Note 8 — APPENDIX M. MISCELLANEOUS.
Reading edition
Is there any evidence to show that soldiers wearing spiked helmets, or marching with fixed bayonets, are specially liable to be struck by lightning? Various ancient writers—Cæsar, Seneca, Livy, Pliny, and others—mention luminous appearances (“Fire of St. Elmo”) presented by the javelins or pikes of soldiers during thunderstorms at night.