372 GALVANIC ELECTRICITY. 



different metals, similar phenomena were pro- 

 duced on bringing the metals in contact. 



From these obscure results, Galvani arrived 

 at the conclusion, that there is a peculiar species 

 of electricity residing in all animals, which is 

 secreted by the brain, and conducted to different, 

 parts of the body by the nerves, causing animal 

 motion, secretion, &c. He supposed that this 

 fluid is conducted from nerves to muscles by the 

 metallic arc, as the electricity of a Leyden bat- 

 tery is conducted from it by means of a common, 

 discharger. 



In opposition to the views of Galvani, it was 

 maintained by the celebrated Volta, professor of 

 natural philosophy at Pavia, that the pheno- 

 mena were due to the agency of common elec- 

 tricity, which he supposed was accumulated by 

 the contact of different metals. 



Finding that when sticks of zinc and copper, 

 zinc and silver, &c. were made to touch at one 

 of their extremities, and the other brought in 

 contact with the spine and muscles of a newly 

 killed frog, excited convulsions, it occurred to 

 Volta, that by a repetition of circles, or series, 

 composed of two different metals and moistened 

 cloth, he might greatly increase the electrical 

 effects. This led to the construction of the well 

 known pile, and the couronne de tasses, which 

 have been modified into different forms of the 

 battery. In reply to the hypothesis of Volta, 



