270  Papers  relative  to  an  Accident 
' 
According  to  this  law,  the  cramps  themfelves,  then, 
were  not  properly  circumftanced  to  receive  the  fluid  as  it 
paffed  to  the  earth,  on  account  of  the  metallic  communi- 
cation, defcribed  above,  being  interrupted  more  than  fix 
inches. 
Another  caufe  therefore  was  necefiary  to  explain  the 
appearance;  I mean  that  which  is  called  the  lateral  ef- 
fect; a term  lately  adopted,  in  confequence  of  an  expe- 
riment I made  near  thirty  years  ago  with  the  Leyden 
phial  (which  experiment  has  fince  been  improved  upon 
by  Dr.  priestley):  and  though  a charged  glafs  (for 
fuch  I call  the  Leyden  phial)  is  by  no  means  fimilar  to 
the  great  cylinder  when  charged,  for  reafons  that  have 
been  already  publifhed^;  yet  in  the  courfe  of  thefe  ex- 
periments I apprehended  the  lateral  efFedf  produced  with 
the  charged  glafs  might  be  confidered  in  fome  refpects 
as  an  illuftration  of  the  lateral  effect  which  had  been  ob- 
ferved  at  the  cramps. 
But,  not  to  reft  this  very  material  facSt  upon  any  doubt- 
ful opinion  that  may  poffibly  be  entertained  refpedting 
its  exiftence,  other  experiments  will  be  produced,  that 
may  explain  this  matter  more  fatisfadtorily. 
(b)  Farther  Experiments  and  Obfervations  upon  Lightning,  by  benjamin 
W ilson,  publifhed  in  1774* 
Before 
