reJpeSling Electricity . 281 



in reality, produced by the eledric flroke, which 

 they have a power of imparting to any objeft 

 they pleafe, with which they come in contacfl ; 

 and is indeed the method they have both of 

 defending themfelves, and providing food. 

 Ariftotle fays, that the torpedo* *' caufes, or 

 " produces a torpidity upon thofe fifhes it is 

 " about to feize, and having by that means got 

 *' them into its mouth, feeds upon them." He 

 adds, " that this fifh hides- itfelf in the fand and 

 ** mud, and catches thofe fifli that fwim over it, 

 ** by benumbing them; of which," he fays, 

 ** fome have been eye-witnefles. The fame fifh 

 " has alfo the power of benumbing men." 

 Pliny fays, " that this filhf has the power of 

 ** communicating its benumbing quality, if 

 ** touched with a fpear, or a rod ; and is able to 

 '^ impart a torpor over the ftrongeft mufcles of 

 *' the body; and, as it were, binds and ftops the 

 " feet even of the fwifteft perfons." Galen |: 



T^OTTu ov i%ti £1/ TW ro/xuTi Tiafx^avovcTocy T^EipETai TDVTot;. Kara- 



X^UTTTEJCXt Ot £i; T>]V ttfJl/J.OV KM ^TH^aV >.a(XpUVSl T£ TO! ETTiWOI/Tat 



6<7a av vx^Hmn i7rtfs^o//,eva luv ix^tjcov titxi tovtou aujo'/lcu 



"/syevnvTai Tmi. jj te va^Hn (pavs^cc eh, xai toij av9f c<)7roi5 



7:ciou(Ta vaonav. Arid. Hift. Anim. L. IX. 37. 



f Torpedo etiam procul & e longinquo, vel fi hafta 

 virgave attingatur, quamvis pratvalidos lacertcs torpefcere 

 facit, & pedes quamlibet ad curfus veloces & alligat & 

 retinet. Plin. XXXII. 1. 



, X Galen de locis afFeft. 



fays, 



