llelations of the Nervous and Electric Forces. 371 



which are electric, like the Torpedo*. Dr. Wilson Philip 

 considers that the agent in certain nerves is electricity modi- 

 fied by vital actionf . Matteucci thinks that the nervous fluid or 

 energy, in the nerves belonging to the electric organ at least, 

 is electricity J. MM. Prevost and Dumas are of opinion that 

 electricity moves in the nerves belonging to the muscles ; and 

 M. Prevost adduces a beautiful experiment, in which steel 

 was magnetized, in proof of this view ; which, if it should 

 be confirmed by further observation, and by other philoso- 

 phers, is of the utmost consequence to the progress of this high 

 branch of knowledge §. Now though I am not as yet con- 

 vinced by the facts that the nervous fluid is only electricity, 

 still I think that the agent in the nervous system may be an 

 inorganic force ; and if there be reasons for supposing that 

 magnetism is a higher relation offeree than electricity [\66^. 

 1731. 1734.), so it may well be imagined, that the nervous 

 power may be of a still more exalted character, and yet within 

 the reach of experiment. 



1792. The kind of experiment I am bold enough to sug- 

 gest is as follows. If a Gymnotus or Torpedo has been fa- 

 tigued by frequent exertion of the electric organs, would the 

 sending of currents of similar force to those he emits, or of 

 other degrees of force, either continuously or intermittingly 

 in the same direction as those he sends forth, restore him his 

 powers and strength more rapidly than if he were left to his 

 natural repose? 



1793. Would sending currents through in the contrary di- 

 rection exhaust the animal rapidly ? There is, I think, reason 

 to believe that the Torpedo (and perhaps the Gymnotus) is 

 not much disturbed or excited by electric currents sent only 

 through the electric organ ; so that these experiments do not 

 appear very difficult to make. 



1794. The disposition of the organs in the Torpedo sug- 

 gest still further experiments on the same principle. Thus 

 when a current is sent in the natural direction, i. e. from be- 

 low upwards through the organ on one side of the fish, will it 



* Priestley on Air, vol. i. p. 277- Edition of 17/4. 



t Dr. Wilson Philip is of opinion, that the nerves which excite the 

 muscles and effect the chemical changes of the vital functions, operate by 

 the electric power supplied by the brain and spinal marrow, in its effects, 

 modified by the vital powers of the living animal; because he found, as 

 he informs me, as early as 1815, that while the vital powers remain, all 

 these functions can be as well performed by voltaic electricity after the 

 removal of the nervous influence, as by that influence itself; and in the 

 end of that year he presented a paper to the Royal Society, which was 

 read at one of their meetings, giving an account of the experiments on 

 which this position was founded. 



X Bibliotheque Universelle, 1837, toin. xii. 192, 



§ Ibid., 1837, xii. 202 : xiv. 200. 



2 B2 



