THE ELECTRICAL GIRL. 591 



neck are inserted into the cranium, there was such a sensitive spot that the girl 

 could not bear to have it touched a spot which retained all the sensations she 

 felt in her left arm. 



" The child's electric emanations seemed to occur at intervals, and succes- 

 sively, in different portions of the anterior part of her body. I remarked on 

 this occasion that in the displacement of the table, which requires great force, 

 the electricity was in the base of the brain. 



" Whatever these emanations are, they are produced by a gaseous current 

 producing a sensation of cold. I distinctly felt a momentary breath upon my 

 hands, similar to that made by the lips. 



" This irregularity in the emission of the fluid seems to result from numer- 

 ous causes. First, the continual preoccupation of the girl, who always glances 

 behind her when any one or any thing touches her ; and, finally, the apprehen- 

 sion which she has of the phenomenon ; for, as soon as it becomes manifest, she 

 rapidly endeavors to escape, as though repulsed by some contrary force. It is 

 only when she thinks of nothing, or when her thoughts are otherwise engaged, 

 that the phenomenon is most sudden and intense. 



" Each phenomenon is marked by extreme fright in the girl, flight, and a 

 general air of alarm. When she touches the north pole of a magnet with the 

 end of her finger, she receives a violent shock. The south pole produces no 

 effect. The magnet was charged in such a manner that the north pole could not 

 be distinguished from the south ; but the young girl knew the difference. 



" She is very strong and in excellent health. Her intellectual capacities are 

 but little developed ; she is a village girl in every sense of the word. 

 " Paeis, February 15, 1846." 



After having read the preceding notice, Arago related all that he 

 had himself observed concerning Angelique Cottin, whom her relations 

 had taken to the Observatory. In the presence of MM. Mathieu, Lau- 

 gier, and Gougin, he confirmed the following phenomena: When 

 Angelique Cottin touched a sheet of paper lying on a table it was 

 instantly attracted toward her hand. Angelique approached a table, 

 which was repelled as soon as it came in contact with her apron. 

 She seated herself upon a chair with her feet resting on the floor, 

 and the chair was thrown violently against the wall, while the young 

 girl was sent in another direction. This experiment succeeded when- 

 ever it was tried. Neither Arago, Gougin, nor Laugier, could hold 

 the chair immovable, and M. Gougin, seating himself in one-half of it, 

 while the girl occupied the other, was thrown upon the floor as soon 

 as she took possession of it. 



Arago then asked that a committee should be appointed to exam- 

 ine these phenomena. The Academy selected Arago, Becquerel, Isi- 

 dore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Babinet, Rayer, and Pariset. 



This committee assembled, on the following day, in the Jardin des 

 Plantes, but the experiments were unfavorable in regard to the reality 

 of the electric properties of Angelique Cottin. 



Here is the committee's report : 



" In the session of the 16th of February the Academy received from M. Cholet 

 and Dr. Sanchon two notices relative to the extraordinary faculty which, it is 



