Sic count of a Thunder-form in Scotland. 141 
§ 21. Mr. Brydone mentions, that “ the hair of the horfes 
“ was much finged over the greateft part of their bodies; but 
“ was mod: perceptible on the belly and legs.” This effeCt is 
eaiily accounted for by the returning droke ; for the lower 
part * of- the bodies of thofe animals mud of courfe have 
been more drongly affeCted than any other part, as the electri- 
cal fire from the earth mull: fuddenly have rufhed into their 
bodies through “ their legs, which had made a deep impreffion 
“ in the dud.” 
§ 22. The various effects produced on the cart may be ex- 
plained, with equal facility, bv means of the returning droke ; 
and I have dated, in my Principles t of Electricity, “ not 
“ only in what manner perfons and animals may be dedroyed, 
“ but how” inanimate bodies, fuch as “ particular parts of build- 
“ ings, may be confiderably damaged by an eleCtrical returning 
“ droke, namely, all thofe parts where there is, in any kind 
“ of conducing fubdance or fubftances (upon which a ftrong 
“ eladic eleCtrical prefifure is fuperinduced), any kind of elec- 
“ trical interruption, acrofs which the returning electrical fire 
“ might fuddenly ftrike, and might thereby rend and dedroy 
“ all the bodies that it might meet with in its padage.” 
Mr. Brydone relates, that “ fplinters had been thrown off 
“ in many places, particularly where the timber of the cart was 
66 connected by nails or cramps of iron.” The eleCtrical inter- 
ruption between thefe pieces of metal, acrofs which interrup- 
tion the returning eleCtrical fire did fuddenly ftrike, accounts 
for its rending the bodies that it met with in its padage. 
* See, in my Principles of Electricity, the note to § 594, where fomewhaft 
of a fimilar effect is mentioned. 
t See Principles of Electricity, § 333, § 334, and § 347. 
It 
