Galvanism. 127 



To prove that the agency of electricity and 

 galvanism is essentially the same, it is only neces- 

 sary to mention that a common coated jar, or 

 even an electrical battery, may be almost instan- 

 taneously charged from a galvanic battery. It is 

 however to be remarked that the electrical virtue 

 seems to be more diffused, but more permanent, 

 in a galvanic, and more concentrated in a com- 

 mon electrical battery. 



The electrical energy is not confined to the 

 substances we have already specified. In the 

 mineral kingdom, the tourmalin, a stone found in 

 the East Indies, by being merely heated, exhibits 

 most of the electrical phaenomena. 



In the animal kingdom it has long been known 

 that rubbing the back of a cat will produce 

 sparks in the dark. But however this effect may 

 be deemed superficial, and attributed to the hair, 

 there are some other animals which have this 

 virtue more extensive and more powerful. The 

 torpedo, a kind of ray, communicates a strong 

 shock when touched, and the shock is greatly in- 

 creased by touching it with both hands, and thus 

 completing the circle. The gymnotus, or elec- 

 trical ee^ found in the rivers of Guiana, pos- 

 sesses the same power, but in a superior degree. 

 It seems also to depend on the will of the animal. 

 The electric organs both in this and the torpedo, 

 each of which is furnished with a pair, bear a 

 strong resemblance to the galvanic trough or 

 battery. 



