Dr. Holtz begins his report by referring to the well-known fact, already dwelt upon, that in some instances lightning conductors have got into disrepute because houses provided with them have been struck and damaged. ‘Unhappily,’ he says, ‘there are still at the present moment many persons who question the utility of conductors, simply because it happens now and then, that lightning, apparently in entire disregard of them, falls upon dwellings. These persons completely overlook two facts, namely: first, that such cases are excessively rare; and, secondly, what is far more important and more to the point, that it is beyond dispute that whenever buildings nominally provided with conductors are struck by lightning, these conductors are not in an efficient state. Such buildings are absolutely in the same condition as if they had no conductors at all.’ Dr. Holtz then goes on to speak of his journey of inspection to inquire into the causes of failure, or so-called failure, of lightning conductors. He says that, having examined a vast number of conductors, he found that in a good many instances real use had been sacrificed to ornament. He expresses this somewhat quaintly, in scientific style, apparently with the intention of not giving offence to anybody--not even to manufacturers of lightning conductors. ‘It was found by me,’ Dr. Holtz states, ‘that the unreal was frequently placed above the real, and that many lightning conductors, although very costly in the first instance, afforded no certain protection.’ The meaning of this clearly is, that too much attention is given to the upper part of conductors, especially the pointed top--frequently covered with needless gilding--and far too little to the part underground, forming the all-important earth connection. It is a criticism true for other countries besides Germany.