114 Mr. C. Tomlinson on some Effects of Lightning. 



1888, he describes an experiment similar to the one in this 

 paper, but without our theory with regard to the action of 

 points. Indeed, he states that the ends of his bars acted like 

 zinc, while the middle was like platinum, a conclusion directly 

 the opposite of ours. The reason of this difference has been 

 shown in this paper to be probably due to the currents set up 

 in the liquid by the reaction of the magnet and the electric 

 currents in the liquid. 



In conclusion, we may remark that our results differ from 

 those of Professor Nichols in this : firstly, we have given the 

 exact mathematical theory of the action and have confirmed it 

 by our experiments, having studied and avoided many sources 

 of error, while Professor Nichols gives no theory, and does not 

 notice the action of points ; secondly, our experiments give a 

 protective action to the points and ends of bars, while Professor 

 Nichols thinks the reverse holds, and that these are more easily 

 dissolved than unmagnetized iron. 



XIV. On some Effects of Lightning. 

 By Charles Tomlinson, F.R.S.* 



IN the course of last May and June several letters ap- 

 peared in the ' Times ' newspaper, describing some 

 remarkable effects of lightning. These letters were inserted 

 under such headings as " Eccentricities," or " Vagaries of 

 Lightning ;" but it is not difficult for an electrician to assign 

 the effects described to admitted principles, or at least to well- 

 known electrical behaviour. 



I have been interested in the subject from the time, nearly 

 half a century ago, when I acted as Snow Harris's scientific 

 representative (as Faraday named me), while that distinguished 

 electrician was getting up his case in defence of his system of 

 lightning-conductors for the British navy. It was my business 

 to search the scientific journals, English and foreign, logs of 

 ships, &c, fox cases of damage by lightning. Hence I became 

 tolerably familiar with the (l vagaries of lightning," and I find 

 that the cases recorded of late years are not distinguished by 

 any particular novelty. But the lightning stroke is so powerful 

 and irresistible in its effects, that the ordinary observer cannot 

 help seeing many things which, being new to him, he thinks 

 worthy of description in the newspaper. Even medical men 

 sometimes describe cases as novel which are well known to 

 the electrician. Some years ago the frequent accidents that 

 occur to persons seeking refuge from a thunderstorm under a 



* Communicated by the Author. 



