J EleHric Fyh.—Pncefs of Vitality. 359 



fide; if, moreover, tKere were one common condudlor communicating with the upper plate 

 of every pair, and another in the fame manner with the lower; — then a feparation of all the 

 pairs to. the diftance of only t-stto '"<-''^ would produce the torpedlual intenfity ; the equi- 

 librium would be reftored by the two condu£lors if made to communicate, and whatever 

 living creature was in the circuit would receive a fliock : and on reftoring the original 

 fituation of the apparatus, a fhock might alfo be given. The force of thefe fliocks would 

 differ according to the quantity of the apparatus made ufe of at the time, or the diftance to 

 which the plates were drawn afunder. If different columns were exploded in rapid fuc- 

 ceffion, the quick repetition of fmall (hocks would produce the tremulous fenfation. 



If we were to conjefture that the torpedo actually operates like a machine of this kind, 

 we fliould find our fuppofition to include the following fubordinate parts: — I. The mem- 

 branes may be non-conduftors, and the fluid between them a conduftor. 2. They may aft 

 as eleftrophores. 3. The white reticular matter between the columns may confift of con- 

 ductors feparately leading to the two oppofite furfaces. 6. Thefe feparate condu£lors, in 

 all their fubdivifions, may be well kept afunder by a covering of non-eledric matter. If 

 this be of the fame kind as the membranes, and tosoo'^ of ^n inch thick, it would be 

 fufficient for the purpofe, becaufe the intenfity of the electric ftate is deduced from its 

 power of breaking through a much more permeable eleftric, namely, air, at nearly twice 

 that interval. 7. The efledts may alfo be produced by the motion of conducing plates in a 

 non-condudling fluid. 



V. 



ji Letter from Mr. VoN HuMBOLDT to M. H. VaN MONSonthe Chemical Procefs of Vitality; 

 together -with the Extra^l of a Letter from Citizen FoURCROl" to Citizen Van Mons on the 

 fame SubjeSi *. 



A HAVE lately addrefled feveral letters to Mefirs. Dolomieu and Fourcroy at Paris, and 

 perceive by thofe I have received from the former that mine have mifcarried. Permit me, 

 Sir, to addrefs myfelf to you. By your means I may perhaps fucceed in forwarding to 

 Paris fome explanations refpefling fa£ls which, as I underftand, employ part of the time of 

 the National Inflitute. Be plcafed to accept my aflurances of the great refpe£l which your 

 zeal and your chemical difcoveries have infpircd me with. The natural philofophers of 

 Europe ought to form a fingle family. They are in purfuit of the fame interefting objeds ; 

 and this is a fudicicnt motive to produce that ufeful degree of intimacy which is calculated 

 to promote their refcarches. 



You are probably acquainted with my Efliiys on the Vegetable Philofophy, fuch as my 

 ^{jhrjrifmi ex donrinii ph%fiologij chimicji platitariim, annexed to my Flora fiiblerranea Fri- 



bergenfit, and feveral memoirs which I have prefented to the National Inftitute. The 



memoir on the a(flIon of oxygenated muriatic acid upon the vegetable and animal fibre, 

 which is printed in tljc Mugazin Eiu-yclopalique of Millin, Noel, and Warens, fecms to liave 



' .AjimIcs Jc Chiniic, XXH. 64. 



had 



