Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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A very rare, but instructive case, among the accidents by lightning; is given, -which is designated by De la Rive, as " struck by a return-shock." He says persons or animals may be struck by lightning at a great distance from a storm cloud. This is an effect of induction on a grand scale, yet of easy explanation. Whenever a storm cloud that is powerfully electrized approaches so that the person is situated within its sphere of activity, the natural electricity of this person is decomposed by actual induc- tion. The molecules of the living body is naturally bipolar; now, that in the person of the contrary name to the electricity of the clouds is attracted to the cloud, while that of the same name in the person is repelled to the ground; the person there- fore is found to be in a highly electrical state, but contrary to that of the cloud. But, if now the cloud happens to discharge itself from any point, say to a tree, or to a rock, and thus los- ing on a sudden a large portion of its surcharge of electricity, it is no longer able to retain the person who is beneath it in an electric state, contrary to that which now the cloud itself pos- sesses. In fact, the electricity of the person's body was simul- taneously and suddenly discharged to the earth, the same instant that the cloud discharged itself to the rock. The electric change which may thus result, may be sufficiently powerful to cause death, without leaving any visible trace of alteration, or the least mark of injury whatever, on or in the dead body. Be- sides, there are very many persons who have so little nerve power, or what may be termed power of endurance, that it re- quires but a slight, quick electric change to put out their taper of vitality, and, therefore, although in passing health, it might bring to them instant death, without leaving a trace behind. Effects of Lightning on the human Organism. How lightning kills, is a question that M. Brown-Sequard has studied much, and now assumes to answer. Some philosophers are every now and then extending their researches in the direc- tion of embryotic life; but here we observe a scrutinizing phi- losopher and physiologist devoting his persevering attention to