68 Royal Society. 



as those often' exhibited by sea water when agitated. A small gold 

 chain, however, composed of sixty double links, was found to be 

 capable of transmitting the shock ; a fact which seems to show that 

 air is not impermeable to the electricity of the torpedo. When 

 fine silver wires, interrupted by a solution of common salt, were 

 placed in the circuit, minute bubbles of air collected round the point 

 communicating with the under side of the torpedo, but none at the 

 other point. When gold wires, instead of the silver ones, were 

 used, gas was evolved from each of the extremities ; but in greatest 

 quantity, and in smaller bubbles, from the lower, than from the upper 

 wire. With a strong solution of nitrate of silver, the point of the 

 lower gold wire became black, and only two or three bubbles arose 

 from it ; the point of the upper gold wire remaining bright, and being 

 surrounded with many bubbles. Similar, butlessdistinct, results were 

 obtained by employing a strong solution of superacetate of lead. 



The remainder of the paper is occupied with a detailed account 

 of the anatomical structure of the electrical organs of the torpedo, 

 and of tlie muscles that surround them. The texture of the co- 

 lumnar portions of those organs appears to be homogeneous, with 

 the exception of a few fibres, probably branches of nerves, which 

 pass into them. A large quantity of water, separable by evapora- 

 tion, enters into their composition : and they undergo spontaneous 

 changes more slowly than the muscles. They are incapable of con- 

 traction by any of the ordinary stimuli, and even that of an electric 

 shock from a voltaic battery, applied either to the organs themselves 

 or to the nerves which supply them. Hence the conclusion is 

 drawn that these organs are not muscular, but that their columns 

 are formed by tendinous and nervous fibres, distended by a thin ge- 

 latinous fluid. 



The anatomical account is concluded by a description o? the 

 origin, course, and distribution of the nerves belonging to the elec- 

 trical organs. The author found that the gastric nerves are derived 

 from these ; and liazards the conjecture that superfluous electricity 

 may, wlien not required for the defence of the animal, be directed 

 to the stomach, so as to promote digestion : in corroboration of 

 which he cites the instance of a torpedo which, when living, had 

 been frequently excited to give shocks, and in whom a small fish 

 found in its stomach after death, appeared to be totally undigested. 

 The secretion of mucus was also either suppressed or considerably 

 diminished. From the circumstance that the branchiae are supplied 

 with twigs of the electrical nerves, the author conceives there may 

 be some connexion between the electrical and the respiratory func- 

 tions ; and that the evolved electricity may be employed in decom- 

 posing water, and in thus supplying the system with air, in situations 

 where the animal has not access to that of the atmosphere. The 

 author considers the mucous system of the torpedo as performing 

 important offices in its fjeconomy, in consequence of its connexions 

 with the electrical nerves. Contrary to the statement of Mr. Hunter, 

 he fjnds that the eUxtrica! organs are very scantily supplied with 

 blood-vessels. He concludes by some remarks on the pecuhar 



