PyO¢ee DVO RET RB yGe EB EL, T7E 
of water. The fhock is greater if the fifth is enraged; but 
whether repeated touches will exhauft this ftrange power, 
as frequently repeated bites do the viperine and fome other 
poifons for a time, I believe no experiment has yet deter- 
mined*. Ifa perfon hold his finger in the water feveral 
inches diftant from the fifth and another touch it, a fhock 
equally fevere is felt by him who does not touch it. The 
fame thing happens if the fifh exerts itfelf without being 
touched. If a number of perfons join hands, and one 
touch the eel, they are all equally fhocked, unlefs there 
fhould happen to be one of the number incapable of being 
affe&ted by the eel, which is the cafe of a very worthy 
lady of my acquaintance, who can handle this fith at will. 
I am informed fome Indians and negroes can do the fame; 
whether by the affiftance of any means to counteract the 
power of the eel, I know not; but am perfuaded it is 
fomething in the conftitution of the ladyt. The eel I had 
obtained got out of the tub, and it was with fome difficul- 
ty I returned it, for the repeated fhocks I received through 
a piece of deal board eighteen inches long, with which I 
attempted to lift it, made my arms ache very much, and 
for a confiderable time. I think the numbnefs occafioned 
by touching this eel continues longer than that from an 
electric fhock of the fame degree of force, and I have been 
aflured by a perfon of good fenfe and veracity, that a ne- 
gro fellow formerly being bantered by his companions for 
his fear of this eel, determined to give a proof of his re- 
folution, and attempted to grafp it with both hands. The 
unhappy confequence was, a confirmed paralyfis of both 
arms. I hear this fellow is ftill living in the ifland of St. 
Chriftopher’s ; if fo, I can obtain more fatisfaction, for I 
have my doubts of the negro’s honefty{. But very cer- 
; tain 
* Tam fince convinced they do. 
+ This lady, when I became acquainted with her, was far gone in an hedtic fever. And I 
ae aa enquire if fhe could treat the fith with fo much familiarity while in a perfect 
¢ This account was afterwards confirmed to me, with the further information, that after fe- 
veral years the negro recovered the ule of his arms by flow degrees, and I think without any 
afliftance from medicine. 
