4 PLISY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Eook XXXII. 



another name which it bears, " odinolytes." 14 Be all this us 

 it may, considering this most remarkable fact of a ship being 

 thus stopped in its course, who can entertain a doubt as to the 

 possibility of any manifestation of her power by Xature7 

 as to the effectual operation of the remedies uMch she has 

 centred in her spontaneous productions ? 



CHAP. 2. -THE TORPEDO I NINE IlF.MEPIES. 



And then, besides, even if we had not this illustration by 

 the agency of the echene'is, would it not have been quite suf- 

 ficient only to cite the instance of the torpedo, 15 another in- 

 habitant also of the sea, as a manifestation of the mighty 

 powers of Nature 1 From a considerable distance even, and if 

 only touched with the end of a spear or staff, this fish has the 

 property of benumbing even the most vigorous arm, and of 

 rivetting the feet of the runner, however swift he may be in 

 the race. If, upon considering this fresh illustration, we find 

 ourselves compelled to admit that there is in existence a certain 

 power which, by the very exhalations 10 and, as it were, emana- 

 tions therefrom, is enabled to affect the members of the hu- 

 man body, 17 what are we not to hope for from the remedial 

 influences which Nature has centred in all animated beings ? 



CHAP. 3. - THE SKA II A UK : FIVE KKMKD1KS. 



Xo less wonderful, too, are the particulars which we find 

 stated relative to the sea-hare. 1 " Taken with the food or 

 drink, it is a poison to some persons ; while to others, again, 

 the very sight of it is venomous. 11 ' Indeed, if a woman iu u 



1 From \viiv n*c, utivae, " to release from the pains of childbirth." 



15 See 15. ix. c. 67. 



16 Ajasson remarks that it was owing probably to this opinion that it 

 Tvas formerly the belief, that by holding the hrea'th a person could render 



iJaiiil'crg MS., and adopted by 

 15 Set- H. ix. c. 72, and the Note,** 



* A fabulous story, Aj;i*son remarks, but one that was commonly be- 

 lieved iu the 16th and 17th centuries. Gessner, however, a conscientious 

 enquirer into the mysteries of Nature, asserts (dc slyitatiltius, p. 5(KJ) that, 

 to his own knowledge, the sight of this tish was productive of the syrnp- 

 tvnii here mentioned. Bcckmaim reckons the Aplysiadepilans (with which 



