194 Scientific Intelligence. Animal Electricity. 



you will, the slightest trace of electricity either by the galvano- 

 meter or the condenser. 3d, The intensity of the discharge di- 

 minishes in proportion as you reduce the number of the nerves 

 which go to the organ, 4th, In the act of the discharge, the 

 electrical current is found to be invariably directed from the 

 back to the pelvis ; and this whether exteriorly, or in the in- 

 side of the organ, or in examining the nerves and the brain, 

 it always proceeds by the nerves to the pelvis. 5th, Three 

 grains of the hydrochlorate of morphine introduced into the 

 stomach of a torpedo, kills it in ten minutes; but death is at- 

 tended with stronger discharges than usual, and with convul- 

 sions. 6th 9 When the torpedo has ceased to supply, though 

 irritated, any additional discharge of electricity, if its brain be 

 exposed, and if we touch, at first gently, the posterior lobe of 

 the brain, which supplies nerves to the organ, three or four dis- 

 charges more violent than common take place, and which have 

 the usual direction from the back to the pelvis. But if, instead 

 of simply touching the surface of the brain, it is deeply and 

 rudely wounded, then very violent discharges are renewed, but 

 without the same constancy in the direction of the current. I 

 have observed three, one immediately after the other, proceed 

 from the pelvis to the back, and all without any manifest law. 

 These facts, and especially the last, continues M. Matteucci, 

 suffice to demonstrate, that the electricity of the torpedo is not 

 produced in the organs it possesses on each side of the brain, 

 that this current receives its direction from the brain, and that 

 the electricity in the peculiar apparatus is only condensed there, 

 as in a Leyden bottle, or in a secondary pile. He adds, I am 

 far from thinking that the study of the torpedo is concluded ; 

 there is still much to do ; but it appears not a little interesting, 

 that it has been demonstrated that electricity in the torpedo is 

 nothing more than condensed by the organs : and, if we do not 

 find the traces of electricity in other animals, it is only because 

 they have not such condensing organs, and that their electricity 

 is continually disappearing in the discharge of their numerous 

 functions. 



CHEMISTRY. 



10. On solid Carbonic Acid. Letter from M, Thilorier to the 



