1831 .] 
Lightning Explosion in Intally. 
225 
without offence, and to take an apt simile from the most industrious of the insect 
creation, there should be two classes ; the scientific and the operative — the 
queens and the working bees. Without the assistance of the latter of these classes, 
a body may be very learned, and very scientific, but its efforts are not productive 
of practical benefit ; much theory is started, and but little practice elicited. 
The establishment of the Physical Class of the Asiatic Society, has, in a great 
degree, improved the sphere of utility of that society, so long confined to abstruse 
researches relating to the past, rather than in attending to the more important 
points — the present and the future. 
In my humble opinion, the most efficient service which men of information can 
do, is to elicit the latent resources of the country ; to bring into operation modes 
of procedure in any branch of economy, superior to those at present received — in 
short, to add to the sum of existing knowledge regarding India, whatever is likely 
to be of practical utility, to the country or its inhabitants. 
The Gleanings have recorded much valuable information of the nature ad- 
verted to, but a vast fund remains, which will never be available, until the artificial 
distinctions which pervade society in this country, shall be waved in the equal eye 
of science ; and in this respect, all men of information, whatever their occupation 
or rank, (and there are very few individuals of scientific acquirements, who 
will not be found respectable also,) be admitted to benefits to which they have 
a just claim. 
Practicus. 
VII. — Notice of a Lig } lining Explosion in Intally . 
To the Editor of Gleanings in Science. 
Sir, 
The daily papers have related several instances of the disastrous effects of the 
storm on the morning of the 13 th instant, particularizing the death of severa 
natives who were killed, and the manner in which some houses were struck by light— 
ning. Thinking that an account of the effect of the electric fluid, on an upper- 
roomed house in Intally which has not been mentioned in any of the public prints, 
raa y be interesting to your readers, and induce some of your correspondents to 
communicate through your publication some useful information as to the most 
efficient method of guarding against such accidents, I beg to trouble you therewith. 
I am persuaded, that many of the lightning conductors in Calcutta are so im- 
properly constructed, as to be more likely to produce, than avert mischief ; for I 
^ 1,ive observed some resting upon the roof, others having no connection with the 
ground, and some fixed to the side of the house by long iron fastenings driven into 
the wall. 
The house referred to in Intally was struck about 3 a. m. on the east side, or 
r ‘f her south-east corner, from an explosion which apparently spread in an horizontal 
direction; the wall of the house being split below the upper cornice, immediately 
er a Venetian window of the back staircase, down the bolt of which the fluid ran , 
1,ut in coming in contact with the brickwork, at the bottom of the Venetian, the 
Metric fluid seems evidently to have separated ; part descending inside, perforating 
the brick stairs, and part passing outside, probably from the attraction of the damp 
"alls ; the latter evidently forced its way through a parapet wall, over a projecting 
UWer room, descending to the long bolt of a Venetian door below, from the end ot 
