THE TORPEDO. 265 



produced by the action of those nerves. The following 

 are some of the leading facts in the phenomena of the 

 torpedo, as established by careful experiments, made 

 by M. M. Humboldt and Gay Lussac : 



1. "A person much in the habit of receiving elec- 

 tric shocks, can sustain with some difficulty the shock 

 of a vigorous torpedo fourteen inches long. The 

 action of the torpedo below water, is not percep- 

 tible till it be raised above the surface of the water. 

 [It does not appear that the shock was tried with both 

 the torpedo and experimenter immersed in water, 

 though that would be necessary, to complete the 

 facts.] 



2. " Before each shock, the torpedo moves its pec- 

 toral fins in a convulsive manner, and the violence of 

 the shock is always in proportion to the extent of the 

 surface of contact. 



3. "The organs of the torpedo cannot be discharged 

 by us at our pleasure, nor does it always communicate 

 a shock when touched. It must be irritated before it 

 gives the shock ; and, in all probability, it does not keep 

 its electric organs charged. It charges them, however, 

 with astonishing quickness, and is, therefore, capable 

 of giving a great number of shocks. 



4. " The shock is experienced when a single finger 

 is applied to a single surface of the electric organs, or 

 when two hands are placed, one on the upper, and one 

 on the under surface at the same time; and, in all cases, 

 the shock is equally communicated, whether the person 

 is insulated or not. 



5. "If any insulated person touches the torpedo 

 with the finger, it must be in immediate contact, as no 



