494 fishes. 



the finger and thumb of one hand, applied above and below (o t 

 single organ, produced a shock, to our sensation, of twice the 

 force of that in the larger circuit by the arms. 



<fc The torpedo, still confined in the basket, being raised to 

 within three inches of the surface of the water, was there touched 

 with a short iron bolt, which was held half above and half in the 

 water, by one hand, while the other hand was dipped, as before, 

 at a distance in the water ; and strong shocks, felt in both hands, 

 were thus obtained through the iron. 



" A wet hempen cord being fastened to the iron bolt, was held 

 in the hand above water, while the bolt touched the torpedo, and 

 the shocks were obtained through both these substances. 



"A less powerful torpedo, suspended in a small net, being 

 frequently dipped into water and raised again, gave, from the sur- 

 face of the water, slight shocks, through the net, to the person, 

 folding it. 



<{ These experiments in water manifested, that bodies, im. 

 znersed in that element, might be affected by immediate contact 

 with the torpedo ; that the shorter the circuit in which the electri- 

 city moved, the greater would be the effect ; and that the shock 

 was communicable, from the animal in water, to persons in air, 

 through some substances. 



M How far harpoons and nets, consisting of wood and hemp, 

 could, in like circumstances, as it has been frequently asserted, 

 convey the effect, was not so particularly tried as to enable us to 

 confirm it. I mention the omission in hope that some one may be 

 induced to determine the point by express trial. 



M We convinced ourselves, on former occasions, that the accu- 

 rate Ksempfer, who so well describes the effect of the torpedo, 

 and happily compares it with lightning, was deceived in the cir- 

 cumstance, that it could be avoided by holding in the breath; 

 which we found no more to prevent the shock of the torpedo, 

 when he was disposed to give it, than it would prevent the shock 

 of the Leyden phial. 



'* Several persons, forming as f^any distinct circuits, can be 

 affected by one stroke of the animal, as well as when joined in a 

 single circuit. For instance, four persons, touching separately 

 his upper and lower surfaces, were all affected ; two persons, like- 

 wise, after the electricity had passed through a wire into a basia 



