Chap. 35.] Influence and Eleffricity. 361 



It is faid that aftream of electricity patted tjirough 

 a fenfitive plant, produces an almoft immediate col- 

 lapfe of its leaves; but the influence in queftion 

 produced no fuch effe6t in an experiment made by 

 Dr. Fowler. 



The fame attentive experimentalift electrified both 

 pofitively and negatively frogs, whofe heads had been 

 ieparated from their bodies. In thefe circumftances 

 the effects of the influence in queftion took place in 

 the fame manner and degree as when no artificial elec- 

 tricity was prefent. 



When there is a breach of equilibrium in the 

 diftribution of the electric fluid, all that is required 

 in order to reftore the equality of diftribution, is the 

 interpofition of a fmgle conducting fubftance between 

 the place in which it abounds, and that in which there 

 is a deficiency ; whereas if the phenomena of animal 

 electricity are to be attributed to the fame caufe, it 

 does not appear why two conducting fubftances fhould 

 be neceffarjr. 



In eftablifhing a communication between two op- 

 pofite electricities, as, for example, between the two 

 fides of a charged phial, it is matter of indifference 

 to which the conductor is firft applied ; but it is by 

 no means fo, in producing the phenomena of animal 

 electricity; for if one branch of a conductor is applied 

 to the tin-foil arming a nerve, before the other branch 

 has been applied to the mufcles, it frequently fails to 

 excite contractions. If firft applied to the mufcles, 

 this is very feldom the cafe. 



From fome trials which Dr. Fowler made with the 

 artificial and natural loadftones, and a -very fenfible 

 magnetic needle, he faw no reafon to fuppofe that 

 this new influence was in any way connected with 

 magnetifm. 



Animal 



