its DANGEBfc. :27o 



make it wise to keep at some distance from the 

 lightning-rod. 



If, however, a lightning conductor does not 

 possess the qualities which I have mentioned ; if, 

 for instance, it is not thick enough, there is then 

 not only the danger of its being heated, and even 

 rnelted, but, by reason of its want of conducting 

 power, a part of the electricity may be allowed to 

 dart off to other neighbouring bodies. Now a 

 conductor, that has been put up in this faulty 

 state, or that has got out of order, can certainly 

 not give entire security. It would be wrong, 

 however, to suppose that it increases the danger, 

 by drawing it down, without being able to ward 

 it off. 



A faulty conductor ceases to afford security, 

 just because it does not strive to draw down the 

 electricity from the clouds much more powerfully 

 than do the other objects near it. It cannot 

 therefore in any case invite the danger more than 

 commonly do good conductors, such as, for in- 

 stance, chimneys with their lining of soot, and 

 with the moist vapours rising within them, iron 

 stoves, water-pipes, metal roofs, and generally 

 great masses of metal, which are put up in build- 

 ings so often, and without scruple. 



THE END. 



