96 



ON THE EFFECTS OF MUSIC, &C. 



vanism separately ; though modern discoveries, particularly those of 

 Faraday, Ritchie, Pixii, and others, amount almost to a proof that the 

 subjects of these three sciences are merely modifications of the same 

 principle. I would therefore ask, by the way, would it not be better to 

 consider these as constituting three branches of one science, in like 

 manner as we, in natural history, regard ornithology, conchology. and 

 entomology as three branches or sub-sciences of the extensive science 

 of zoology. To say more at present upon this point would be some- 

 what foreign to the professed object of this paper, and would defeat the 

 aim I have in view of supplying a few pages of interesting and untech- 

 nical matter, chiefly intended for the amusement of those who are not 

 over partial to the perusal of the dry details of science. 



To describe the effects of electricity, when administered by the 

 electrician to the bodies of animals, would here occupy more space 

 than I can reasonably expect could be conveniently granted for the pur- 

 pose ; therefore I shall confine myself to speaking of the powers of 

 lightning, which is merely a strong electric shock, the thunder by 

 which it is accompanied being the noise of its explosion. The dreadful 

 effects of lightning, in depriving mankind and other creatures of their 

 limbs and senses, and of even life itself, are too well known, from the 

 unfortunate frequency of their occurrence*. The illness and debility 

 which seize some persons previous, and sometimes subsequent, to the 

 discharge of the electric cloud, must have been noticed by almost every 

 one. Pains are felt, particularly in the head and stomach, by some 

 persons (myself included) upon the approach, or after the cessation of 

 lightning ; which pains, perhaps, are ascribable to its acidifying pro- 

 perty, which appears to convert the food contained within the stomach 

 into acid, as freely and as quickly as it does the beer in a beer barrel. 

 Previous to the appearance of lightning, cattle and most animals, all of 

 whom are, probably, more sensitive than ourselves to the atmospherical 

 changes by which it is no doubt preceded, become restless, and resort to 

 places of protection. Ants, bees, and butterflies, I have, from repeated 

 observations made in the field, been induced to think, diligently avoid 

 exposure to lightning, at least when it is unaccompanied by rain : but 

 how they behave when it is attended with rain I have not as yet re- 

 marked. Before the commencement of lightning, and during its pre- 



* The best means of guarding against the destructive consequences which so 

 often result from exposure to lightning, will be described in a future communica- 

 tion.— J. F. 



