J96 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Consequences of touching this fish. 



as occasioned him to Jet the tub fall. Mr. Bryant 

 then called another person to his assistance, and 

 caused them together to lift up the tub, each 

 laying hold only on the outside. When they 

 were pouring off the remainder of the water, 

 they each received a shock so smart that they 

 were compelled to desist. 



Many have been knocked down with the sud- 

 den stroke. One of these fish being shaken from 

 a net upon grass, an English sailor, notwith- 

 standing all the persuasions that were used to 

 prevent him, would insist on taking it up; but 

 the moment he grasped it he dropped down in a 

 fit, his eyes were fixed, his face became livid, 

 and it was not without difficulty that his senses 

 were restored. He said that the instant he 

 touched it, " the cold ran swiftly up his arm into 

 his body, and pierced him to the heart." 



Likewise a negro, who attempted to grasp a 

 large fish firmly with his hands, had, in conse- 

 quence, a confirmed paralysis in both his arms, 

 as recorded by Mr. Flagg. 



Dr. Garden, speaking of the singular property 

 of this fish, says, " the person who is to receive 

 the shock must take the fish with both hands, at 

 some considerable distance asunder, so as to form 

 the communication ; otherwise he will not receive 

 it ; at least I never saw any one shocked from 

 taking hold of it with one hand only ; though 

 some have assured me that they were shocked 

 by laying one haiid,^4iim. I myself have taken 



