The New Hampshire Gazette

From the BOSTON GAZETTE.

To the Printers, &c.

THE fatal Accidents, which have very frequently followed upon Persons taking Shelter under Trees in Thunder storms, might, one would think, have been a sufficient Intimation of the Danger of such a Practice, and a sufficient Warning to avoid it. But the late unfortunate Death of a young Man at Plainfield, as mentioned in the Papers, is a melancholy Proof, that the Intimation has not been universally taken, nor the Warning duly attended to. Indeed, the Danger arising from this Quarter is more evident to such as are acquainted with the modern Discoveries in Electricity, than to others.

Such Persons know, That the Matter of Electricity.

Let the Operations of both are subject to the same Laws, and that their Effects differ, not in Kind, but in Degree only. The Matter of Electricity is attracted by all Non electric Bodies, but most strongly by Metals and Water; and wherever it finds these to conduct it, it directs its Course along them, preferable to all others: It impregnates those Bodies throughout, and Surrounds them with an electric Atmosphere, extending to some Distance. If another non-electric Body, not equally impregnated with Electricity, be brought within the Atmosphere of the first, and within a certain Distance from it, called the striking Distance; Part of the Electricity of the first will be discharged upon the second, and the Discharge will be accompanied with a Flash of Light, a cracking Noise, and, if the second Body be an Animal, a painful Sensation. Thus in making electric Experiments, a long metallic Body is used to conduct the electric Matter to whatever Distance is requisite; and if a Person bring his Finger near this Conductor, the Electricity will jump from the Conductor to his Finger, with a Flash, a Noise, and a Sensation, as if his Finger had received a Blow. These are the Effects, when the Second Body is blunt, or terminated by a broad Surface: but if it be sharp-pointed, the Electricity is discharged in a silent, imperceptible Manner. In the Case we have now put, the electric Shock is inconsiderable; but if an Animal be situated in a Line between two non electrics, so that a large Stream of the electric Matter, in darting from one to the other, which it does with inconceivable Quickness, must pass at once thro' his Body, the Shock is extremely violent; and it may be increased to that Degree as to cause immediate Death.

Such are the Effects of Electricity: Those of Lightning are altogether similar. Clouds are non electric Bodies, which contain, and are surrounded with, the Matter of Lightning; and Trees, and animal Bodies, as they contain a great Share of Watery Fluids, may be the Conductors of it. When a Cloud passes at a proper Distance over a Tree, the Matter of Lightning in it and around it, if not in too great Quantity, may be silently discharged down to the Ground by Means of the pointed Leaves of the Tree; in the same Manner as it is by the pointed Wires, now fixed on the higher Parts of Buildings. But if the Quantity be too great for this, and the Cloud be suddenly brought by the Wind within its striking Distance from the Tree, the Matter of Lightning, being attracted by the broad Surfaces of the Leaves, will jump with Violence upon them, and the whole Of it will make its Way in an Instant thro' the Body of the Tree to the Earth: and this it does with a Force, which is frequently great enough to shiver the Tree in Pieces. If, while the Lightning is running down the Tree to the Earth, a Person should place himself very near the Tree, his Body being capable, as well as the Tree, of conducting the Lightning, Part of it will jump off from the Tree, and will rush thro' his Body in its Way to the Earth; and that, with a Violence proportional to the Quantity that is discharged at once. If this Quantity be very great, the Consequence will be fatal.

Hence it appears, how dangerous it must be for any to place himself near a Tree, at a Time when it may be conducting, or ready to conduct, a large Stream of Lightning to the Earth. 'Tis much safer for a Person to stay out in the Rain, and suffer himself to be wet. His Danger is less at first, and it grows less and less every Moment, as his Clothes become wetter. And when they are thoroughly wetted, the Matter of the Lightning, which is near enough to him to be attracted by him, will be conducted silently down to the Earth by the Water in his Clothes, without Injury to his Body.

We cannot conclude, without giving the most earnest Caution to all Persons, who may be surprised abroad in a Thunder-storm, that they never betake themselves to a Tree for Shelter.

J. W.