Nikola Tesla Books
HINTS FOR THE ELECTRICAL ENTERTAINER 227 be tolerated in view of the fact that the current is smoother and the muscular contractive effects are totally missing. It is difficult for the performer to do justice to his experiments if he experiences any degree of shock, which, while not at all dangerous, is still disconcerting. The performer stands on the stool and touches the discharge ball of the coil with his metal wand. When the current is turned on, a strong, snapping spark several inches in length may be drawn from any portion of the body by the assistant. This spark will ignite a piece of cotton dipped in alcohol, light a cigarette, puncture a thin piece of glass, and do many other equally interesting tricks. If the spark is taken from the bare skin for any length of time, a blister will form from the burn which results, and it is therefore advisable to draw the spark from a heavy ring worn on the performer's free hand. An occasional spark taken for a few seconds at a time will not affect the skin and the lighting of the cotton may be accomplished by the assistant bringing the material in close proximity with the performer's ear or chin. Care should be taken to avoid sparks near the eyes. If the performer holds a metal spoon in his mouth, a spark may be drawn from the handle and this experiment seldom fails to bring applause. If the primary clip on the oscillation transformer is carefully adjusted after the performer has been connected with the discharge ball, a point will be found where his body seems literally to exude a luminescent halo of bluish white fire. When the free hand is raised directly over the head, little tongues of fire dart from the finger tips into the air. When a second person approaches to within a foot or so of the performer the space between their bodies is apparently filled with a luminous vapor, and a finger pointed at the performer instantly calls forth an intense, cone-shaped stream of the light. A Geissler or other vac
