ELE CRG A Ee £ EL, 167 
colour it is not unlike a common eel of Europe or Ame- 
rica, and in fhape refembles it more, except that it is thicker 
in proportion to its length, and the head is more flat and 
not fo pointed; but differs from them in this refpect, that 
it comes to the furface to breathe in the air. It is called 
by the Dutch Beave Aal, and by the Englifh inhabitants 
the Numbing Eel. As to the other qualities, of which 
I mean chiefly to take notice, and which I think are as dif- 
ferent from the Torpedo of Europe, as the fith is in fhape, 
they are as follows. 
On touching the fifh as it lies in the water in a tub pro- 
vided for it, a fudden and violent fhock is received, in all 
refpects like that which is felt on touching the prime con- 
ductor, when charged with the ele€trical fluid from the 
globe; and like that chiefly, affects the ends of the fingers 
and elbow. Gently holding the tail of the fith with one 
hand and touching the head with the other, a very violent 
fhock is felt in both elbows and through the breaft and 
fhoulders. I at firft imagined that the violence of the 
fhock proceeded from both arms receiving it at the fame 
time, and that the pain was no more than that of the two 
ftrokes added together; but I found myfelf miftaken. For 
upon feven perfons joining hands, and the firft taking hold 
of the tail (which may with more eafe be held than the 
head) and the feventh at the fame time touching the head, 
we were all affected in both elbows, and that in the fame 
manner as I remember to have been in the electrical expe- 
riment, when feveral perfons take hold of the wire and the 
equilibrium is reftored by the fluids pafling through their 
bodies. 
I find the fhock may be received through metallic fub- 
ftances. On touching the fifh with an old fword blade I 
was ftrongly affeted. But arming it with fealing-wax 
and taking hold of that part which was covered with it, the 
electrical fluid (I cannot help calling it fo) would not pais. 
Neither has it any effect on the body when touched with 
Y 2 ela fs 
