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6

The Pennsylvania [[strikethrough]]R.R. Co.[[/strikethrough]] & Reading Rail Road Companies furnished free passage to a member of this Institute to investigate thunderbolt phenomena, of which the writer availed himself in a number of instances along the line of Road.

In examining [[strikethrough]]these[[/strikethrough]] cases special care was taken to learn the line of direction of the bolt, in order to ascertain, if possible, whether it was simply a [[strikethrough]]polarised[[/strikethrough]] disturbance of polarization of material atoms (a favorite theory) or whether it bore the marks of a projectile force, moving in the nature of a cannon ball.  Matter may be so fine as to be invisible to the human eye - as the gasses; nevertheless, if a body of hydrogen, one of the lightest of materials positively known to us, were projected with a velocity as much greater, as it is lighter than iron, it would be as destructive as a cannon ball.  Without arithmetical detail as to weight and size, this proportion will be correctly understood by scientists.

I will now state the most remarkable cases.
 
The first [[strikethrough]]case[[/strikethrough]] one in order was that of the [[strikethrough]]destruction a Mule and Dog[[/strikethrough]] killing of two animals.  On an open lot north of Brown Street between 24th & 25th Streets it struck into a low board shed of small dimensions in which were a Mule and a Dog.  The shed stood isolated, and was struck in its south-west corner, loosening the end of the string-board supporting the roof, the bolt pursuing a direct line from the cloud and corner of the shed struck the Mule in its rear-flank, perforating the hide in several places, passing down his left hind-leg, tearing the shoe off the left foot, drawing the heads of the hob-nails through the nail-holes of the shoe, leaving no further trace of its force.  Under the manger of the mule was a Dog, which was struck dead, but showed no [[strikethrough]]visible marks of force[[/strikethrough]] perforations of hide: - both animals were slightly scorched.  Smoke, or vapor, was seen to proceed from the shed upon its being struck. Around this shed within an area of 300 yards I counted fifteen