T42 Obfervations on Animal Eleéricity. 
ferent; not only in different men, but alfo in the fame pers 
fon. In 2422 experiments, in which I examined my own ~ 
electricity, E found it 1252 times pofitive, 771 times nega- 
tive, and 399 times o. The electricity of my maid, in 94 
experiments, was, on the other hand, 19 times ee 33 
times Negative, and 42 times o. 
5, It often happens, tifat, during the experiment, the eee 
tricity changes; that is, from pofitive to negative, or from 
ftronger pofitive to weaker, and at laft becomes o. It 'then 
pafies from the Jaft to weak negative, and gradually to 
ftronger. 
6, [t happens alfo, not unfrequently, that the eleétricity, 
at the commencement of the experiment, is ftrongly pofitive 
_ or negative, but paffes afterwards to the oppofite kind with 
the like force, which continues for a confiderable time. 
7. Notwithflanding this wonderful and almoft contmaal 
alternation, animal elestricity appears to be naturally pofi- 
tive. As the eleGtric matter is diffufed throughout all na- 
‘ture, and adheres, in a fixed form, to no body, all the arti- 
cles of our nourifhment contain each their fhare of it. The 
electric fluid is difengaged, and diffufed with the blood and 
juices through the body; from which it is conveyed off, after - 
being accuniulated in it, by the pores of the fkin and other 
duéts, when there is.no interruption in them. This is con- 
firmed by experience; for when animal eleétricity is exa- 
mined in a body expofed to no violent exertions, as when a 
perfon fits or repofes, ‘and when there is confequently no great 
lofs of heat, it is commonly pofitive. Thus the eleGtricity of 
my body, which I ethane while fitting at reft, when the 
natural heat of the body was not dif ‘urbed, appeared, im 332 
experiments pofitive, in 14 negative, and in 10 was o. 
8. When animal ele&iricity, therefore, is 0, or negative, 
the body muft. be in an unnatural {tate (ala violento). . 
g. Cold changes natural or pofitive animal electricity into 
the oppofite kind, or at Ieaft leffens it. In 60 experiments 
{ made on myfelf after coming from a cold air, the tempes — 
sature of which’ was-at the freezing point or below it, my | 
electricity was 38 times, negative, 7 times 0, and 15 times 
pohtive e, the laf. being not unfrequently weak, T had often 
an 
at 
