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times as high as the elbow, while in some cases even the wrist of 

 the other hand will experience a similar sensation. 



It has been ascertained by repeated trials, that these effects are 

 stronger in proportion to the greater distance of the metallic pairs, 

 which are made to communicate. Some sensation will be produced 

 when the foot of the column is connected with the third or fourth 

 pair, but it will perceptibly increase as we proceed further towards 

 the summit. This naturally led to an extension of the column much 

 beyond the number of metallic pairs above mentioned ; and expe- 

 dients are here suggested for rendering such extended columns stable 

 and at the same time sufficiently manageable. With a column of 

 about sixty pairs of plates, shocks have been felt as high as the 

 shoulder ; such a column may be even divided into two or three 

 distinct cylinders, which being well connected by metallic conduc- 

 tors, will be equally powerful and much more convenient. 



Among various other modes of applying the same agents, the author 

 describes an apparatus in which the fluid is interposed between the 

 metals without being absorbed in a spongy substance. This consists 

 of a number of cups or goblets, of any substance except metals, placed 

 in a row either straight or circular, about half filled with a saline so- 

 lution, and communicating with each other so as to form a kind of 

 chain, by means of a sufficient number of metallic arcs or bows, one 

 arm of which is of silver, or copper plated with silver, and the other 

 of zinc. The ends of these bows are plunged into the liquid in the 

 same successive order, namely, the silver ends being all on one side, 

 and those of zinc on the other, a condition absolutely necessary to 

 the success of the experiments, it having been observed that if out of 

 sixty bows, for instance, the twenty intermediate ones be turned in 

 the opposite direction from the remainder, the effects produced by 

 the apparatus will be far less perceptible. 



It was observed, that if a circular communication be completed by 

 means of a bow connecting the first and last of a long series of cups, 

 two hands, or even two fingers plunged into one of these cups will 

 still receive an electric sensation. This is explained by admitting the 

 fact, that warm animal substances, and particularly their fluids, are 

 in general better conductors than water. 



The sensible effects of either of these apparatus, composed of 

 forty or fifty links, do not, it seems, consist merely in shocks, con- 

 tractions, or spasms in the muscles or limbs ; but, besides affecting 

 the sense of touch, they are also capable of exciting an imitation in 

 the organs of taste, sight, and even hearing. A particular account 

 is given of these singular effects, from which we learn, that the more 

 sensible the parts are which are exposed to the impressions of this 

 agent, the more quick will be the sensation ; that as to taste, we have 

 only to recollect the experiments formerly described by the author, 

 in which the tongue was sensibly affected by the combination of two 

 metals applied to each side of it ; that with respect to the sense of 

 vision, the sparks yielded by this apparatus are sufficient evidence of 

 the effect, certain expedients only being necessary for facilitating the 



