76 On the Effects qf Qpiiun 



queiKe of the action produced, thjs property 

 becomes diminished, so that to produce an 

 equal effect a second time, the power acting is 

 required to be applied in ji greater degree} 

 but it Is also proved by Experipients 16, 17, 

 18, & 19, that the same power, which in adir- 

 minished quantity, produces action and exr 

 hausts a portion of this property, when applied 

 in a large quantity, altogether exhausts this 

 property, without producing ^py apparent 

 encrease of action, so th^t the application qf 

 no powers can again excite action ; and it is 

 also proved by Experiments 31, 32, 33, 34, & 

 36, that the more abundant this property isi, the 

 rnore speedy is the action which results from 

 the application of the powers, and naore speedy 

 is the cessation of th^t action 3 now admitting 

 this, it will follow, that the power applied 

 may be so intense, and the excitability so abun- 

 dant, that the actioil produced may not con- 

 tinue for the ^qratipn of a minute ; s\^pposing 

 further these ^^a o, viz. the power acting and. 

 ^he property apte4 upon, to be in a still greater 

 disproportion to each other, the action which 

 ensues m^y be instantaneous, or even so quick 

 as to ?\ud^ q^r perceptiop^. Thus a slight^ 

 s^oc^ .of; ele^^ri^ity, opcasions m^scuter ^onx 

 tr^Gtijons, and, diminishes the excitability of th^ 

 part w^^re, ^he action took pl^ce: ftujt.^ 



