Electricity Stored! in Blankets.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

Electricity Stored! in Blankets.

OING to bed In the Sudan Is apt to bo exciting, if I lie stories of blankets electrically charged by the climate are accepted ns evidence. Khartoum appears always to have hoi a sort of •Vracklins" reputation. Hair and silken clothing have been liable to respond to the touch with the crackling Indications of discharging static electricity. Now it seems that blankets have taken to storing up electricity to the confusion of those who would go quietly to bed. VTlie phenomenon has been given official recognition, an.l one manifestation of it lias been recorded in Ilo* May issue of the Meteorological M u-..t. ■ Mr William D. Flower, of the Meteorological Service, stationed at Khartoum, writes in that journal as follows: — “On ttie evening of March 6. 1937, a bed

Crackling Beds in the Sudan.

had been made up on an angareeb (native bed made of rope on a wood framework) at about 6 p.ra.. Just about sunset, and when the outside blanket was approached soon alter hi p.m. a spark, which appeared to be at least half an inoh long, was observed lo pass between it and the person’s nose. A slliU ’P Prtck was experienced at the tip ot the nasal organ. In the case of the adjoining bed smaller sparks were observed to pass between the blankets and fingertips, where a tingling sensation was felt ” II is confessed that such conditions are normal, at least during the winter months and it is presumed that the electricity is caused by the friction of sand particles against each other when they are driven bv the wind. J