268 THE TORPEDO. 



distribution of an equal share of electricity has its 

 action diminished as the number of jars, among which 

 it is distributed, is increased ; and upon the very pro- 

 bable conjecture that each column in the organs of the 

 torpedo has the nature and action of a separate jar, it 

 would follow, from the result of his experiments, that a 

 torpedo, containing 1182 columns in its organ would, 

 though equally charged as a single jar, send its energy 

 only through one thirty-second part of the distance, a 

 space much too small for allowing any shock or sound, 

 or any effect upon an electrometer. This, to a very con- 

 siderable extent, identifies the electricity of the fish 

 with that of the clouds and the electric machine ; and 

 that identity is farther rendered probable by the fact 

 that the torpedo does not give a shock till irritated, 

 and till the electric organs have been excited by the 

 friction arising from the motion of the pectoral fins. 



It was once supposed, that, as the organs contain a 

 fluid, the action was similar to that of galvanism, and 

 like it, accompanied by some kind of chemical decom- 

 position ; but as the substances of which the organs 

 are composed appear to be unfit for any purpose of 

 this kind, that hypothesis has been abandoned, and the 

 action is now considered to be electric. How it is pro- 

 duced is another matter, and one which does not lie 

 within the province of accurate science. That it is 

 intimately connected with the life and health of the 

 animal, is evident, from its ceasing upon injury being 

 done to the brain, and from its becoming feeble and 

 convulsive when the animal is in the agonies of death. 

 In so far, at least, it is also voluntary, as the animal, 

 even when in vigorous health, does not always give a 



