222 Kirivanian Society of Dullln. 



prononnced practicable, of which there seems to be no doubt, 

 we hope that Government will second his intentions, and provide 

 for the expenses of such an arduous undertaking. 



KIRVVANIAN SOCIKTY OF DUBLIN. 



Feb. 22, 1815. The reading of an Essay was commenced, 

 " On the Origin, Progress, and present State of Galvanism, with 

 Observations on the Inadc(jnacy of the Hypotheses ]noposed to 

 explain its Phanomena, and Reflections on the Influence of Gal- 

 vanic Discoveries on the Doctrines of Chemistry;" by M. Dono- 

 van, Esq. Secretary*. 



The sketch of the history of Galvanism, with which the Essay 

 commenced, was divided into three periods : 1st, containing the 

 discovery of muscular contraction effected by simple Galvanic 

 contact, and of .combined Galvanic arrangements ; 2d, contain- 

 ing the gradual development of tlie physical and chemical powers 

 of combined Galvanic arrangements ; and, 3d, containing gene- 

 ralizations of the chemical eflfects of Galvanism, and the dis- 

 coveries that have resulted from the application of these gene- 

 ralizations to research. 



Period 1 . The first distinct Galvanic phaenomenon was the taste 

 excited on the tongue by two metals in contact, neither of 

 Vi'hich could separately produce any effect; a fact noticed by 

 Sultzer in 1767, and little attended to until in 1791 it was 

 found by Galvani that metallic contact excited a surprising ar- 

 tificial motion in the muscles of dead animals. Shortly after, the 

 experiments of S>dtzer and Galvani were attributed by Fabroui 

 to the operation of the same agent. Galvani considered the 

 agent to be a kind of electricity inherent in animals : Fabroni 

 maintained the electricity to be concomitant, and the taste and 

 contractions to be produced by chemical action of the metals, 

 The discoveries and opinions of those who embraced the doctrine 

 of either of the above philosophers, with or without modifications, 

 were then stated. Humboldt denied that the agent was elec- 

 tricity, as it was not conducted by various good conductors of 

 that fluid. Pfaff considered the agent to be sui generis, and 

 associated or identical with the principle of life. Fontana denied 

 that muscular motion is in any degree connected with electricity. 

 Valli adopted the opinion of Galvani, with a peculiar modifica- 

 tion : he allowed that electricit) was the agent, but believed that 

 it was identical with the nervous fluid. From this Monro dis- 

 sented : he thought that the unknown agent merely acted as an 

 artificial stimulus to the natural nervous Jluid. Volta differed 



* Tliis Essay in n somewhat di6ferent form was honoured with the priz* 

 by the lloyal Irish Academy. 



with 



