[ 360 ] [Nov. 1, 



REPORT OF CHEMISTRY, NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, &c. 



MR. J. T. Todd lias conininiiicated to tlie Royal Society some observations on 

 the Torpedo of tlic Cape of Good Hope, from which he draws the following con-' 

 cltisions : — 



1. That the electrical discharge of this animal is in every respect a vital action, be- 

 ing de])endant on the life of the animal, and liavinjj a relation to the degree of life aii«l 

 to the degree of perfection of structure of the ele'.tiical organs. 



2. That the action of the electrical organs is perfectly voluntary. 



3. That frequent action of the electrical organs is injurious to the life of the animal ; 

 and if continued, deprives the animal of it. Is this only an instance of a law common 

 to all animals, tliat by long continued voluntary action they are deprived of life.' 

 "Whence is the cause of the rapidity witli which it takes place in this instance? Oi- is 

 it owing to the reaction of the shock on the animal ? 



4. That those animals, in which the nerves of the electrical organs are intersected, 

 lose the power of communicating the shock, but appear more vivacious, and live longer 

 than those in which this change has not been produced, and in which this power is 

 exerted. Is the loss of the power of comniunicatinc the shock to be attributed to the 

 loss of voluntary power over the organ ? Does this fact bear any analogy to the efitcu 

 produced by castration in animals? 



5. That the posvession of one organ only is sufficient to produce the shock. 



6. That the pci feet state of all the nerves of the electrical organs is not necessary f • 

 produce the shock. 



And 7. From tlie whole it may he concluded, that a more intimate relation exists 

 between the nervous system and electrical organs of the torpedo, both as to structure 

 and f'lMctions, than between tlie same and any organ:* of any animal with which we are 

 acquainted. And this is particularly shown, 1st. By the large proportion of nerves 

 supplied to the electrical organs ; and 2d, By the relation of the action of the electrical 

 organs to the life of the animal, and vice versa. 



In the Journal of Science and Art, published at Florence, the Marquis Ridolfi has 

 given a new process for purifying platina. He first separates from the crude platina 

 some of the extraneous substances usually mixed with it, and washes the remainder 

 tvith nitro-muriatic acid diluted with four times its weight of water. He then melts 

 it with half it'( weight of pure lead, throws it into cold water, and thus obtains an alloy, 

 which he pulverizes, mixes with an equal portion of sulphur, and throws into a white- 

 hot Hessian crucible ; covers the crucible instantly, and keeps it in an intense heat for 

 ten minutes. When cold, a brittle metallic button, composed of platina, lead, and 

 sulphur, is found beneath the scoria. This button he fuses with a small addition of 

 lead: the sulphur separates itself with fresh scoria, and there remains only an alloy of 

 platina and lead. This alloy he heats to whiteness, and in that state beats it with a hot 

 hammer on a hot anvil, which forces out the lead in fusion. If the alloy be not a wbitc- 

 heat when beat, it will break. The platina thus obtained is ductile, mullfMe, and as 

 tenacious as that obtained from the amnioniacal muriate. 



MONTHLY C031MERCIAL REPORT. 



