Chap. 35-3 [ 353 ] 



CHAP. XXXV. 



ANIMAL ELECTRICITY. 



Accidental Difcovtry of M. Galvani. Animal EkHricity only excited 

 by Metals,-* Experiments on dead Animals. Conductors and Non- 

 conducJors of this Ponver. Experiments on the living SubjeI.On 

 Earth Worms, &c. Analogy between this Power and Electricity. 

 Shock of the Torpedo. Nervous Energy. 



AMONG the late difcoveries in philofophy, 

 there is not any more curious than that relation 

 which is found to exift between certain metals and the 

 nervous and mufcular lyftem of animals, which has 

 received the name of animal electricity. How far it 

 is confident with truth to refer this influence to the 

 laws of electricity may be a proper fubject of inquiry, 

 and perhaps of fcepticifm ; but it will be neceflary pre- 

 vioufly to relate the principal facts which have been 

 afcertained on a fubject fo novel in phyfiology, and fo 

 little analogous to the known principles of animal ex- 

 iftence. 



The fhock which the mufcles of the human frame 

 receive from the touch of the torpedo, and of the 

 electrical eel, had long been known ; but that the ani- 

 mal fibre when deprived of the principle of vitality 

 fhould be fubject to a fimilar influence, was a difcovery 

 referved for the prefent age% M. Galvani> the pro- 

 feflbr of anatomy at Bologna, obferving one day cer- 

 tain involuntary contractions and motions in fome 

 frogs, which, with little credit to the profeflfor's huma- 

 nity, had been hooked by the back-bone and fuf- 

 pended from the iron palifadoes of his garden, his cu- 

 riofity was powerfully excited, and on examining mi- 



Vou III. A 3> nutely 



