STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 135, 7 June 1880, Page 4

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

A paper was read at a recent meeting of the Clinical Society by Dr Gt. Wilks, of Ashford, on a remarkable case of ligbtoing-slroke which occurred on June 8, 1878. A farm labourer was struck by lightning while standing under a willow tree, close to the window ot a Bbed in which his three fellowworkmen had just taken shelter from a •violent storm of rain. His companions found the tree partly denuded of its bark, and the patient's boots standing at its foot. The patient himself was lying on his back two yards off, and though he was fully clothed previously, be was now naked, with absolutely nothing on except part of the left arm of his flannel vest. He was conscious, but much burnt, and his leg was badly broken. The field around was strewn with fragments of the clothing 5 the cloths were split or torn from top to bottom, the edges of the fragments being often torn into shreds or fringes ; they only showed evidences of fire where they came in contact with metal, such as his watch and the buckle of his waistbelt. There were no laces in the boots. The left boot was torn and twisted into fantastic shapes, but the sole, was uninjured, and there was no sign of fire upon it ; the right boot had the leather much torn and the sole rent and burnt. The watch had a hole burnt through the" case, and the chain was almost entirely destroyed. The stockings were split down the inner side ; the hat was uninjured. The patient stated that he was struck violently on the chest and shoulders, became enveloped in a blinding light, and was hurled into the air, coming down on his back " all of a crash'," and never losing conciousness. The hair of his face I was burnt and the body was covered { with burns. Down each thigh and leg was a broad crimson indurated band of burning passing along the inner side of the knee, and ending below the left inner ankle and at the right heel ; a lacerated wound, with a comminuted fracture of the oe-calcis. The bones of the right leg were fractured, and the tibia protruded through the skin in the course of the burn. He was discharged healed 20 weeks after the occurrence. Dr Wilks remarked on the almost complete exemption from injury of the nervous system, and on the probability that the clothes being wet acted as good conductors, and so diverted the electric current from the great nervous trunk?, thus saving the man's life,

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LUGGAGE.— Ecch Passenger is allowed to tike m.ba. of 'PERSONAL Luggage free (not includirg merchandise of any kijd), and for every 56!ba. aboge this weight, for every 50 miles or fraction of 50 miles, the charge will be One fchilling\ No luggage v»ill be allowe i to be taken into the Carriages, unless of such a size that it can be placed uadar the seat without inconvenience to other Passengers. Passengers arc strongly recommended to have their Names and the Station to which they are proceeding distinctly marked on their Luggage, and to satisfy themsalvcsthat it is placed en the Train, as the Railway Department will not be responsible unless it is booked and paid for, Passengers can be booked at Stations only on condition that there is room in the Train. Children under three years of age travel free ; above three and under fourteen years of age, half fare. RETURN or PERIODICAL TICKETS will not be available for Special and Excur *ion Trains, except when the Ordinary Time Table is suspended, RETURN TICKETS for distances not exceeding 25 miles are available oq day ot issue only. ggpRDINARY SINGLE TICKETS issued on Saturdays and Sundays are available as Return Tickets until the end of the following Monday, when re-dated as above. ALL TICKETS used for return later than the day of issue must be presented at the Ticket Window, and re-dated before the Passengers enter the Train for the return Journey. Any Person neglecting to get his Ticket re-dated will have to pay the ordinary Pare. Special Notiob. — To ensure despatch, . Parcels; Extra Luggage, and Dogs must be at the Station at least thirty minutes before advertised time of departure of Train. All lime Tables issued prior to this date are now cancelled W. STONE General Manager.