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Bioelectromagnetism

FIGURE 2.4 Te Abbè Nollet and the French King’s Guards (From istock, and from Figuier, 1865.)

a gardener, Fellow of the Royal Society of London, dated October 19, 1752, Franklin described this kite

experiment as follows:

Make small cross of two light strips of cedar, the arms so long as to reach to the four corners of a

large thin silk handkerchief when extended. Tie the corners of the handkerchief to the extremities

of the cross, so you have the body of a kite which, being properly accommodated with a tail, loop

and string, will rise in the air like those made of paper; but, this being made of silk, is ftter to bear

the wet and wind of a thunder-gust without tearing. To the top of the upright stick of the cross is to

be fxed a very sharp-pointed wire, rising a foot or more above the wood. In the end of the twine,

next the hand, is to be tied a silk ribband, and where the twine and silk join a key may be fastened.

Te kite is to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be coming on, and the person who holds

the string must stand within a door or window, or under some cover, so that the silk ribband may

not be wet, and care must be taken that the twine does not touch the frame of the door or window.

As soon as any of the thunder clouds come over the kite, the pointed wire will draw the electric fre

from them, and the kite with all the twine will be electrifed, and the lose flaments of the twine

will stand out every way and be attracted by an approaching fnger. When the rain has wet the

kite and twine so that it can conduct the electric fre freely, you will fnd it stream out plentifully

from the key on the approach of your knuckle. At this key, the phial (Leyden jar) may be charged,

and from electric fre thus obtained spirits may be kindled, and all the other electric experiments