Edwardsville Spectator

Electro-Magnetic Effect of Lightning.

A violent thunder-storm occurred on the 22d of June last, at Toulouse, when the lightning passed by various metallic pipes through a house, and gave occasion to observe its strong powers of magnetization. Just under the roof, a part of the floor was completely destroyed by the lightning, and a piece of iron that had belonged to it had become so strongly magnetic, that it was able to lift a table-knife. Small iron tools were magnetized by the iron, but it lost its power in 36 hours. A tailor was sitting on a chair near the conductor through which the lightning passed; he felt no shock, but next day, on taking a case of needles from his pocket, he found them so strongly magnetized, that they hung six or seven together. Another case, containing five needles, was lying on a chimney piece 20 feet from the conductor; they also were magnetized. There were fourteen or fifteen persons in the house, none of whom felt the electricity. It may be presumed, therefore, that the whole went through the conductor. In the present state of electro-magnetic science, it is easy to understand the effect on the needles and neighboring pieces of iron. The case resembled those quoted by Sir H. Davy, from the Phil. Trans. and is an illustration of the process he recommends for the formation of powerful magnets by lightning-rods.