on the Torpedo of the Cape of Good Hope. 17 



Of two of these animals, the nerves of the electrical organs of 

 -one of them were divided. Being placed each in separate 

 buckets of sea-water, they were both irritated as nearly alike as 

 possible. From the perfect animal, shocks were received; j.fter 

 frequent repetition it became weak, and incapable of discharging 

 the shock, and soon died. Tlie last shocks were not percepti- 

 ble above the second joint of the thumb, and so weak as to re- 

 quire much attention to observe them. Froni the other no 

 shocks could be received ; it appeared as vivacious as before, 

 and lived until the second day. This experiment was fretjuently 

 repeated with nearly the same results. 



The nerves of one electri<:al organ only being divided in a 

 lively torpedo, from wbich shocks had been previously received, 

 on irritating the animal it was still found capable of communi- 

 cating the shock. Whether there was any difference in the de- 

 gree of intensity could not be distinctly observed. One electri- 

 cal organ being .altogether removed, the animal still continued 

 capable of discharging the electrical shock. 



Having divided one of the nerves of each electrical organ in a 

 torjjcdo, from which shocks had been previously received, 1 still 

 found the animal capable, after this change, of communicating 

 the shock. 



Having introduced a wire through the cranium of a torpedo^ 

 uhich had been communicating shocks \exy freely, all motion 

 immediately ceased, and no irritation could excite the electrical 

 shock. 



1 never received a shock from a torpedo, when held by the 

 extremities of the lateral tins or tail. 



The preceding account appears to me to afford grounds for 

 the following conclusions. 



1. That the electrical discharge of this animal is in every re- 

 spect; a vital action, being dependent on t!ie life of the animal, 

 and having a relation to the degree of life and to the degree of 

 perfection of structure of the electrical organs. 



2. That the action of the electrical organs is perfectly volun- 

 tary. 



3. That fre(|Mcnt action of the electrical organs is injurio)is 

 to the life of the animal ; and, if continued, deprives the animal 

 of it. Is this only an instance of a law connnon to all animals, 

 that by long continued voluntary action they are deprived of life? 

 Whence is the cause of the rapidity with which it takes place in 

 this instance ? Or is it owing to the reaction oi the shock on 

 the animal ? 



A. That those animals, in which the nerves of the electrical 

 organs are intersected, lose the power of communicating the 

 shock, but appear more vivacious, and live longer than those in 



Vol. 48. No. 2iy. July 181G. li which 



