Experiments on the Gymnotus Elect ricus. 97 



Experiment 2. We then removed the apparatus 

 suspended over the fish, and a person, standing on 

 the electric stool, held in one hand a piece of wood, 

 to which pith balls were hung, and with the other 

 touched, or rather grasped the fish, for a slight touch 

 seldom succeeds, by which means he received repeat- 

 ed shocks in that hand, but the balls did not separate. 



Experiment 3. We formed a circuit of eight or 

 ten persons, by their joining hands, as in the Leyden 

 experiment. The first person touched the fish about 

 the head, and, at the same time, the last person 

 touched it, towards the tail. The shock was felt by 

 every person in the circuit, and probably with equal 

 force. 



Experiment 4. We formed a circuit as before, ex- 

 cepting that two of the persons, instead of joining 

 hands, took hold of a glass tube. In this case, the 

 shock was felt by none but the first and last person, 

 and by them in the hand and arm only, wherewith 

 they touched the fish. 



Experiment 5. Instead of the glass tube, two per- 

 sons held between them a small chain, made of brass 

 wire. The shock was felt by the first and last per- 

 son only, as before. This experiment was often re- 

 peated, and always with the same success, even when 

 the chain had been first wetted with water. 



Experiment 6. Mr. Kinnersly took a coated phial, 

 such as is used in electrical experiments, and hold- 



VOL. I. PART II. N 



