ELECTRIC WOMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

ELECTRIC WOMEN.

A curious communication of particular interest to both sexes has just been made by M. F«Sr6 to tho French Society of Biology. Tho doctor has discovered an electric woman ! The name and address of this phenomenon are not given, probably to avoid her being got hold of by somo enterprising Barnum. It appears chat botli her hair and body emit electric sparks. The electricity is more visible when tho hair is combed. The hair then stands on an end. Whon she puts on her underclothing its contact with her skin first produces a crepitation, and tho clothes adhoro as it wero to the body, and finally her movements are partly paralysed. These phenomena are particulary observable during dry and frosty weather. The electric tension also increases under tho influence of emotions—such, for example, as tho effect of music, which augments the crepitation. This extraordinary creature, however, is not unique. Dr. Legue mentioned tho case of a woman who during an aurora boreali.s was suddenly charged with electricity, which manifested itself whon sho passed her finger over tho face of hor brother ; she remained electric for two months. Another instance of a similar kind is reported by Arago. In all these cases the patients are described as of sickly disposition, subject to nervous or hysterical attacks. In the Middle Ages they would havo been burnt for being possessed with the devil; to-day they are tendered and petted as scientific wonders. Strange to say, tho first account of an electric woman is to bo found in a romance by tho Brothers Goncourt.