62 Electrical Phenomena in Houses. 
Some have thought that the electricity was due, at least in part, 
to the dress of the experimenter. I haye satisfied ene that 
electricity may be excited in shuffling across a carpet by any 
rson, no matter what his dress may be, provided only that he 
nave shoes with a dry leather sole. Children of all ages, boys 
and girls, as well as persons of mature years, excite electricity in 
the same way. I have never heard of an individual who had 
tried the experiment in a house similar to that of Mr. Catlin’s, 
without —? considerable electricity. No ae ma- 
terial or qualit ty of ann is essential to the success of the 
periment. 
It is a very common impression, and one which is counte- 
nanced by my own observations, that a silk dress is favorable to 
the slestticgl excitement. A sol dress saves the electricity 
which is accumulated upon the n from bein —— as 
a as it is — but I do not ¢ think the silk dress performs 
ve part in the electrical excitement. I believe 
eae is due to the fact that they are more habitually con- 
ed to the house; and their dress, particularly the shoe, is 
more thoroughly dry. 
me have ety that a silk wrapper worn next to the 
skin was important to the success of these experiments; but 
this is by no means essential, for one of the most electrical cases 
of which we have any knowledge was that of a boy described 
in Prof. St. John’s communication, whose dress contained not a 
particle of silk, and who wore cotton next to his skin. 
2. Notice of some Blectri aoe one witnessed in houses in the 
Professor of Ch Chemistry in the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, New York City. 
__ Read before the American Association, at the Baltimore meeting, May, 1858. 
By invitation of aes Loomis of the New York Pee 
anied him on the evening of the 12th of Feb: 
moines some stpertnente on electricity, exhibited in a 
arteenth street in the gsity of News Sose, The rooms 
