920. 
** | held the muscles of a prepared frog in 
one of my hands, moistened by salt water, 
and brought a finger of the other hand, well 
moistened, near to the crural nerves. When 
the frog possessed a great deal of vitality, the 
crural nerves gradually approached my hand, 
and strong contractions took place at the 
point of contact. This experiment proves 
the existence of a very remarkable Pecela 
traction observed, not only by myself, but 
also by those whom I requested to repeat the 
experiment.” 
This, however, requires much delicacy 
and accuracy in the preparation to suc- 
ceed. 
Galvanism is excited by the simple 
contact of the nerve of an animal with 
its own muscle. It is thus proved: 
«* Having persis a frog in the usual 
manner, I hold the spinal marrow in one 
hand, and with the other form an angle 
with the leg and foot, in such a manner, 
that the muscles of the leg touch the cru- 
ral nerves. On this contact, strong con- 
tractions, forming a real electrico-animal 
alarum, (carillon), which continue longer or 
shorter, according to the degree of vitality, 
are produced in the extremity left to itself. 
In this experiment, as well as the following, 
it is necessary that the frogs should be strong 
and full of vitality, and that the muscles 
should not be overcharged with blood.” 
Many curious facts are given, to shew 
the general relation between galvanism 
and electricity ; and the author inclines 
to the hypothesis of an animal pile exist- 
ing within every animated body, and 
acting similarly to the voltaic pile. 
In the second part, Professor Aldini 
treats of the influence which galvanism 
has on the vital powers, and under this 
head are contained those astonishing and 
celebrated experiments, of exciting com- 
motions in the decapitated trunks, or the 
heads of large animals, by means of the 
voltaic pile conveyed to the nervous and 
muscular systems. The Professor. has 
employed both the larger brutes and hu- 
man subjects ; the latter, criminals deca- 
pitated by the sentence of the law in Bo- 
logna, whom tke alarmed and astonished 
spectators saw again rolling the eyes, 
gnashing the teeth, menacing with the 
arms, and for an instant resuming the ac- 
tions of life. 
nova desuetis subrepens vita medullis 
Miscetur morti, tune omnis palpitat artus, 
Tenduniur nervi, distento lumina rictu 
Nudantur—remanet pallorque rigorque 
Et stupet illatus mundo. 
We must relate two of the experi- 
EXPERIMENTAL PHILOSOPHY.. 
ments as examples of these astonishing’ 
phenomena : 
«« The first of these decapitated criminals, 
being conveyed to the apartment provided 
for my experiments, in the neighbourhood of 
the place of execution, the head was first 
subjected to the galvanic action, For this 
purpose I had constructed a pile, consisting 
of one hundred pieces of silver and zine.— 
Having moistened the inside of the ears with 
salt water, | formed an are with two metallic 
wires, which, proceeding fromthe two ears, 
were applied, one to the summit, and the 
other to the bottom of the pile. When this 
comipunication was established, I observed 
strong contractions in all the muscles of the 
face, which were, contorted in so irregular 2 
manner, that they exhibited the appearance 
of the most horrid grimaces. The action of 
the eye-lids was exceedingly striking, though 
less sensible in the human head than in that 
of the ox.” 
Tlie larger animal shewed equally 
powerful commotions. J 
«« Having provided an ox recently killed, 
the head of which was not cut off, I formed 
an are from one ear to the other, interposing 
the pile. The immediate result was a com- 
motion, so violent in all the extremities of the 
animal, that several of the spectators were 
much alarmed, and thought it prudent to re- 
tire to some distance. J then cut off the 
head, and formed an, are from the spinal mar- 
row, first to the diaphragm, and then to the 
.sphineter ani. In the first case the diaphragm 
experienced violent contractions, in the other 
I obtained a very strong action on the rectum, 
which even produced an expulsion of the 
faeces.” 
It is remarkable that Professor Aldini 
could excite no contraction in the heart 
of any of the subjects by the- galvanic 
pile. However, on carefully repeating 
the experiments, some other Italian phi- 
losophers have succeeded in this point ; 
the heart therefore is susceptible of gal- 
vanic influence, but with difficulty. 
The third chapter contains a short 
view of the medicinal powers to be ex- 
pected from galvanism; they appear to 
be very similar to those of electricity. 
The following use of one or the other is 
new and singular : , 
«* Before I conclude this article, 1 must 
suggest a hint respecting the application ef 
galvanism to diseases of the teeth, founded 
on information communicated to me on this 
subject by Mr. Fowler, an eminent dentist 
in London, when the caries is concealed 
from the sight. Mr. Fowler employs the fol- 
lowing method to discover the afiected tooth : 
He first insulates the patient, and having put 
into his hand the electric chain, he applies a 
