CHAPTER XX. 

 GALVANISM. 



GALVANI'S DISCOVERY THE FROGS ELECTRIFIED EXPERIMENTS VOLTA'S 



PILE THE TEST ITS USEFULNESS FARADAY'S "RESEARCHES." 



GALVANISM owes its origin to the researches of Galvani, the celebrated pro- 

 fessor of Bologna, and we are indebted to what was a mere " accident " for 

 our knowledge of this science. 



Before Galvani's time there had been many instances adduced of animal 

 electricity. The Rev. F. Lunn, in his article upon Electricity,* mentions the 

 fact that fire streamed from the head of Servius Tullius when about seven 

 years of age, and Virgil we know refers to flame emitted by the hair of 

 Ascanius 



" Lambere flamma comas, et circum tempora pasci " ; 



and if any one will comb his or her hair with an ebonite comb in the dark, 

 with what is sometimes called an " india-rubber comb," the hair will give out 

 sufficient light to enable the operator to see himself in a looking-glass. In 

 olden days it is related that a lady when touched with a linen cloth emitted 

 sparks, and the same phenomenon was observable when a bookseller at Pisa 

 removed his under-garment or vest (De Castro). We are all aware of the 

 electricity of the cat and of certain fishes (see Electricity of Animals in sequel), 

 and "torpedos." Galvani had of course a knowledge of this property, and 

 had occupied himself for some time making experiments upon the electricity 

 in animals. He was not in his laboratory that day when the great discovery 

 was made by means of the edible frog. 



Galvani's wife was just then in a very delicate state of health, and in 

 accordance with usage had been ordered soup made from frogs. It is related 

 that some of these animals, ready skinned, were lying upon the laboratory 

 table, for the Professor had been just previously investigating the question 

 of what he opined was " animal " electricity ; that is, he fancied that muscular 

 motion depended upon that subtle force. 



The electric machine was in action, and one of the attendants happening 

 to approach or touch one of the frogs, the man as well as Madame Galvani 

 observed that the limbs were violently agitated. Galvani was at once informed 

 of this, and he made repeated experiments, which showed him that the 

 convulsive movements only took place when a spark was drawn from the 



* Enrly. Metrop. 



