374 ELECTRICITY. 



which is exactly like that occasioned by the Leyden 

 phial. This power of the torpedo is conducted by 

 the same substances which conduct artificial elec- 

 tricity, and is intercepted by the same bodies which 

 are non-conductors of electricity. The circuit 

 may be formed by several persons joining hands, 

 and the shock will be felt by them at the same 

 time; but no attraction or repulsion was ever ob- 

 served to be produced by the torpedo. 



These shocks depend upon the will of the animal, 

 each effort being accompanied with a depression of 

 the eyes, and motion of the organs. 



The gymiiotus electricus has been frequently called 

 the electrical eel, on account of its bearing some re- 

 semblance to the common eel. It is found fre- 

 quently in the great rivers of South America. Its 

 usual length is about three feet; but some of them 

 have been said to be so large, as to strike a man 

 dead with their electric shock. A few of these 

 animals, about three feet long, were brought alive 

 to England about thirty years ago, and a great 

 many experiments were made with them. They 

 possess all the properties of the torpedo, but in a 

 superior degree. The spark was visible in a dark 

 room. 



The silurus electricus is found in Africa, but we 

 have a very imperfect account of its properties. 

 Its length seldom exceeds twenty inches. 



These animals seem to use the electrical property 

 as a means of self-defence. 



The nature of the electricity thus excited by 

 animals, appears to be analogous to galvanic elec- 

 tricity, which will be treated of afterwards. 



