Q. What mischief will these balls of fire produce?
A. They will set houses and barns on fire; and kill all cattle and human beings, which happen to be in their course.
Q. Why does lightning sometimes kill men and beasts?
A. When the electric current passes through a man or beast, it produces so violent an action upon the nerves, that it destroys life.
Q. When is a person struck dead by lightning?
A. Only when his body forms a part of the lightning’s path: i. e. when the electric fluid (in its way to the earth) actually passes through his body.
Q. Why are men sometimes maimed by lightning?
A. Because lightning strikes with amazing force, whatever opposes it: and if a man stand in the way, it strikes him such a blow, as to maim him.
Q. What is thunder?