Animal Elettricity. [Book IX. 



Animal electricity is even found to differ, in Tome 

 refpects, from that power by which the torpedo, 

 gymnotus, &c. produce their Ihocks. We are told 

 by Mr. Cavendifh, that Mr. Walfh found that the 

 ihock of the torpedo would not pafs through a fmall 

 brafs chain. It. refembles the power of the torpedo, 

 however, in producing its effects almoft equally well, 

 when both it and the fubject upon which it acts are 

 infukted from furrounding conductors. The ihock 

 of the torpedo, &c. feems to depend entirely on the 

 will of the animal j but the will of the animal has no 

 fhare in the production of the phenomena difcovered 

 by Galvani. 



That this influence is not the fame with the ner- 

 vous energy appears from its not being flopped 

 by a tight ligature, or by the tranfverfe ineifion of a 

 nerve, provided its parts are again brought into dole 

 contact. The nervous energy is effectually flopped 

 by a tight ligature or a tranfverfe incifion j and placing 

 the divided extremities into the clofeft contact, has no 

 effect in reftoring its influence on the parts of the body 

 to which the divided nerve was diftributed. 



On the whole, it may be remarked, that the influ- 

 ence difcovered by Galvani refembles electricity more 

 than any other known law of nature. But it differs 

 in fo many inftances even from it, that in the prefent 

 flate of our knowledge, we muft confider it as a newly 

 difcovered law in nature; though future experience 

 and more extenfive obferyation may lead to a different; 

 conclufion. 



