on the part many
electric lighting companies.
Hastings, the secretary the Edison Electric Light Company. More electrocution experiments were
organized Hastings the fall and winter 1888.^® was steered towards Edison F. the spring 1888 Brown began a
publicity campaign draw attention the "large number of
deaths caused careless methods. Brown and Petersen
electrocuted animals the West Orange laboratory and a
public exhibition Columbia College July 1888 to
demonstrate the dangers alternating current.S. The climax this series of
experiments came December 1888, when several large animals
were dispatched Brown the dynamo room the lab.
It was Hastings who mobilized the facilities Edison's
laboratory for Brown and his colleague Petersen, nerve
specialist from Vanderbilt Hospital.V-28
company Chicago. Equipment
from the laboratory was used the Columbia exhibition and at
subsequent demonstrations.." Harold Brown's "movement in
favor greater care for public safety" was aimed directly at
alternating current.
Kennelly reported that the experiments were done a
hurry, with makeshift equipment, and the whole process normally
taking less than hour. A
Siemens alternator was used generate the current and
.. The experiments were carried out
at night prevent the curious public from attending and to
spare Kennelly's valuable time, which during the day was taken
up with more important work batteries, motors, lighting,
meters, insulation, and dynamos
