THE TORPEDO. 91 



The baneful powers of this fish. 



tfte person struck, imagines all the bones of his 

 body, and particularly those of the limb that re- 

 ceived the blow, are driven out of joint. All 

 this is accompanied with an universal tremor, a 

 sickness of the stomach, a general convulsion, 

 and a total suspension of the faculties of the 

 mind. 



" In short/' continues our author, " such is 

 the pain, that all the force of our promises and 

 authority could not prevail upon a seaman to un- 

 dergo the force of a shock a second time. A 

 negro, indeed, that was standing by, readily un- 

 dertook to touch the torpedo> and was seen to 

 handle it without feeling any of its effects. He 

 informed us, that his whole secret consisted in 

 keeping in his breath: and we found, upon trial, 

 that this method answered with ourselves." 



The baneful powers of this fish are known to 

 decline with its vigour; as its strength ceases, 

 the force of the shock seems to diminish, till at 

 last, when the fish is dead, the whole power is 

 destroyed, and it may be handled or eaten with 

 perfect security. Though when first taken out 

 of the sea, its force is very great, and not only 

 affects the hand, but even if touched with a stick, 

 the person sometimes feels himself affected. 

 This latent power is said to be more extensive in 

 the female than the male. 



Dr. Ingenhouz had a torpedo for some time in 

 a tub of sea-water, which, from its being during 

 winter, seemed to be feeble. On taking it into 

 M 2 



