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is protected from any action. The most simple manner 

 of illustrating the development of this electricity is by 

 placing a piece of silver on the tongue, and a piece of 

 zinc or lead underneath it. No effect will be observed 

 so long as the two metals are kept asunder, but when 

 their edges are brought together, a slight tremulous sen- 

 sation will pass through the tongue, a saline taste be 

 distinguished by the palate, and if in the dark, light will 

 be observed by the eye. 



This, the germ of the most remarkable of the sciences, 

 was noticed by Sulzar, fifty years before Galvani observed 

 the convulsions in the limbs of frogs, when excited by 

 the action of dissimilar metals ; but the former paid 

 little attention to the phenomenon, and the discovery 

 led to no results. 



When Galvani's observant mind was directed to the 

 remarkable fact that the mere contact of two dissimilar 

 metals with the moist surface of living muscles produced 

 convulsions, there was an awakening in the soul of that 

 philosopher to a great fundamental truth, which was 

 nurtured by him, tried and tested, and preserved to work 

 its marvels for future ages. 



Although the world of science looks back to Volta as 

 the man who gave the first true interpretation of this 

 discovery, yet the ordinary world will never disconnect 

 this important branch of physical science from the 

 name of Galvani, and chemical electricity in all its 

 forms will for ever be known under the familiar name of 

 Galvanism. And it must not be forgotten, that the 

 phenomena of the manifestation of electricity, in connec- 

 tion with the conditions of vitality, are entirely due to 

 Galvani. 



Let us examine the phenomena of Galvanism in its 

 most simple phases : 



If we place a live flounder upon a plate of zinc, put a 

 shilling on its back, and then touch both metals with 

 the ends of a metallic wire, the fish will exhibit painful 



