(733.) 
960 
Of these two very opposite aspects of this remark- 
able experiment, it might have been reasonably enough 
anticipated, that one should be wholly erroneous. 
This, however, is not the case. Galvani was justified 
in both his inferences, although he unquestionably 
believed that only one could be true. As a physio- 
MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE. 
(Diss. VI. 
Experiments instituted after a lapse of 30 years, with 
the aid of new instruments, and vastly increased know- 
ledge of electric manifestations, have conclusively de- 
monstrated the accuracy in this respect of Galvani’s 
reasoning in preference to Volta’s. 
The publication of the results already noticed did 
(735.) 
logical anatomist, he not unnaturally adhered finally 
to the opinion of vital or animal electricity being the 
cause of the phenomenon which he had observed. Vol- 
not take place till 1791 in his celebrated paper in the Gtadual of 
Bolognese Transactions, The statement popularly biernits 
made by almost every writer (and which may be views. 
(734.) 
The proper 
electricity 
ta, on the other hand, already an experienced natural 
philosopher, though for a short time an entire con- 
vert to Galvani’s published opinions, maintained the 
contact of metals, unlike either in kind or in their 
mechanical condition, to be the source of the nervous 
commotion; and whilst he was enabled to support his 
opinion by very striking experiments, its popularity 
was not unjustly perhaps exalted to the highest pitch 
by the happy application which he made of it, to the 
construction of that wonderful instrument, the vol- 
taic battery, which effectually withdrew attention for a 
time from the comparatively feeble and obscure effects 
of the electric power residing in the animal tissues. 
The historian of science, well aware how far the in- 
trinsic importance of discoveries is from depending 
of the frog. upon the mere magnitude of their effects, and how 
often the philosopher, dazzled by the splendour of a 
new truth, overlooks some minute concomitant phe- 
nomenon which hereafter may rival or eclipse its 
splendour,—readily recognises the perseverance with 
which Galvani maintained his theory of animal elec- 
tricity as a part of the true philosophical character, 
and therefore as enhancing his reputation. The 
metallic are which, by connecting the muscular part 
of the limb with the root of the lumbar nerve, occa- 
sioned the convulsion, was to be regarded, on his 
theory, as merely establishing equilibrium between 
those parts to which the vital principle had commu- 
nicated an electric tension similar to that which sub- 
sists on the opposite surfaces of a charged plate or 
Leyden jar. Galvani gradually disembarassed his ex- 
periments from the suspicious presence of metals alto- 
gether. Taking the prepared hind-limb of a frog, 
with the connected nerve entering the spine, he found 
traced to Alibert, one of the earliest historians of the 
subject, but whose authority seems to be of little 
weight), is that the discovery of Galvanism was made 
in 1790, in Madame Galvani’s kitchen, where a frog 
soup was being prepared for that lady’s repast, she 
being at the time in delicate health. The absurdity 
of the invention is evident from the history which 
we have given, founded on unquestionable documents. 
The memoir of 1791 was the resumé of elaborate ex- 
periments continued with (apparently) little inter- 
ruption for eleven years; and the most interesting 
results had been digested in a Latin tract jive years 
before. All this shows at once great patience and 
intelligence on the part of Galvani, who, perceiving 
the difficulty and also the probable importance of 
the subject (in a physiological view)—oscillating per- 
haps in some measure between the two very opposite 
opinions regarding the source of muscular excitement 
which we have seen that he almost simultaneously 
held,—postponed for so long a time the publication of 
a discovery which he must have been sure would con- 
fer upon him a great reputation. By the time of his 
publication his views had become fixed in favour of 
animal electricity ; and he defended it in several suc- 
ceeding memoirs, 
The unjust deposition of Galvani from his chair on _(736.) 
political grounds affected seriously his health and His death. 
energies, Perhaps his latest experiments were on the 
Electricity of the Torpedo. He died 4th December 
1798, aged only 61—happy perhaps in not having 
witnessed the discovery of the Pile, which, by its as- 
tonishing results, was to throw into the shade Gal- 
vani’s more intricate and difficult studies. 
To appreciate justly Galvani’s place in scientifie 737.) 
history, we must recollect three circumstances which His distin- 
have often been overlooked,— First,that his discoveries 8%he4 
ara ie : it. 
were the result of patient, ingenious, and protracted - 
that when the latter was suffered simply to touch the 
bare surface of any muscular part, and without the 
Confirmed intervention of metal or any other conductor, a spasm 
by Baron 
A, von 
Humboldt. 
of the limb immediately occurred,!_ This important 
experiment was repeated and varied in 1795, by the 
celebrated Baron Alexander von Humboldt, who pub- 
lished a paper on the subject in Gren’s Journal, fully 
confirming Galvani’s conclusions. Volta, on the other 
hand, admitting the facts, strove to explain them on 
the supposition, that they were due, like other electric 
currents, merely to the heterogeneous nature of two 
solid bodies, the muscle and the nerve brought into 
opposition, and moistened by a conducting liquid. 
research, not of a casual observation exciting ignorant 
surprise. Secondly, That however deficient was Gal- 
vani’s theory of animal electricity to explain all, 
or even the most conspicuous facts witnessed by him, 
it was a real discovery which has been confirmed by 
the latest and most scrupulous researches, and of a 
physiological importance which can hardly be over- 
rated. Thirdly, Galvani’s Commentary was received 
at the time with enthusiasm, not only from the im- 
portance of the facts which it contained, but from the 
1 The earliest notice of this result is found in one of Galvani’s autograph MSS., which appears certainly to date from 1786. 
Rapporto, p. 48, § 18. 
eid Bs 
