FISHES. 507 



A negro, indeed, that was standing by, readily undertook to 



touch the torpedo, and was seen to handle it without feeling any 



')f its effects. He informed us, that his whole secret consisted 



n keeping in his breath ; and we found, upon trial, that this 



nethod answered with ourselves. When we held in our breath, 



he torpedo was harmless ; but when we breathed ever so little, 



its efficacy took place." 



Kempfer has very v.'ell described the effects of this animal's 

 cshock ; but succeeding experience has abundantly convinced us, 

 that holding in the breath no way guards against its violence. 

 Those, therefore, who depending on that receipt, should play 

 with a torpedo, would soon find themselves painfully undeceived i 

 not but that this fish may be many times touched with perfect 

 security ; for it is not upon every occasion that it exerts its po- 

 tency. Reaumur, who made several trials upon this animal, has 

 at least convinced the world that it is not necessarily, but by an 

 effort, that the torpedo immbs the hand of him that touches it. 

 He tried several times, and could easily tell when the fish in- 

 tended the stroke, and when it was about to continue harmless. 

 7\lways before the fish intended the stroke, it flattened the 

 back, raised the head and the tail, and then, by a violent con- 

 traction in the opposite direction, struck with its back against 

 the pressing finger ; and the body, which before was flat, became 

 humped and round. 



But we must not infer, as he has done, that the whole effect 

 of this animal's exertions arises from the greatness of the blow 

 which the fingers receive at the instant they are struck. We 

 will, with him, allow the stroke is very powerful, equal to that 

 of a musquet-ball, since he will have it so ; but it is very well 

 known, that a blow, though never so great, on the points of the 

 fingers, diffuses no numbness over the whole body : such a blow 

 might break the ends of the fingers indeed, but would hardly 

 numb the shoulder. Those blows that innnb, must be applied 

 immediately to some great and leading nerve, or to a large sm-- 

 face of the body ; a powerful stroke applied to the points of the 

 fingers will be excessively painful indeed, but the numbness will 

 not reach i)eyond the fingers themselves. We mu.st, tliercfore, 

 look for another cause producing the powerful effects wrought 

 by the torpedo. 



Others have ascribed it to a trcMiulotis motion which tliis 



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