When the body of the unfortunate professor came to be examined, it was found that the electric current had passed right through him, entering at the forehead, and coming out at the sole of the left foot, both places being distinctly marked by red spots and small perforations, like those of a needle. There were no other marks of injury visible, either inwardly or outwardly, except a number of red and blue spots over the back and shoulders, which grew larger the day after, and seemed to bring with them symptoms of rapid decay. Some of the medical men attending the ‘post mortem’ examination were most desirous to enter into further observations, so as to ascertain, if possible, the actual cause which produced death by a stroke of lightning, but they had no opportunity. When they returned to the professor’s house, the second day after his death, the body was already so far decomposed as to be unrecognisable, and it was with difficulty that the remains of the first martyr of applied electricity could be got into a coffin and carried to their last resting-place.
The appalling death of Professor Richmann produced an enormous commotion, far beyond what might be expected from a similar event, throughout the learned world of Europe. In France especially the occurrence created the deepest impression, mingled with admiration of what was called the ‘glorious death’ of the St. Petersburg professor, and more than one student of electrical science boldly declared his determination to become a martyr in the same noble cause. But reflection, probably, brought better counsel, for, as it happened, there were no more contributions, for the time being, to the roll of martyrs.
GRADUAL SPREAD OF LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS IN EUROPE.
In singular contrast with the burst of applause with which the whole scientific world of Europe received the great discovery of Benjamin Franklin, was the extreme slowness of the actual introduction into Europe of lightning conductors. The opposition they met with in Franklin’s own country was trifling to that which they encountered in the principal states of Europe, more particularly in England and France. It was natural, perhaps, that the lower classes--ultra-conservative, through the mere effect of ignorance, in every country in the world--should see danger in the setting-up of iron rods which, as they were told, drew lightning from the skies; and it was, perhaps, equally natural that religious fanatics should regard them with extreme suspicion, as removing one of their imagined instruments of heaven for punishing sinful mortals. Both these classes, the untaught multitude and the bigoted zealots, opposed in Europe, as they did in America, the establishment of lightning conductors; but to the strength of these parties was unexpectedly added a third in a not numerous but powerful section of learned literary men. They were chiefly French, but had many adherents in England, as well as in Germany, the _savants_ of both countries looking then upon France as the seat of all science, and indeed human knowledge.