside of the 

 "jars. When they were thus placed, I applied the other 

 " end of my rod to the prime conductor, and they all dropt 

 " together. When they all got up they all declared they 

 " had not felt any stroke and wondered how they came to 

 " fall ; nor did any of them either hear the crack, or see the 

 " light of it. You suppose it a dangerous experiment ; 

 "but I had once suffered the same myself, receiving by 

 " accident, an equal stroke through my head, that struck 

 " me down without hurting me : I had seen a young woman 

 " that was about to be electrified through the feet (for some 

 " indisposition) receive a greater charge through the head, by 

 " inadvertently stooping forward to look at the placing of her 

 " feet, till her forehead (as she was very tall) came too near 

 " my prime conductor : she dropt, but instantly got up 



