were killed by a flash of lightning. The proprietor, desirous of saving something, sent persons next morning to flay them; but the putrefaction was such, and the stench so abominable, that they could not execute his orders. The sheep were consequently buried in their skins." We might adduce many well-attested instances of similar effects produced on animals struck by lightning; and it can be proved by the evidence of many butchers in this city, that serious losses are often sustained by the rapid putrefaction of meat after thunder: a fact with which philosophers have long been acquainted. Dr. Franklin[1] suggested (no doubt from his knowledge of these effects of electricity) that animals might be rendered tender for the table by being killed by lightning. We are prepared experimentally to prove, that such chemical changes in fermented liquors are promoted by electricity, and not only in fermented liquors, but in all matters subject to decomposition; and the popular belief in the influence of this wonderful agent, which has so long been entertained, being thus corroborated by experiment, we may, I think, look upon it as an established truth, that such chemical effects are produced by electrical changes, at least by those which take place during thunder.
There are, however, variations observable in fer-
- ↑ Vide Franklin's works, vol. vi. p. 231.
